The NIR bill was approved by the Technical Working Group of the House Committee on Local Government co-chaired by Rep. Mercedes Alvarez (Neg. Occ., 6th District).*
Rep. Mercedes Alvarez (Neg. Occ., 6th District) said it is likely that the bill seeking the creation of the Negros Island Region, which includes Siquijor, will be approved by the House Committee on Local Government in January.
It is likely to be approved since the consolidated bill is co-authored by all the representatives of Negros Island and Siquijor, said Alvarez on Wednesday, December 14.
The NIR bill was approved by the committee’s Technical Working Group (TWG) co-chaired by Alvarez on Tuesday.
Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo, who is not in favor of the NIR, still has not sent his position paper to the TWG, she said.
Alvarez and Rep. Francisco Benitez thanked TWG co-chairman Rep. Eduardo Rama Jr. (Cebu City, 2nd District) and Committee on Local Government chairman Rep. Rex Gatchalian (Valenzuela City, 1st District) for their support for the bill.
Benitez, co-author of the House Bill 1446 seeking the creation of the new region, said for 300 years under the Spanish colonial government, Negros Occidental and Oriental were governed as a single province.
It was only in 1890 when Negros was divided into two provinces, he said.
“Re-unifying the two Negros provinces under one administrative region is necessary for economic growth to redound to the benefit of the people through the close economic coordination of the two Negros provinces,” he added.
“With the collective support of all Negrense congressmen, officials, and constituents, we shall fervently endeavor to pass the NIR bill into law”, Benitez said.
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said he is asking for a meeting with the Negros Oriental governor in early January to discuss the push for the NIR.
“We would like to reach out to Gov. Degamo to know what his concerns are”, Rep. Emilio Yulo III (Neg. Occ., 5th District) said.*