Ejercito assures Negros Island Region bill is not stuck in his committee

Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito, | PHOTO: Voltaire F. Domingo/Senate Photo

BACOLOD CITY — Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito assured on Tuesday, Nov. 21, that the Negros Island Region (NIR) bill is not stuck in the Senate committee on local government.

Instead, he said he is just making sure that all bases are covered to ensure its passage into law.

“There is no truth to the insinuation that the NIR Bill is stuck in my committee. As I mentioned before there were unforeseen circumstances like the death of (Gov. Roel) Degamo and his successor which delayed the process since we need to respect also the position of Negros Oriental,” Ejercito said.

The House of Representatives early this year approved a bill seeking the creation of the NIR composed of Negros Occidental and Oriental, and Siquijor, and its counterpart measure is now pending before the Senate committee on local government chaired by Ejercito.

READ: Senate to check economic viability of putting up Negros Island Region

He and Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri have already met with Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and Negros Oriental Gov. Manuel “Chaco” Sagarbarria, Ejercito said.

All of the Negros Island and Siquijor representatives and governors support the creation of the NIR.

“They just need to convince President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and the country’s economic team of the viability of the NIR,” Ejercito said.

He said the President is “apprehensive because of the cost putting up a new region will entail.”

“We don’t want to pass the measure only to be vetoed. That is why we are making sure all bases are covered,” Ejercito said.

Zubiri earlier assured that the Senate would approve the NIR bill in December.