• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Negros Island Region (NIR), after its creation is signed into law by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at 2 p.m., today at Malacañan Palace in Manila, will become the 18th region of the country.
Malacañang sent invitations to the governors of Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental and Siquijor, which will compose the new administrative region, and other concerned officials to attend the signing ceremony.
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Wednesday that he was among those invited to witness the signing of the NIR Act into law.
“As a whole, we are happy from both sides, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental and Siquijor,” Lacson said.
The NIR was initially established in 2015 through an executive order issued by the late President Benigno S. Aquino III. However, it was abolished by his successor, Rodrigo Duterte, in August 2017 due to funding issues.
After the NIR Act is signed into law, “there is so much to be done”, Lacson said, especially the setting up of regional offices and the Regional Development Council.
“We will just do it one step at a time. The fact that the President will sign it into law is already an achievement for all of us,” he added.
Negros Occidental Third District Rep. Jose Francisco Benitez, who co-authored the NIR bill in the House of Representatives, said that June 13 is history unfolding for the people of Negros as Marcos is set to sign the creation of the new Visayas region.
Benitez said that the establishment of NIR will bring government services closer to the people of Negros Island and Siquijor, and facilitate integrated development planning towards inclusive, resilient and sustainable development in the region.
“We hope that the Department of the Interior and Local Government will immediately convene the technical working group that will iron out the institutional arrangements for the transition,” he added.
Under the present set-up, Negros Occidental belongs to Region 6 while Negros Oriental and the island-province of Siquijor are under Region 7.
Benitez also thanked the President for his support to the dream of Negrosanons to have a separate administrative region for Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental and Siquijor.
“We are indebted also to the support of Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and our kasimanwa former Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, and the dedication of all Negros and Siquijor congressmen, and our champions in the Senate, especially our kasimanwa Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito, who all worked together to shepherd the NIR bill,” the solon further said.
Bacolod City Lone District Rep. Greg Gasataya said that the ceremonial signing of the law establishing the NIR is a huge victory for the region as this means that government services will finally be brought closer to Negrosanons, Siquijodnons, and Bacolodnons.
“The unity shown by Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental and Siquijor only emphasizes our commitment to quality and accessible public services for our constituents. This pivotal policy will help steer our attention and efforts in planning consolidated efforts to spur growth and development in the region and improve the quality of life within our jurisdiction,” Gasataya said.
“No longer will our people have to cross mountains or seas just to avail of the services they deserve. There is no better way to welcome our 126th Independence Day than institutionalizing our cohesion as one region for the sake of better service for our people,” he added.
Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said he is excited that the NIR, being a separate region, will soon create a lot of benefits to its people.
“More infrastructure and development projects, creation of more growth areas, opening of more government positions that will give opportunities to our local government workers, reduced bureaucratic processes as we will have our own regional offices here in Negros, are just of the benefits that the NIR will bring,” Benitez said.
Negros Occidental Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer, who is Marcos’ personal adviser in Western Visayas, thanked the President for fulfilling the dream of Negrosanons.
“Finally, the rebirth of NIR will happen, and it will be forever and ever,” Ferrer said.
Negros Occidental Fifth District Rep. Emilio Bernardino Yulo said that the NIR will spur more development, especially in rural areas and uplands of the province, and would lead to sustainable peace and order.
Both the Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBBCI) and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) in Region 7 hailed the scheduled signing of the NIR bill into law today.
MBCCI chief executive officer Frank Carbon called the NIR “a boon for business,” which would create a synergy to boost both local business and tourism.
Carbon said that the creation of the new region would enhance inter-provincial road connectivity and upgrade Negros Island’s airports and seaports.
The creation of the new region would have a positive domino effect on power generation and transmission, and development of water sources, he added.
In his Facebook account, Edward Du, the governor of PCCI Region 7, said “Happy Independent Negros Island Region. Tomorrow, we will be reunited again with our Siamese twin Ilonggo brothers and sisters”. | GB
