By JEN BAYLON

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson is confident that President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. will sign the Negros Island Region (NIR) bill into law, despite the opposition from the Diocese of Dumaguete.

Lacson said the diocese in Negros Oriental should be provided with all the necessary information about the NIR bill to make an informed decision.

He noted that the diocese’s position seems similar to their initial concern about Negros Oriental being considered inferior to Negros Occidental.

Earlier, Lacson assured that Negros Oriental will not be put at a disadvantage if the NIR is established.

“Like I told the late [Negros Oriental] Governor Roel Degamo, Negros Occidental won’t put Oriental at a disadvantage,” he said.

Bishop Julito Cortes of the Diocese of Dumaguete urged Marcos to veto Senate Bill 2507, establishing the NIR, due to “lack of information dissemination and the absence of public consultation with diverse sectors and stakeholders.”

They also cited reasons for opposing the NIR establishment, such as “disproportionate impact” on less privileged sectors, unequal distribution of resource allocation and representation, and the threat to exacerbate existing inequalities.

Marcos Jr., during his visit to Bacolod City on April 8, made an assurance to sign into law the NIR bill.

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./JB, WDJ