Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito said the first Senate committee hearing on the bills seeking the creation of the Negros Island Region will be held on Monday, December 5.
The hearing will be conducted by the Senate Committee on Local Government chaired by Ejercito.
Five senators have filed separate bills seeking the creation of an NIR composed of Negros Occidental and Oriental.
The five bills filed this year are:
*SBN-89: Negros Island Administrative Region Act, an act establishing the Negros Island Region to be known as Region XVIII filed by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri on July 7;
*SBN-812: Negros Island Region Act filed by Senator Win Gatchalian on July 25;
*SBN-1236: Negros Island Region Act of 2022 filed by Ejercito on August 31;
*SBN-1422: One Negros Island Act filed by Senator Ramon Revilla Jr. on October 27; and
*SBN-1469: Negros Island Region Act of 2022 filed by Senator Manuel “Lito” Lapid on November 7.
Ejercito said there is big chance the Senate will approve the consolidated bills seeking the creation of the NIR because he and Zubiri are pushing for it.
They both have roots in Negros Occidental.
Counterpart bills seeking the creation of the NIR that will include Siquijor have also been filed in the Lower House by the Negros Island and Siquijor representatives.*