BACOLOD CITY – Officials of the province of Negros Occidental are elated over the pronouncement of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. that he intends to sign the Negros Island Region (NIR) bill.
NEGROS Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson talks to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. during the distribution of Certificates of Land Ownership Awards (CLOAs) to farmer-beneficiaries in Bago City on Monday, April 8. (Photo courtesy of Richard Malihan/Capitol PIO)
The President was in Negros Occidental on Monday, April 8, for the ceremonial energization of the Cebu-Negros-Panay 230kV Backbone Project of the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) and the distribution of Certificates of Land Ownership Awards (CLOAs) to farmer-beneficiaries in Bago City.
Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said this what they have been waiting for. “From the very beginning when it was approved in the Lower House and the Senate, we were already confident that the President would support it,” he added.
Vice Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer mentioned his requests to the President, the passage of the NIR bill and the execution of the Panay-Guimaras Island Bridges Project, both of which he hopes will soon materialize.
Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez, president of the Negros Association of Chief Executives (ACE) Inc., said that they are very happy because when the NIR pushes through, it will benefit the province’s economy and other programs and will strengthen the cooperation of the region.
Fifth district rep. Emilio Yulo and sixth district Rep. Mercedes Alvarez-Lansang thanked the President for such a positive note on the NIR bill.
"We are very happy. This is a very beautiful gift to our island and Siquijor," Lansang said, adding that lawmakers in Negros Occidental have been pushing for the measure.
She is hoping that the President will sign the NIR bill into law before his State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA) this year.
Bacolod City Rep. Greg Gasataya said they appreciate the pronouncement of the President and are looking forward to the law.
The Senate approved a bill reviving the creation of the NIR on March 12.
Senate Bill No. 2507, also known as the Negros Island Region Act, encompasses Negros Occidental (including Bacolod City), Negros Oriental, and Siquijor.
It was created through an executive order issued by then President Benigno S. Aquino III in 2015 but was abolished through an executive order issued by then President Rodrigo R. Duterte in 2017.