• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
With the Senate expected to tackle the proposed Negros Island Region after the State Of the Nation Address of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on July 24, opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros yesterday said that she will study and participate actively in the interpellation of the proposed bill.
As an Ilongga from Panay, Hontiveros recalled that its short-lived implementation in previous years was a “very exciting experiment” in terms of geography and ecosystem, although it was “challenging” in terms of languages.
The executive order issued by former President Benigno Aquino III that created a Negros Island Region was revoked by his successor, former President Rodrigo Duterte, in 2016.
The House of Representatives in 19th Congress have already approved the creation of NIR, which will include the provinces of Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental and Siquijor.
Senator JV Ejercito, chairperson of the Senate committee on Local Government, has already included it in the agenda for hearing by his committee, although the date has not yet finalized.*
