Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said on Wednesday, July 26, that hopefully there will be a law creating the Negros Island Region (NIR) before the end of the year.
Zubiri said he expects the Senate to approve the bill seeking the creation of the NIR, composed of Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental and Siquijor, before the end of September or before their October break.
He will speak to Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito, who chairs the Senate Committee on Local Government, about preparing the committee report on the NIR for submission to the plenary, Zubiri said.
Zubiri said he does not expect any opposition to the NIR in the Senate.
The House of Representatives version of the bill has already been approved.
Zubiri said he will also support the move to create a second Bacolod congressional district, and is willing to author the Senate version of the bill as long as it meets the qualifications required.
The redistricting bill authored by Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya is pending before the House Committee on Local Government, which is chaired by Rep. Mercedes Alvarez (Neg. Occ., 6th District).
“Anything good for Bacolod and Negros Occidental will be supported by me 1,000 percent,” Zubiri said.
He said a second congressional district would mean additional funding for Bacolod City that will benefit its residents.*