BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD – Congressional representatives in Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental are planning to file a bill creating the Negros Island Region (NIR) in the upcoming 19th Congress this July.
This time they will include the island province of Siquijor, said Negros Occidental 3rd District congressman Jose Francisco “Kiko” Benitez.
Siquijor previously sought to be included in the NIR created via then President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III’s executive order in 2015 but failed to make it.
President Rodrigo Duterte subsequently dissolved NIR in 2017 for lack of funds to operate it.
According to Benitez, three congressmen from Negros Oriental, six from Negros Occidental, and the Abanglingkod party-list agreed on the NIR revival.
All offices of major government agencies will be placed in Bacolod City, while extension offices will be in Dumaguete City.
Main offices that offer social welfare services will be in Dumaguete City with their extension offices in Bacolod City.
Meanwhile, Bacolod City mayor-elect Alfredo “Albee” Benitez confirmed he had a meeting with President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. for NIR’s revival./PN
