• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
With the anticipated signing into law of the bill creating the Negros Island Region (NIR), an opposition has been raised by Bishop Julito Cortes of the Diocese of Dumaguete.
For Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, why only now?
“While they may come up with a position, but I’m just wondering why they are coming up with it just now. Why not when it was deliberated in both Houses of Congress,” Lacson said on Monday (March 25).
In Dumaguete City, Cortes said in a media interview that the passage of the NIR is “an insult to the people”.
“There is a strong opposition. Our congressmen are supposed to represent the voice of the people, I believe,” the bishop added.
The NIR will be composed of Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental and island-province of Siquijor.
All the three Negros Oriental lawmakers have joined their seven colleagues in Negros Occidental and the one in Siquijor in sponsoring the bill creating the NIR.
Cortes said that they will come up with a statement with regards to the NIR creation, which they will have to discuss thoroughly.
Negros Occidental Sixth District Rep. Mercedes Alvarez said on March 23 that the NIR bill will be transmitted to Malacañang next month for signing into law by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Lacson said that a vast majority are in favor of the creation of the NIR, adding that Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and Senator Juan Victor Ejercito, who both have family roots in Negros Occidental, went all out to have the bill approved.
“I am sure they will also convince the President of the favorable impact of the NIR creation,” the governor said. | GB
