• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez, president of the Negros Association of Chief Executives, hailed the announcement of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to sign Negros Island Region bill into law, stressing that its benefits for three provinces are “huge.”
These benefits are key to improving life for our citizens and building a stronger region for the future, Benitez said in a statement.
President Marcos’ support for the Negros Island Region, by promising to sign the bill into law, deeply shows his understanding and respect for our wish to come together as one region, he added.
This support from our President is a clear sign of his recognition of our community’s spirit, the mayor further said.
The Negros ACE has strongly support the creation of NIR.
Benitez said the unity shown by the Negros Association of Chief Executives (ACE) and Provincial Government leaders in pushing for the One Negros Region starts a new era full of opportunities for our island, built on our shared culture, geography, and history.
He added that the plan promises to start projects that will help the people directly, and also make things more efficient by cutting down on travel times and making administrative work smoother.
We’ve always believed in the potential of a unified Negros. Our continuous support and hope have laid the groundwork for this significant progress. Now, as we’re about to make this dream come true, we’re filled with gratitude and happiness, Benitez said.
We want to give a big thank you to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for making our shared dream much closer to reality. But we also must thank the leaders and members of the Senate and Congress, as well as all the advocates of this bill, especially our own legislators. Your hard work and dedication have been essential, lighting the way towards a brighter, more united Negros, he stressed.
“As the President of the Negros Association of Chief Executives and Mayor of Victorias City, I stand with every Negrosanon, from both sides of the island and Siquijor, in celebrating this huge step forward. This isn’t just a win in the halls of legislation; it’s a strong statement of who we are and what we hope to achieve together,” he said further.*
