Siquijor that is currently under Central Visayas wants to become part of the Negros Island Region (NIR) because of its proximity, Rep. Francisco Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) said Monday, January 16.
A substitute bill filed by Benitez and the rest of the Negros Occidental representatives, seeks the creation of the NIR, which will include Siquijor.
The bill was approved by the House Committee on Local Government on January 10.
Benitez said its takes five hours to travel from Siquijor to Cebu, and 30 minutes to an hour to Dumaguete City in Negros Oriental.
It means Siquijor would be closer to offices of national government agencies as part of NIR, he added
Before Siquijor became an independent province, historically it was part of Negros Oriental, he also pointed out.*