• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Presidential sister and Senator Imee Marcos yesterday said she is certain that her brother, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., will sign the Negros Island Region bill into law.
Senator Marcos made the declaration in the wake of opposition from the Diocese of Dumaguete in Negros Oriental, and Siquijor residents, who are appealing to PBBM to veto the NIR, allegedly for lack of consultation.
While she is confident that it will be signed into law, Senator Marcos, however, said “I am not certain just yet when it will be scheduled,” stressing also that there were so many bills to be passed, after Congress went on recess last week.
I’m certain it will be scheduled shortly. But the problem with the Negros Island Region bill, which will become law, it requires quite a large budget, she said.
I’m sure they are computing what is necessary to start transferring offices, and to also expedite infrastructure requirements such as power and port connections, and even the bridges that have been promised a long time ago, Senator Marcos said.
The budget considerations are probably being undertaken now, she added.
Negros Island lawmakers, who coauthored the NIR bill, and local government officials are optimistic that NIR bill will be signed into law before the State Of the Nation Address of PBBM in July.
Senator Marcos also led the ceremonial distribution of P7.5 million in AICS (Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation) to 2,500 beneficiaries in cities of Cadiz and Sagay, as well as Manapla, at the Cadiz Arena.
Each beneficiary received P3,000.
On the other hand, Senator Marcos also consulted barangay leaders of the 2nd district of Negros Occidental, composed of cities of Sagay and Cadiz, as well as Manapla, on her proposed bill to set a fix term for barangay officials.
The presidential sister has filed a bill seeking to extend the term of barangay officials to six years.
In her bill, Marcos cited the need for a fixed six year term for barangay officials due to the “countless postponements of the barangay elections” and “clear indications of the perennial problem of the insufficiency of the term of barangay officials.”
Cadiz City Mayor Salvador Escalante expressed his support for the bill.
Imagine, there will be less elections, less expenses, Escalante said, stressing that the government may save P18 billion to P20 billion for each election.*
