NIR Act to bring in ‘wave of development’ for Negros, Siquijor

BACOLOD CITY – The creation of the Negros Island Region (NIR) will bring in a “wave of development” for Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor after President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed into law Republic Act (RA) 12000 or the NIR Act in Malacañan Palace on Thursday afternoon.

Negrense officials, in separate statements, said the 18th region in the country would usher in more growth opportunities as government services are brought closer to the people in the three provinces.

Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, who authored and co-sponsored Senate Bill 2507 for the creation of the NIR, said he takes pride in signing the law before stepping down as Senate president last month.

“This is going to bring in a wave of development into the province and mark the start of a new golden age for Negros,” the senator, whose paternal side hails from Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, said in a statement.

The NIR Act brings together the two Negros provinces, this time with Siquijor, under one administrative region after the initial creation of the NIR in 2015 under an executive order issued by the late president Benigno S. Aquino III but abolished by former president Rodrigo Duterte in 2017 due to funding constraints.

Negros Occidental will now separate from Western Visayas (Region 6), while Negros Oriental and Siquijor will cease being part of Central Visayas (Region 7).

“With the NIR, we will be able to bring the government closer to our people. We will also be able to attract more investors to come to the region since the merging into one administrative region is set to improve our ease of doing business,” Zubiri said.

Senate President Francis Escudero and House of Representatives Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, along with the legislators, governors, and mayors of the three provinces, witnessed the signing into law of RA 12000.

Bacolod City Lone District Rep. Greg Gasataya said the signing of the law establishing the NIR is a huge victory for its people as it would bring government services closer to them.

“The unity shown by Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, and Siquijor only emphasizes our commitment to quality and accessible public services for our constituents. No longer shall our people have to cross mountains or seas just to avail of the services they deserve,” he added.

Negros Occidental 3rd District Rep. Jose Francisco Benitez thanked the President “for his support of our dream of a separate administrative region for Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor.”

“This will bring government services closer to the people of Negros Island and Siquijor and facilitate integrated development planning towards inclusive, resilient, and sustainable development in the region,” he added.

Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said having separate regional offices for Negros Island, together with Siquijor, would lead to reduced bureaucratic processes.

“With the NIR becoming a reality, we can look forward to numerous benefits. There will be more infrastructure and development projects, and this will also create more growth areas and open more government positions that will give opportunities to local government workers,” he added.

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said while there is still much to be done, the signing into law of the NIR Act is “already an achievement for all of us.”

Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez, president of the Negros Association of Chief Executives, said the signing into law of the NIR Act is “not only the beginning of a new path for a unified Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor but also a triumph to be shared and cherished by its people.”

“Let us work as one people to facilitate an efficient transition and to integrate our mutual desire for a better region,” he added. (PNA)