Senate approves Negros Island Region bill

MANILA, Philippines — A bill seeking to revive the creation of the Negros Island Region hurdled the Senate’s third and final reading on Tuesday.

Senate Bill No. 2507, otherwise known as Negros Island Region Act, received 22 affirmative, zero negative votes, and zero abstentions during the chamber’s Tuesday plenary session.

“The idea for this bill was first planted three decades ago, with the approval of this chamber today, it will soon bear fruit,” said bill sponsor Senator JV Ejercito.

Under the bill, the proposed Negros Island Region will be composed of the provinces of Negros Occidental, including the City of Bacolod, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor.

“Sa mga minamahal kong Negrense at Siquijodnon: Malapit na matupad ang matagal nating pinaglaban. Paparating na ang mabilis at maayos na serbisyo sa Negros Island. Thank you for fighting the good fight, and keeping the faith,” said Ejercito.

(To the people of Negros and Siquijor, Our aspirations are nearing fruition. Fast and decent services in Negros Island are on the way. Thank you for fighting the good fight and keeping the faith.)

Ejercito said he believes the creation of the Negros Island Region would “strengthen local autonomy and accelerate economic, cultural, and social development of the region.”

“The goal is for the six clusters of regional offices to be divided between the two halves of the island to ensure the effective delivery of services,” Ejercito noted.

To recall, Negros Island Region has already been established in 2015  through Executive Order No. 183 issued by then president Benigno Aquino III “to further accelerate the social and economic development of the cities and municipalities comprising the provinces of Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental, and improve the delivery of public services in the aforementioned provinces.”

In 2017, however, then president Rodrigo Duterte signed Executive Order 38 dissolving the Negros Island Region for “competing with the government priority programs and projects for funding.” (with a report from Carla Gomez)