By JEN BAYLON

President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. has made an assurance to sign into law the Negros Island Region (NIR) bill.

On the sidelines of the ceremonial energization of the Cebu-Negros-Panay 230-kilovolt Backbone Project sub-grids at the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines compound in Bacolod City’s Barangay Mansilingan yesterday, Marcos said NIR is “probably a good idea,” as it will have regional offices of its own.

“It makes sense because it is difficult for those in Oriental and Occidental to go to the regional centers,” Marcos said.

“So I will sign it,” he added.

However, he did not mention when he would sign the NIR bill.

“It has been a problem for so long already until we can consolidate and put it all together properly,” Marcos said.

“It’s very hard to bring services to the people,” the President added.

The Senate passed the NIR bill on the third and final reading in March of this year, creating a new region consisting of Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental and Siquijor.

The bill seeks to improve the delivery of basic government services on Negros Island, through the establishment of regional government offices, and to promote decentralization to strengthen local autonomy.

Negros Occidental currently belongs to Western Visayas, while Negros Oriental and Siquijor are under Central Visayas.

Meanwhile, Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said he was grateful to Marcos’ assurance in signing the NIR bill into law.

“We were already confident that the President will support it and true enough, he said it. We’re very thankful,” he said.

“That’s what we have been waiting for. From the very beginning when it was approved in the House and the Senate,” he added.

Furthermore, Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer said the approval of the bill was one of the things he requested from Marcos since they were campaigning.

“It’s big news for Negros Occidental. We discussed NIR earlier. He said, ‘Approved na ‘yan,’” Ferrer said./JB, WDJ