Bacolod City – Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri announced recently that the committee report on the proposed Negros Island Region will be presented to the plenary by the end of September.
Zubiri, the principal author of NIR bill in the Senate, said he expects nobody to oppose the NIR bill, with the committee report to the presented by Senator Juan Victor Ejercito, chairman of the Senate committee on Local Government.
The House of Representatives already approved the NIR bill, which was forwarded to the Senate for concurrence.
Zubiri said he is hoping that it will be approved before the year ends, God willing.
The proposed new region in Visayas will be composed of Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor.
Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero also expressed his support for the establishment of another region in Visayas, which he also did when the NIR was previously created through an executive order issued by the late President Benigno Aquino III.
While it would be beneficial to Negros residents, it may also entail additional costs for the national government, Escudero said.
“I guess the Department of Budget and Management has something to say about that. Let’s wait and see,” he added.
Zubiri also said that he is willing to sponsor the creation of another political district in highly urbanized Bacolod City, which is sponsored by Lone District Rep. Greg Gasataya.
It will be good for the people of Bacolod City, the Senate president said, stressing that if it will be approved, it would mean additional funding for projects in Bacolod City. (Gilbert Bayoran via TVDS photo by TVDS)
