Bacolod City – Negros Occidental 6th district Rep. Mercedes Alvarez recently said that contrary to claims, the required procedures were strictly followed in the formulation in the approval of RA 12000, known as the Negros Island Region Act.
“We followed all the procedures. There is no need for a plebiscite because we are not creating a new local government unit. It is only the administrative aspect in governance. We are not creating a new political or elected position,” replied Alvarez, when asked for her comments on the petition filed before the Supreme Court to nullify the NIR Act, which was signed into law by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., two months ago.
Negros Occidental 5th district Rep.Emilio Bernardino said he believes that there is “no substantial issue to stop the implementation of the NIR.”
Petitioners Rev. Fr. Hendrix Alar, Lina Eparwa, Wilfredo Magallano, Marcelino Maxino, Jose Imaculado Palmitos, and Grace Sumalpong filed a temporary restraining order from the Supreme Court, claiming that the creation of NIR was illegal, as it was not submitted to the people through a plebiscite, nor was a public consultation held.
Alvarez further said that the purpose of creating NIR is more on bringing government services from the national government, to be more efficient.
Kabankalan City Mayor Benjie Miranda said that if the petitioners believe that there was a violation to the Constitution in the creation of the new region, it is their right to file a petition before the Supreme Court.
For me, what is law, is a law, Miranda said, apparently referring to the signing of NIR into law by PBBM.
While she also believes it is the right of petitioners to question it before the SC, maybe for me, give it a chance to implement NIR, Alvarez said.
The ceremonial signing of NIR Internal Rules and Regulations in Siquijor did not push through last week, due to the hectic schedules of solons deliberating the 2025 national budget.
An ad referendum will be held instead, where members of the NIR Technical Working Group will be sent copies of the IRR to hasten the process, Alvarez said.
If everybody in the TWG agrees to what we have agreed during our previous meeting, then we will continue, so that concerned government agencies in NIR may now proceed with their transition plans, the 6th district solon added.
The IRR will be signed by the governors of Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor, as well as the Department of Interior and Local Government. (Gilbert Bayoran via tvds)