BACOLOD City – The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) supports a proposed law reviving the Negros Island Region (NIR) abolished by President Rodrigo Duterte when he assumed the presidency.
The city council passed a resolution on Wednesday, expressing support to Senate Bill (SB) No. 2453, or the NIR Act, filed by Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri, and enjoining all cities and municipalities comprising Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental to support the same.
Councilor Al Victor Espino, author of the resolution, said the revival of NIR will accelerate the region’s social and economic development.
“Although it was previously tagged as an ‘expensive exercise’ as it would cost the government P19 billion, Zubiri believes that it is worth the investment. It would be more economical and efficient having the two provinces under one administrative region,” Espino said.
On May 29, 2015, the late President Benigno Aquino III signed Executive Order No. 183, which created NIR.
This was revoked by Duterte through Executive Order No.38 on August 7, 2017./PN
