Negrense legislators who authored the Republic Act No. 12000 or the Negros Island Region (NIR) Act have assured the people of Siquijor that they would not be left behind once the new administrative region becomes fully operational by 2025.

Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri and Negros Occidental Sixth District Representative Mercedes Alvarez made the assurance in a press conference at a hotel in Bacolod City yesterday, as some quarters in Siquijor still oppose the inclusion of the island province under the NIR for various reasons, such as lack of consultation and cultural differences.

“I see no reason [to oppose]. I’m appealing to them. I’m asking for an apology. Give it a chance, and you will see the difference. If they were not included, they still had to travel all the way to Cebu City [to transact with the regional offices]. Imagine how far and dangerous the travel will be,” Zubiri, who authored and co-sponsored Senate Bill 2507, creating the NIR.

The NIR Act, which aims to promote administration decentralization, strengthen local autonomy, and accelerate economic, cultural, and social development, separates Negros Occidental from Western Visayas (Region 6), and Negros Oriental and Siquijor from Central Visayas (Region 7).

Zubiri, whose paternal side originates from Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, said this time, it would only take 20 minutes for Siquijodnons to travel to Dumaguete City, the provincial capital of Negros Oriental that will host the regional offices under the human development and infrastructure clusters.

“Imagine, all the livelihood projects, programs and funding will be 20 minutes away. These are top-tier departments,” he added.

As provided in the NIR Act, the national government agencies that will set up regional offices in Negros Oriental are the Department of Education, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Commission on Higher Education, Civil Service Commission, Philippine Statistics Authority, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Transportation, Department of Information and Communications Technology, Department of Energy, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Tourism, and Department of Science and Technology.

“Definitely, no province of this new region will be left behind. That is precisely the reason why we came up with this bill that eventually became law, because we believe these three provinces also deserve that much attention from the national government. Rest assured, Siquijor will not be left behind, the same with Negros Oriental and Occidental,” Alvarez said.

Agencies that will hold regional offices in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental include the Department of Agriculture, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Agrarian Reform, Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development, Department of Justice, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Philippine National Police, Department of National Defense, Department of Budget and Management, Department of Finance, National Economic and Development Authority, Department of Foreign Affairs, Commission on Audit, and Commission on Elections.

In signing the NIR Act into law on June 13, President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. said the new region would be a “bulwark of greater growth” and a “conduit” for more effective and efficient delivery of essential services for its people.

“I trust that the people of the newly established NIR will work together to complement each other’s strengths to build a more united and flourishing Negrense community,” Marcos added. (PNA)