• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Negros Island Region (NIR), which is due for signing into law by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., is “very advantageous” to the 5th district of Negros Occidental, Rep. Emilio Bernardino Yulo disclosed on Saturday.
One of the co-authors of NIR bill, Yulo said the 5th district of Negros Occidental, which is composed of municipalities of Moises Padilla, La Castellana, Isabela, Hinigaran and Binalbagan, as well as Himamaylan City, have direct borders with towns and cities in Negros Oriental.
“We have different portals to the other side of the island,” he said pointing to the traditional La Castellana-Canlaon City Road, Isabela-Luz Sikatuna leading to Guihulngan City, and Himamaylan City to Tayasan town.
In a press briefing in Hinigaran, after the distribution of AKAP financial aid to 2,150 fisherfolk in coastal LGUs of the 5th district, Yulo said he also opened new roads in Brgy. Macagahay, Moises Padilla to Brgy. Trinidad in Guihulngan City, and another in Sitio Amontay in Binalbagan to La Libertad, he added.
“All LGUs in the 5th district, except for Hinigaran will have roads leading to Negros Oriental,” the solon pointed out.
Yulo, recently led the “motor turismo” from Himamaylan City, passing all the LGUs in the 5th district, crossed to Guihulngan City, Vallehermoso and Canlaon City in Negros Oriental, to promote tourism of his district.
He also welcomed the suggestion of Dumaguete City Mayor Felipe Remollo to build a mountain highway from Bayawan City, Negros Oriental in the south, to Cadiz City, Negros Occidental in the north of the island.
“We already have concrete roads in the mountain areas of the district that will easily connect to a highway if that suggestion materializes,” Yulo said.
Asked about its effect on the economy and peace and order in the 5th district, Yulo said “in terms of budgetary requirements, under the present set up in Western Visayas, the budget will be divided into six provinces. But under NIR, only three provinces, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor will divide it.”
It is also vital to the peace and order campaign, as development will now be centered in boundaries, the solon said, stressing also “that is why, we are exerting extra efforts to visit mountain barangays, to ensure government presence in those areas.”
“With roads there is development, with development there is progress and with progress, it will buy us peace. There is nothing more important than the politics of the stomach. If there is good life in the mountain areas they will not demand anything from the government,” Yulo stressed.
He also expressed optimism that the NIR bill will be signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. into law before his State of the Nation Address (SONA), as he committed during his recent visit to the province.
The president has three options – sign within 30 days, veto it, or allow it to lapse into law, Yulo said.*
