Negros Occidental officials on Thursday, Dec. 14, welcomed the Senate’s approval of Senate Bill No. 2507 or An Act Establishing the Negros Island Region (NIR) on second reading.
“I look forward to its passage at third reading when the Senate resumes and finally into law. It should help bring government closer to the people of Negros and speed up government processes and spur faster development,” Rep. Francisco Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) said on Thursday, Dec. 14.
Senate Bill 2507 seeks to create the NIR composed of Negros Occidental and Oriental, Bacolod City, and Siquijor.
Benitez along with all of the representatives on of Negros Occidental and Oriental, and Siquijor, authored House Bill No. 7355 that seeks the creation of the NIR, which was approved in the Lower House in March.
The Senate is expected to approve Senate Bill 2507 on third and final reading early next year, Benitez said.
The House and Senate versions of the bill will then be consolidated for submission to the president, who hopefully will sign it into law, he added.
Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said the Senate’s approval of its counterpart measure “is a step closer to establishing the NIR”.
Victorias Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez, Negros Association of Chief Executives president, said the Senate’s move is great news.
“Hoping it passes the Senate and our President BBM signs it for the Negrosanons. Let’s all support this.”
Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito, authors of the NIR bill in the Senate, on Wednesday informed DIGICAST NEGROS of its passage on second reading.*