• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said on yesterday that the Negros Island Region (NIR) bill was passed “based on merits”, not because of the personalities who approved it.
Lacson made the clarification in the wake of the apprehension raised by some quarters that it will not be approved by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., following the ouster of Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri as Senate president.
Zubiri principally authored the NIR bill, which was overwhelmingly approved by the Senate.
The proposed new region will be composed of Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental and Siquijor.
Senator Imee Marcos, who recently visited Negros Occidental, said the NIR bill is now in the Office of the President.
Lacson, like Senator Marcos, is confident that the President will sign it into law. | GB
