Negros Oriental governor welcomes passage of Negros Island Region bill
CEBU CITY – The governor of Negros Oriental welcomed the passage of Senate Bill No. 2507 bill that will create the Negros Island Region (NIR).

SAGABARRIA (FB)
Gov. Chaco Sagabarria said there will be a lot of advantages if Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental will become a single regional entity.
“So far, good news man tanan. Regarding the NIR, I see it as an advantage sa among mga provinces. Lahi ra gyud if your national agencies is murag right around the corner (So far, everything is good news. Regarding the NIR, I see it as an advantage to our provinces. It’s very different if your national agencies are just right around the corner),” Sagarbarria told reporters on the sidelines of the Regional Development Council-Central Visayas (RDC-7) meeting at the Cebu Capitol Social Hall here on Thursday, March 14.
The Senate recently passed the NIR bill on third and final reading. If signed into law, the two Negros provinces, the independent city of Bacolod, and Siquijor province will be part of the NIR.
Negros Occidental is currently part of Western Visayas, together with the provinces of Iloilo, Capiz, Aklan, Antique, and Guimaras. Negros Oriental and Siquijor are under Central Visayas, along with Cebu and Bohol provinces.
Sagabarria said the creation of NIR will not affect the relationship of the provinces under Central Visayas.
“I don’t see any change when it comes to the relationship…I don’t see (that we’re being left out) but it makes things a lot easier (to have national government agencies nearby). Dako gyud og deperensya (There’s a big difference),” Sagarbarria said.
SB No. 2507 was sponsored and co-authored by Sen. JV Ejercito. It received 22 affirmative votes and no negative votes and abstentions on third reading recently.
The NIR was established in 2015 through Executive Order No. 183 issued by then President Benigno S. Aquino III. It was abolished in 2017 by then President Rodrigo Duterte through Executive Order No. 38.