• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The creation of the Negros Island Region is now almost reality.
This is after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday aired his commitment to sign the Negros Island Region bill, which the House of Representatives is transmitting to Malacañang, for his approval.
The proposed Negros Island Region (NIR) is composed of Negros Occidental, which presently belongs to Region 6, and Negros Oriental and Siquijor, both under Region 7.
“It makes sense because it is difficult for those in Oriental and Occidental to go to the regional centers,” Marcos said at the sidelines of the ceremonial energization of the Cebu-Negros-Panay (CNP) 230-kV Backbone Project sub-grids at the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) compound in Brgy. Mansilingan, Bacolod City, on April 8.
“It has been a problem for so long already. Until we can consolidate and put it all together properly it’s very hard to bring services to the people,” the President pointed out.
Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor earlier aired his support to NIR, although Dumaguete Bishop Julito Cortes in Negros Oriental, has expressed opposition.
The reason for the push of making it into a single region, according to the President, is that it will have its own regional offices.
“It’s probably a good idea. So I will sign it,” Marcos said, although he did not give a timeframe on when he will sign the NIR bill.
Negros solons who coauthored the NIR bill are optimistic that it will be signed into law before the State of the Nation Address of President Marcos Jr. in July this year.*
