Senator Imee Marcos on Thursday, May 23, reiterated that she is certain her brother, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., will sign the Negros Island Region bill into a law.
The bill that seeks to create the NIR composed of Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental and Siquijor is pending before the Office of the President.
Senator Marcos, who was Cadiz City in Negros Occidental, said “There are a lot of bills awaiting signing into law but I am certain it (the NIR bill) will be scheduled shortly”.
“The problem with the NIR bill, which will become a law, is that it requires a large budget so I am sure they are computing what is necessary to start transferring offices and to expedite infrastructure requirements,” she said.
Marcos was in Cadiz City for the distribution of P7.5 million in “Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS)” .The recipients were 2,500 residents of the Second District of Negros Occidental who received P3,000 each.
Cadiz City and Sagay City received P3 million each and Manapla got P1.5 million.
Marcos also conducted a mini forum with barangay, Sangguniang Kabataan and local officials at Balay Cadiznon on Senate bills she filed seeking the extension of the terms of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials and on amending the Local Government Code (LGC).
She said six-year terms for Barangay and SK officials will give them sufficient time to fully implement projects and programs, as the current three-year term is insufficient.
She also highlighted the importance of rectifying certain provisions of the LGC for the effective implementation of authority in local government units.
Cadiz Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr. and Vice Mayor Lilia Decolongon, Sagay City Vice Mayor Leo Rafael Cueva, and Manapla Mayor Manuel Escalante III and Vice Mayor Edgar Pagayonan joined Marcos at the forum.*