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NIR creation thru EO mulled

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BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN

The initial reestablishment of Negros Island Region maybe fast tracked through the issuance of an executive by the Office of the President, as recommended by the Department of Interior and Local Government, before its passage into a law, disclosed siblings, Bacolod City Mayor-Elect Alfredo Benitez and Third District Rep. Jose Francisco Benitez.

We’re working on that, revealed Bacolod City Mayor-Elect Alfredo Benitez, who attended the inauguration of Negros Occidental elected provincial officials on June 25 at the Provincial Capitol Grounds in Bacolod City.

In his earlier meeting with President-Elect Marcos and incoming DILG Secretary Ben Hur Abalos, Benitez said that both are supportive for the re-establishment of NIR.

In the meantime, while we don’t have a law, we will do with an executive order, Bacolod City Mayor-elect Alfredo “Albee” Benitez said, as recalled that NIR was created in 2015 through an executive order issued by the late President Benigno Aquino III.

NIR was abolished by President Rodrigo Duterte in 2017 despite appeals from Negros Island officials for its retention.

Benitez said the NIR restoration through an executive order will tide over the transition until the law comes in.

Rep.  Benitez, the younger brother of Mayor Albee, also confirmed an ongoing discussion with President-Elect Marcos and some of members of the Executive Department, especially the DILG, on the initial NIR creation through an executive order.

Siquijor, which belongs to Region 7, expressed their intention to join NIR, the younger Benitez added.

On July 1, Rep. Benitez said that all 11 Negros solons, including seven from Negros Occidental, as well as Abang Lingkod party-list Rep. Stephen Joseph Paduano, three solons in Negros Oriental and Siquijor Rep. Zaldy Villa will jointly file a bill creating NIR.

As stipulated in the proposed NIR bill, the regional offices of infrastructure agencies will be in Bacolod City, while social services offices are up for establishment in Dumaguete City, with extension offices in both cities.

Senators Juan Miguel Zubiri and JV Ejercito assured Negrenses they will sponsor a similar bill in the Senate.

With the creation of NIR, we expect faster growth in both provinces of Negros Occidental and Oriental, disclosed Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson.*

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