BACOLOD CITY — The year 2017 was a challenging chapter for Negros Occidental highlighted by the abolition of the Negros Island Region (NIR), low sugar prices, and atrocities perpetrated by the New People’s Army (NPA).
However, Negrenses remain resilient amid the tough times, and are moving forward to welcome the New Year.
Sugar industry woes
In early 2017, amid the declining prices of sugar, industry leaders spearheaded a boycott on the sale of Coca-Cola products in Negros Occidental, claiming that the beverage firm’s use of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) as alternative sweetener contributes to the unregulated importation of HFCS, which is killing the sugar industry.
This prompted the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) to issue Sugar Order No. 3, regulating the entry of HFCS. Coca-Cola Femsa Philippines had sought the nullification of the sugar order, but they later withdrew the case.
The boycott drew support from the provincial government when Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. was the first to declare the ban of Coke products in the Panaad sa Negros Festival.
Towns and cities celebrating their festivals also banned the sale of Coke products during the celebrations.
Towards the end of the year, prices of domestic sugar started to pick up, and under the approved tax reform package, sugar and other sugar substitutes will be taxed at P6 while HFCS will be taxed double at P12.
Abolition of NIR
On August 7, President Rodrigo Duterte signed Executive Order (EO) No. 38, revoking the creation of the Negros Island Region (NIR) for lack of funds.
Former president Benigno Simeon Aquino III signed EO No. 183 on May 29, 2015 that created the NIR. It separated Negros Occidental from Western Visayas and Negros Oriental from Central Visayas to form a one-island region.
With the abolition of NIR, Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental reverted to Western Visayas and Central Visayas, respectively.
Despite the “setback,” Negros Occidental smoothly transitioned back to Region 6, and rejoined the Regional Development Council-6, with commitments from current chairperson, Antique Governor Rhodora Cadiao, of equitable income sharing for Negros Occidental and other provinces in Western Visayas.
The special bodies created under the NIR, including the Regional Development Council, Regional Peace and Order Council, Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, were also merged with those of the previous regions of the two Negros provinces.
Following the abolition of the NIR, officials of Negros Occidental pushed for a continued collaboration with their counterparts in Negros Oriental.
Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. said: “We will continue to work and collaborate with Negros Oriental.”
Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson proposed the creation of a special body to continue the province’s cooperation with Negros Oriental.
Rebel atrocities
The series of atrocities perpetrated by the NPA in Negros Island threaten the peace and order situation as ambush incidents claimed lives of several policemen, and injured soldiers and civilians.
On July 21, six policemen and a civilian were killed in an ambush staged by suspected NPA rebels in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental.
Killed were Guihulngan City police chief Supt. Arnel Arpon, who hailed from Hinoba-an, Negros Occidental, and who served under the police units in Bacolod City and Bago City, before he was assigned to Negros Oriental.
Other fatalities included Senior Police Officers 2 Mecasio Tabilon and Chavic Agosto, SPO1 Jesael Ancheta, PO2s Alvin Paul Bulandres and Alfredo Dunque.Wounded were SPO4 Jerome Delara, PO3 Jordan Balderas and PO2 Jorie Maribao.
Arpon’s team responded to a call for assistance from a councilor, who reported that he was ambushed.
In October, personnel of Cauayan Municipal Police Station in Negros Occidental survived the ambush staged by alleged NPA members at Sitio Sohoton, Barangay Caliling.
However, Karl Christer Arvidson, a Brazilian national; Juliana Palmero, a Swedish national; and Jason Tumayao, their Filipino driver, were injured after they were caught in the middle of the crossfire on their way to Sipalay City for an outing.
On December 7, two soldiers were wounded after engaging in a firefight with suspected NPA rebels at Sitio Cunalom, Barangay Carabalan in Himamaylan City. (PNA)
