BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – During his campaign run in Negros Occidental, the now presumptive president-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. expressed support to the revival of the Negros Island Region (NIR).
This pronouncement earned for him the support of mayors both in Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental provinces.
Will he make good on his word?
Negros Occidental vice governor Jeffrey Ferrer said if the NIR were to be established, a law must be passed.
In November of last year, Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri filed Senate Bill No. 2453 or the Negros Island Region Act.
The NIR was first established on May 29, 2015 by then President Benigno Aquino III via Executive Order 183.
However, the region was dissolved in October of 2017 by President Rodrigo Duterte, pointing out that establishing a region needed a law, not an executive order. He also said there was no money to fund the new region.
In recent years, there have been talks of reviving NIR but with the inclusion of the island province of Guimaras or Siquijor.
Siquijor officials have expressed interest on their island province becoming part of NIR./PN
