Rep. Ferrer named NIR chair of Visayas Caucus

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY — Negros Occidental Fourth District Rep. Jeffrey Ferrer has been appointed by House Speaker Martin Romualdez as the regional chairperson for the Negros Island Region (NIR) in the newly created Visayas Caucus.

Ferrer made the announcement Friday during the election of officers of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines–Negros Occidental Chapter.

“It is what the Speaker wants — that in every region, there is a representative,” Ferrer said.

He expressed gratitude for the appointment and challenged the LMP officers to work toward uniting the two provinces.

“We will go to the other side of the island and talk to the congressmen there, then we will unite Occidental and Oriental as one,” he said.

Ferrer said the Visayas Caucus was convened by Romualdez to bring together lawmakers from four regions so their constituents would have a stronger voice in Congress.

The caucus aims to ensure a unified voice in national policymaking, he added.

According to Ferrer, Romualdez emphasized that the Visayas Caucus is a way to make sure the voices of the Visayans are heard and felt in the halls of Congress.

Lawmakers from Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, and the Negros Island Region attended the meeting last week at the Social Hall of the Office of the Speaker inside the Batasang Pambansa complex.

Ferrer stressed that the Visayas Caucus is not a political bloc.

Appointed as caucus officials are:

• House Speaker Martin Romualdez, lead convener
• Deputy Speaker Janette Garin, regional chairperson for Western Visayas
• Mandaue City Rep. Emmarie “Lolypop” Ouano-Dizon, regional chairperson for Central Visayas
• Tingog Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez, regional chairperson for Eastern Visayas
• Negros Occidental 4th District Rep. Jeffrey Ferrer, regional chairperson for the Negros Island Region
• Aklan 2nd District Rep. Florencio Miraflores, deputy chairperson
• Cebu City 2nd District Rep. Eduardo R. Rama Jr., deputy chairperson
• Leyte 2nd District Rep. Lolita Javier, deputy chairperson
• Negros Occidental 6th District Rep. Mercedes Alvarez-Lansang, deputy chairperson