Negros execs slam local Church try to veto NIR revival

Negros Island map. INQUIRER FILES

BACOLOD CITY — Local government officials of Negros have defended plans to revive the Negros Island Region (NIR) amid the request of the Diocese of Dumaguete for President Marcos to veto it.

Rep. Manuel Sagarbarria of Negros Oriental’s 2nd district said consultations about the NIR had been done for the past decade
contrary to what the local church claims.

“Are 10 years of consultations not enough time? This (NIR push) has been going on for the longest time, 10 years or more,” he said.

“We will wait for what the President has to say on this,” added Sagarbarria, who is a co-author of the bill seeking the creation of the NIR.

READ: Marcos ready to sign law creating Negros Island Region

Marcos, who was was in Bacolod on April 8, said he was signing the bill creating the NIR into law to unify the provinces of Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor into one administrative region.

Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito said the intent of the NIR bill is to make things more convenient and further spur economic development in these three provinces.

“I am hoping that the diocese would appreciate the rationale of creating the Negros Island Region,” he said in a statement.

Rep. Alfredo Marañon III of Negros Occidental’s 2nd district believed reviving the NIR was a welcome development.

“I think the NIR will be more beneficial for our brothers in the Oriental side. We have been talking about the one island region for decades already,” he said.

READ: Zubiri sees enactment of bill creating Negros Island Region into law soon

Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said despite the Diocese of Dumaguete’s position, many supporters of the NIR would try to convince the President that it is feasible to create this new region.

“For as long as the law is not signed we cannot be sure, but I think the statement of the president during his recent visit is very clear. He is more or less convinced that the creation of the NIR will be to the advantage of the three provinces,” he said.

“The only concern of the president is the funding for the new region and he wants to make sure that is covered,” he added.

San Carlos City Mayor Renato Gustilo said NIR was very advantageous to Negrosanons, including those from Negros Oriental.

“The Church should not interfere and let the politicians do their work and decide what is advantageous to the people,” he added.

READ: Negros Oriental church execs to Marcos: Veto creation of NIR

The Diocese of Dumaguete is calling on President Marcos to veto Senate Bill No. 2507, which seeks to create the Negros Island Region (NIR) for “grave lack of fair, just and truthful consultation.”

In a letter dated March 25 but sent to the Office of the President after Holy Week, the local church said the intention behind Senate Bill No. 2507, which has recently received approval “is unclear to the general public.”

The Diocese of Dumaguete said the passage of the NIR bill has been marred by a lack of comprehensive information dissemination and meaningful consultation with the diverse sectors and stakeholders of Negros Oriental.

READ: Senate okays Negros Island Region bill

Negros Occidental currently belongs to Western Visayas, while Negros Oriental and Siquijor are under Central Visayas whose regional centers are located in Iloilo and Cebu, respectively.

The NIR Act will split regional offices between Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental, creating new growth areas.

In 2015, the NIR was established through Executive Order No. 183 issued by then President Benigno Aquino III. It was later abolished in 2017 by former President Duterte through Executive Order No. 38.