NEGROS OCCIDENTAL- A manifesto appealing for President Rodrigo Duterte to retain the Negros Island Region (NIR) was launched Saturday.

Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr., who led the signing of the manifesto, urged Negrenses to pray that the President will reconsider his earlier decision to dissolve the newly-created Region 18.

NIR is composed of Occidental and Oriental Negros, with 19 cities, 39 municipalities and 1,219 barangay in 10 congressional districts.

According to the manifesto, the two provinces now enjoy easy access to regional offices and a more focused and integrated development planning and implementation of programs and projects.

The manifesto further emphasized that the existence of the NIR will not incur additional cost to the national government and assures the President that NIR will be able to effectively function with the status quo on the budget.

The manifesto signing was launched during the commemoration of the 118th Al Cinco de Noviembre at the Provincial Capitol in Bacolod City.

Al Cinco de Noviembre is the historic bloodless revolution led by Negrense revolutionaries against the Spaniards in November 5, 1898.