There is no problem with Negros Island Region being renamed to Negros Island-Siquijor Administrative Region but more important right now is to make it functional, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Thursday, June 20.
President Marcos signed the law establishing the NIR composed of Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental and Siquijor on June 13.
Lacson said the law creating the NIR has already been signed by the president so the name cannot easily be changed.
“More important right now is how to make NIR functional already but yes down the road we can consider including Siquijor in the name of the region, but I don’t think that’s the priority now,” Lacson said.
Lacson said the priority right now is to come up with the NIR Internal Rules and Regulations and how to set up the difference offices.
Even more important now is to push for a budget for 2025 as Congress prepares the General Appropriations Act, Lacson said.
Lacson said he is hoping the NIR will be functional soon.
The governor said he will step down as chairman of the Western Visayas Regional Peace and Order Council during its next meeting in August since Negros Occidental is no longer part of Region 6.
Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez is also expected to step down as Western Visayas Regional Development Council chairman.
Lacson is lobbying for Benitez to head the NIR Regional Development Council.*