BY CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO
The Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod expressed support to Senate Bill No. 2453 or The Negros Island Region Act filed by Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri.
The Bill also enjoined all cities and municipalities comprising Negros Occidental and Oriental to support the same.
The resolution authored by Councilor Al Victor Espino said that on May 29, 2015, former President Benigno Aquino lll signed Executive Order 183, which allowed the creation of Negros Island Region (NIR). However, this was subsequently revoked by President Rodrigo Duterte through E.O. 38.
On November 17, Zubiri filed Senate Bill No. 2453 which seeks to being together Neg. Occ. and Negros Or., establishing them as a single administrative region called Negros Island Administrative Region, it said.
Although it was previously tagged as an ” expensive exercise” as it would cost the government 19 billion pesos, Zubiri believes that it is worth the investment as it would be more commercial efficient having the two provinces under one administrative region, the resolution said.
The creation of NIR will accelerate the social and economic development, and the delivery of public services to the Negrenses, it added.*
