By JEN BAYLON

A municipal mayor in Siquijor has proposed renaming the newly-created Negros Island Region (NIR) as Negros Island-Siquijor Administrative Region (NISAR).

According to Siquijor’s San Juan Mayor Wilfredo Capundag Jr., the change of name to NISAR is a fitting recognition of Siquijor’s integration into NIR, created through Republic Act (RA) 12000, signed by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. on June 13.

Capundag said NIR, the 18th region in the country, comprises more than just Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental.

The mayor added that the renaming will avoid the impression that the new region consists of two Negros provinces only.

RA 12000 separates Negros Occidental from Western Visayas, as well as Negros Oriental and Siquijor from Central Visayas.

Capundag suggests that some of the government’s regional offices should also be set up in Siquijor, as he pushes for equitable distribution and decentralization.

Meanwhile, former Negros Occidental Governor Rafael Coscolluela also echoed Capundag’s proposal, suggesting holding the first NIR Regional Development Council meeting in Siquijor.

Coscolluela said this is to ensure that Siquijodnons will feel included in the NIR.

Negros Occidental’s 5th District Congressman Dino Yulo expressed his support for NIR’s renaming.

“We don’t have any problem with the name as long as we can establish our new region,” Yulo said, emphasizing that what’s important for now is that their plans can be carried out.

The establishment of NIR will promote administrative decentralization and strengthen local autonomy, which will accelerate cultural and social development in the region.

The region will bring government services closer to the Negrenses and Siquijodnons.

The NIR is expected to be “fully functional” as an administrative region next year./JB, WDJ