Zubiri confident on PBBM's signing of Negros Island Region Act
By Dhel Nazario
At A Glance
- Senate President Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri says he's sure that the proposed Negros Island Region (NIR) Act will ultimately get President Marcos' signature.
Senate President Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri says he's sure that the proposed Negros Island Region (NIR) Act will ultimately get President Marcos' signature.
Zubiri mentioned this following the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) meeting in Malacañang last Tuesday, March 19.
The NIR Act, which is part of the LEDAC priority measures, proposes to bring the provinces of Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor together under one administrative region.
It has the full support of all the district representatives and the local officials of the three provinces. Zubiri said the proposal is 99 percent done.
At present, Negros Occidental belongs to Region VI while Negros Oriental and Siquijor are under Region VII. This places their regional centers in Iloilo and Cebu, respectively.
The Senate President, whose paternal roots can be traced to Kabankalan, Negros Occidental, has long been a staunch proponent of the NIR.
“The people of Negros deserve efficient and accessible government services,” he stressed. “They should not have to travel far at their own cost, crossing by ferry or plane to Iloilo or Cebu, just to transact with our regional government offices.”
The House of Representatives has already adopted the Senate version of the NIR Act, said Zubiri.
“It just has to be transmitted to the President for his signature now,” he said. “But I am very confident that it will be signed into law soon, and we in the Senate are prepared to push for its proper funding for 2025,” he said.
“I am really grateful to all our Negros representatives and to the local officials, headed by Governor Bong Lacson, Governor Chaco Sagarbarria, and Governor Jake Vincent Villa, who worked with me and Senator JV Ejercito as we spearheaded and fine-tuned the bill in the Senate,” he added.