By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Negros Occidental provincial government will allocate 25 hectares of land for the temporary establishment of regional government offices once the Negros Island Region (NIR) bill is signed into law.

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said 6th District Congresswoman Mercedes Alvarez has made a provision for the placement of NIR regional offices in Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental and Siquijor.

Lacson said there is no need to amend the provision.

It will allow the transfer of offices for the benefit of the Negrenses once the unification of the three provinces under the new region is achieved.

Lacson was also pleased that the NIR bill has been approved in the Senate, stating that its passage is a “promise fulfilled.”

The bill now awaits President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.’s signature.

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, with no negative votes and abstentions.

The bill is expected to pass through the bicameral conference committee, before being forwarded to Malacañang.

Government officials in Negros are hoping that the bill will be signed into law after Holy Week.

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