Bizmen push for NIR rebirth via EO first

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – Businessmen in Negros Occidental and Oriental expressed their strong support for the “re-establishment of a separate, stand-alone and full-fledged region, which will encompass Negros and Siquijor islands.”

In a joint statement, business leaders in both provinces are pushing for the rebirth of the Negros Island Region (NIR) through an executive order first while Congress deliberates on a proposed bill for its creation.

The statement was signed by Roberto Montelibano and Frank Carbon, president and executive officer of the Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry, respectively; Edward Du, head of the Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Edgar Sy, president of the Bacolod Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Arthur Aguilar, Biopower Group of Companies president; and Eduardo Jereza, corporate secretary of the Negros Economic Development Foundation.

The statement said, “it is time for Negrosanons and Siquijornons to be given their own empowered Regional Development Council, which coupled with the fair implementation of the Mandanas decision, would finally provide our regional elected leaders with the sufficient autonomy to unite, plan and execute projects to benefit our citizens.”

Currently, Negros Oriental and Siquijor are both under Region 7, while Negros Occidental is under Region 6.

On his part, Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson aired his support to the call of Negros business leaders for the issuance of a NIR executive order by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., ahead of the passage of a law creating it.

The governor said it needs another executive order “in the same manner it was done during PNoy’s (the late president Benigno Aquino III) time.”

The proposed NIR bill, which was already approved by the House Local Government committee, is now up for deliberations by the Committee on Appropriations.

Then it will be subject to passage for a second reading by the House of Representatives, Rep. Mercedes Alvarez Lansang (6th District, Negros Occ.) earlier said.

Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez also pushed for the issuance of the EO.

In 2015, the late President Benigno Aquino III issued an executive order creating NIR, but it was dissolved by his successor, Rodrigo Duterte, two years after.