BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental, Philippines — San Carlos City Mayor Renato Gustilo said the proposal of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo for a fourth province or what he called as ‘Bisaya speaking province’ is still premature.
Gustilo said the establishment of the Negros Island Region should come first before the decision of creating an additional province.
Degamo had earlier cited one of the reasons why he wanted to create a Bisaya-speaking province, and that is to get rid of the language barrier. Gustilo, however, said that language is not a problem for his people since they can speak Hiligaynon and Bisaya well.
If he were to give a proposal, Gustilo said he would want the 4th province to be composed of more LGUs and these are the towns of Tayasan, Jimalalud, La libertad and cities of Canlaon and Guihulngan in Oriental while the municipalities of Don Salvador Benedicto, Caltrava, Toboso and cities of Escalante and San Carlos in Negros Occidental.
Earlier, Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson talked to Degamo where the latter proposed that Sagay City, Escalante City, Toboso, Calatrava and San Carlos City be the components of the Bisaya-speaking province.
