By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

A lawmaker in Negros Occidental is expecting that the Negros Island Region (NIR) bill will reach the office of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. in April.

In a press conference over the weekend, 3rd District Congressman Jose Francisco “Kiko” Benitez hoped the NIR bill would no longer pass through the bicameral conference committee to avoid delays in the process.

Benitez said there is a possibility that the bill will pass Malacañang after Holy Week.

Earlier, the Senate passed the NIR bill on the third and final reading, creating a new region consisting of Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental and Siquijor.

Senate Bill 2507 received 22 affirmative votes and no negative votes and abstentions.

Only Marcos’ signature is needed for NIR to become a law.

The NIR was initially established in 2015 through Executive Order (EO) 183 by former President Benigno Aquino III, but it was abolished by former President Rodrigo Duterte in 2017 through EO 38./DGB, WDJ