The Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NOCCI) is hopeful that President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. will include the recently created Negros Island Region (NIR) in his State of the Nation Address on Monday, July 22.

NOCCI president Edward Du said in an interview yesterday that the NIR, which the President signed into law last month, is expected to take off in 2025 after budgetary requirements have been met and approved by the national government.

“First and foremost, I hope the President will mention the NIR, especially because we are looking forward to having our own separate budget for 2025,” Du said.

He said they would like the President to mention countryside development, including more money for infrastructure and support services outside of Metro Manila.

Du underscored the need for a “shift in infrastructure investments” to the countryside as the trend leans towards just Metro Manila getting the bigger share.

He cited the building of bridges such as the Guimaras-Panay connectivity, among others, that would benefit the provinces.

Du is among the early proponents and a strong supporter of the creation of the NIR, which includes the provinces of Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental and Siquijor. (PNA)