Senator Raises Alarm Over NIR Budget Allocation

By Mariela Angella Oladive

Sen. Imee Marcos has raised concerns over the potential budgetary impact of the Negros Island Region (NIR), warning that the 2025 national budget lacks a dedicated allocation for the newly created region.

Speaking at a press conference on Feb. 12, a day before the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas rally, Marcos cautioned that the absence of a distinct NIR budget could lead to funding cuts for Regions 6 and 7.

“I saw in the budget that there is no separate allocation for the NIR. So, what will happen is that funds will be taken from Region 6 and Region 7. This is a concern we should closely monitor because it could get messy,” Marcos said.

She stressed the complexities of budget adjustments.

“It’s not that simple. You remove funds here, add there, make cuts here and there — it’s not that straightforward. I think we need to keep an eye on that,” she added.

The NIR was established under Republic Act No. 12000 on June 11, 2024, merging Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor into a single administrative region to streamline governance and development efforts.

However, concerns have emerged over the lack of funding following the release of the 2025 budget proposal.

Budget Gaps and Legislative Concerns

Marcos’ remarks come amid a larger budget controversy involving the bicameral conference committee report for the 2025 national budget.

The senator was among those who flagged unexplained blanks in the report, raising questions about the transparency of the budget process.

Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque commended Marcos for her disclosures, calling her a “witness” to the alleged irregularities.

Rep. Isidro Ungab, a former House Appropriations Committee chair, corroborated these claims, noting that at least 28 budget entries lacked specified allocations across 13 pages of the report.

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. have denied the allegations, asserting that the signed General Appropriations Act (GAA) is complete and accurate.

The DBM proposed a PHP6.3 trillion national budget for FY 2025, a 10.1% increase from PHP5.768 trillion in 2024, representing 22% of GDP.

With the theme “Agenda for Prosperity,” the budget aligns with the PDP 2023-2028, aiming to enhance individual capabilities, create jobs, and build a resilient, inclusive society.

Despite the broader budget controversy, Marcos reiterated the need to address the NIR’s funding gap without compromising allocations for other regions.