By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Senate is expected to release its committee report on the proposed Negros Island Region (NIR) to the plenary by the end of September.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, the principal author of the NIR bill in the Senate, said he expects no one will oppose the bill.

The committee report will be presented by Senate Committee on Local Government chairman Senator JV Ejercito.

The Senate president said he is optimistic that the proposed NIR bill will be approved before the end of the year.

In March, the House of Representatives approved on third and final reading House Bill 7355, or An Act Establishing the NIR.

The bill was then forwarded to the Senate, although it slowed down as Negros Oriental has yet to give its official paper regarding the proposal.

The proposed new NIR will be composed of the provinces of Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental and Siquijor./DGB, WDJ