• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri yesterday said that the establishment of Negros Island Region (NIR) is 99 percent done, as it is sure to get the signature of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., as part of his administration’s priority measures.
The statement was made by Zubiri, following his attendance at the meeting of the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council meeting on Tuesday.
“But I am very confident that it will be signed into law soon, and we in the Senate are prepared to push for its proper funding for 2025,” the Senate president said.
The establishment of NIR, which was approved by the House of Representatives and Senate, is among the 42 priority legislative measures identified by the LEDAC, headed by President Marcos Jr.
Negros Occidental Reps. Jose Francisco Benitez and Alfredo Marañon III are hopeful that it will be signed into law by PBBM next month, and as the Lower House adopted the Senate version, it will no longer pass through a bicameral committee, and will go straight to Malacañang for appropriate action.
The NIR will be composed of the three provinces of Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, and island province of Siquijor.
Zubiri, whose paternal roots can be traced to Kabankalan, Negros Occidental, has long been an adamant proponent of the NIR.
“The people of Negros deserve efficient and accessible government services,” he stressed.
“They should not have to travel far at their own cost, crossing by ferry or plane to Iloilo or Cebu, just to transact with our regional government offices.”
Zubiri expressed confidence that it will be signed by the President.
“It just has to be transmitted to the President for his signature now,” he said.
“I am really grateful to all our Negros representatives and to the local officials, headed by Gov. Bong Lacson, Gov. Chaco Sagarbarria, and Gov. Jake Vincent Villa, who worked with me and Sen. JV Ejercito, as we spearheaded and fine-tuned the bill in the Senate”, Zubiri said.*
