Zubiri optimistic NIR bill signed into law by yearend

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri said that he is hopeful the Negros Island Region (NIR) bill will be signed into law by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. by yearend.

“Hopefully it will become a law before the end of the year,” Zubiri told Bacolod media on Wednesday.

He said he was also asked by lawmakers from Negros Occidental on the status of the NIR bill in the Senate when they met Monday after the State of the Nation Address of President Marcos Jr.

Zubiri said it is still in the Senate Committee of Local Government chaired by Senator JV Ejercito.

“Ready na ipagwa sang committee ang report sang NIR bill sa plenary,” he added.

He said the Senate bill for the re-establishment of the Negros Island Region would be passed before Congress takes a break in October.

Zubiri said he sees the smooth passage of the NIR bill.

“I don’t think there would be an opposition to NIR at the senate,” he said.

Earlier, with 290 votes, the House of Representatives unanimously approved on third and final reading House Bill No. 7355 which seeks the creation of the Negros Island Region (NIR) in the Visayas last March this year.

Under the proposed measure, the NIR shall be composed of the cities and municipalities in Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental and the island province of Siquijor.

The re-establishment of the NIR for the lawmakers is necessary for economic growth to redound to the benefit of the people through the close economic coordination of the two Negros provinces.

Presently, Negros Occidental province and its capital Bacolod City are under Region 6 (Western Visayas) while Negros Oriental and Siquijor are part of Region 7 (Central Visayas).

The NIR was first created on May 29, 2015 through Executive Order 183 signed by then-President Benigno Aquino III, separating Negros Occidental from Western Visayas, and Negros Oriental from Central Visayas.

But on Aug. 7, 2017, former President Rodrigo Duterte issued EO 38 abolishing the NIR, pointing out the need to ensure that priority government programs and projects are sufficiently funded.