Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. does not see any problem with the separation of Negros Occidental, including Bacolod City, from Western Visayas or Region VI.
In an interview, Defensor said he supports the creation of a new region composed of Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental and Siquijor.
Recently, the Senate approved on third and final reading the Negros Island Region (NIR) bill or Senate Bill No. 2507.
The measure, according to Defensor, is unlikely to have an impact on the economy and other aspects of Iloilo province.
In 2015, NIR was formed through an executive order signed by then president Benigno Aquino III.
Two years later, in 2017, then president Rodrigo Duterte abolished NIR.IMT
