Bacolod City – The proposed Negros Island Region bill is now up for deliberations in the plenary hall of the House of Representatives.
This, after Rep. Jose Francisco Benitez (3rd district, Negros Occ.) announced that the Committee on Local Government recently approved a substitute bill creating the Negros Island Region, which includes the island province of Siquijor, during a virtual hearing.
Benitez sponsored the bill, co-authored by Negros Island solons, that pushes for creation of the NIR that includes Siquijor.
Rep. Juliet Marie de Leon Ferrer (4th District, Negros Occidental) explained that administrative regions are established to promote efficiency in government to better serve the people, as well as to promote social and economic development in the covered area.
The proposed NIR would include the provinces of Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Siquijor, Bacolod City, and all the cities, municipalities and barangays therein.
The bill substituted House Bill 119 introduced by Ferrer; HB 330 by Rep. Alfredo Marañon III (2nd District, Negros Occidental); and HB 1446 by Rep. Jose Francisco Benitez (3rd District, Negros Occidental); Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano (Party-list, ABANG LINGKOD); Rep. Gerardo Valmayor, Jr. (1st District, Negros Occidental); Rep. Emilio Bernardino Yulo (5th District, Negros Occidental); Rep. Mercedes Alvarez (6th District, Negros Occidental) and Rep. Greg Gasataya (Lone District, Bacolod City).
Valenzuela Rep. Rex Gatchalian is the chairperson of the House Committee on Local Government.
Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo had signified opposition to the creation of the NIR, which proposes to include Siquijor.
Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson earlier said he is eyeing a meeting with Degamo next week, to discuss the proposed unification of two provinces as one region.
In his opposition to the NIR creation, Degamo cited “cultural differences.”
The proposed NIR bill is also supported by five senators, including Senate president Juan Miguel Zubiri.
The NIR was first established through an executive order issued by the late President Benigno Aquino III in 2015. It was however dissolved by his successor, former President Rodrigo Duterte, in 2017. (Gilbert Bayoran via The Visayan Daily Star (TVDS), photo courtesy of TVDS)