The Senate unanimously approved the Negros Island Region Act on third and final reading on Tuesday, March 12, Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito said.
“With the passage of this measure, the Negros Island Region, or NIR, is finally one step nearer to reality,” Ejercito said.
The bill seeks to revive the creation of the Negros Island Region to be composed of the provinces of Negros Occidental, including Bacolod City, Negros Oriental and Siquijor, he said.
Senate Bill No. 2507 or the NIR Act, which was sponsored and co-authored by Ejercito, received 22 affirmative votes and no negative votes or abstentions.
Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, principal author of the bill, said “the people of Negros have been waiting for this for a long time.”
“The current administrative division of the island has always posed a problem to its residents, who are forced to travel all the way to either Cebu or Iloilo in order to reach regional government offices,” said Zubiri, whose father is from Kabankalan City in Negros Occidental.
“It is hard to deliver people-centered governance under this set-up. We have to make our government services as accessible as possible,” he said.
Negros Occidental is currently part of Western Visayas and Negros Oriental and Siquijor are part of Central Visayas.
“I am hopeful that President Marcos sees the need for a united NIR, which is our way of bringing our services straight to our people. It is certain to improve the ease of doing business in the region, which will both empower our residents and also raise the confidence of investors in our capacity to facilitate efficient government transactions,” Zubiri said.
PROMISE FULFILLED
The Senate approval of the bill is “a promise fulfilled, a challenge up ahead,” Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said.
Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said “it is a milestone marking a crucial step towards regional progress and unity”.
Rep. Francisco Benitez (Neg. Occ, 3rd District), one of the authors of the Lower House version of the bill, said “I am grateful to the senators, particularly Migz Zubiri and JV Ejercito for their commitment to passing the NIR bill. It has been awaited for a long time”.
“We are a few steps away from turning it into law that can speed up the delivery of services and facilitate further development in the NIR to the benefit not only of the residents of NIR, but the Visayas and the Philippines”, he said.
“This is a great milestone for all Negrenses in our dream for a united and prosperous Negros,” Benitez said.
Rep. Mercedes Alvarez (Neg. Occ., 6th District) said “we are thankful of the promise fulfilled by our good senators, especially SP Migz Zubiri and Sen. JV Ejercito. I was in the Senate when it was passed and no opposition was made, I am grateful to all the Senators for their support”.
Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya said “It is a game changer in bringing public services closer to Negrenses and Bacolodnons and will enhance quality of life for residents”.
Former Negros Occidental governor Rafael Coscolluela said “We thank the Senate for giving NIR, should be Negros-Siquijor Region or NSR, another chance to make our dream a reality. I hope we – the people and officials of NSR – can unite as one in realizing the full potentials of our islands”.
‘STRENGTHEN LOCAL AUTONOMY’
“The idea for this bill was first planted three decades ago, with the approval of this chamber today, it will soon bear fruit”, Ejercito said.
Ejercito, whose mother is from Bacolod City, said the goal is for the six clusters of regional offices to be divided between the two halves of Negros Island to ensure the effective delivery of services.
As the administrative division of Negros Island has not been conducive to regional development, Ejercito said the NIR law will strengthen local autonomy and accelerate the economic, cultural, and social and development of the region.
“What we have been fighting for for a long time will soon come true. Fast and smooth service is coming to Negros Island. Thank you for fighting the good fight, and keeping the faith,” Ejercito, told the Negros and Siquijor lawmakers who have been pushing for the establishment of the NIR.
“We would like to thank our colleagues for their support. Specifically, I would like to thank our Negrense-in-Chief, Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri, for putting momentum behind this bill. He’s not just a sweet talker, he’s also a consensus-builder”, Ejercito said.
FULL SUPPORT
In a meeting in Manila in September 2023 with Ejercito, Zubiri and Special Assistant to the President Anton Lagdameo, the current governors of Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor— Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, Gov. Chaco Sagarbarria, and Gov. Jake Villa, expressed their full support for bill.
They cited inefficiency and red-tape as the main reason for seeking a united Negros Island, Ejercito said.
The House of Representatives unanimously approved on third and final reading House Bill No. 7355 which seeks the creation of the NIR on March 6, 2023.
It was authored by all of the representatives of Negros Island and Siquijor.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s signature is needed for the NIR bill to become a law.
In 2015, the NIR was established through Executive Order No. 183 issued by then President Benigno Aquino III. However, it was abolished in 2017 by President Rodrigo Duterte through Executive Order No. 38.*