• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
A P1.2-billion annual budget allocation for the establishment of the regional offices of the newly-created Negros Island Region (NIR) has been proposed under Republic Act 12000 or the NIR Act for the next three years.
Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito, who is among the principal authors of the NIR Act, said yesterday that under the law, the Congress has to allocate funds for the new region.
“It’s the congressmen’s job to include it in the House budget,” he added.
Negros Occidental Sixth District Rep. Mercedes Alvarez is optimistic on the inclusion of NIR budget in the proposed P6.352 trillion budget for 2025.
“During the series of budget hearings, where all major government departments are appearing, I will question them about the budgets of their respective offices in the NIR,” she added.
Alvarez said that the NIR legislators will discuss the budget during the convening of the new region technical working group (TWG).
Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, who is also among the principal authors of the NIR creation, earlier expressed his intention to join the TWG meeting.
The governors of Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental and Siquijor, NIR legislators, representatives of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Budget and Management, and the National Economic Development Authority comprise the NIR TWG.
Aside from the annual budget, expected to be discussed are the new region road map and the establishments of the regional offices as listed in the law, among other key issues.
Negros Occidental Third District Rep. Jose Francisco Benitez said that he is looking forward to the TWG meeting that will establish the details for implementing the NIR, making government services more accessible and efficient. | GB
