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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Senate OKs Negros Island Region Act

Senate OKs Negros Island Region Act

Published Mar 13, 2024 03:16 am

The Senate has approved on third and final reading the bill seeking to revive the creation of the Negros Island Region.

 

Passage of Senate Bill No. 2507 into law will pave the way for the merger of the provinces of Negros Occidental, including the City of Bacolod, Negros Oriental and Siquijor. 

 

The bill, sponsored and authored by Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito, garnered 22 affirmative votes, no negative vote and abstentions. 

 

According to Ejercito, the goal of the measure is for the six clusters of regional offices to be divided between the two halves of the island to ensure the effective delivery of government services.

 

As the administrative division of Negros Island has not been conducive to regional development, the lawmaker said the creation of the NIR will strengthen local autonomy and accelerate the economic, cultural, and social and development of the region.
 

 

"With the passage of this measure, the Negros Island Region, or ‘NIR,’ is one step nearer to reality,” Ejercito said. 

 

“The idea for this bill was first planted three decades ago, with the approval of this chamber today, it will soon bear fruit,” he said. 

 

In 2015, the NIR was established through Executive Order No. 183 but was later abolished through Executive Order No. 38 in 2017. 

 

But in a meeting in Manila last September 2023, the current governors of Negrocs Occidental, Negros Oriental and Siquijor, together with Ejercito and Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and Special Assistant to the President Anton Lagdameo expressed their support for the bill, citing the inefficiency and red-tape as the main reason for pushing for a united Negros Island. 

Related Tags

jv ejercito Senate of the Philippines Negros Island Region (NIR)
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