NEGROS OCCIDENTAL officials have expressed their gratitude to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for signing the Negros Island Region (NIR) Act into law.
The officials, led by Gov. Jose Lacson, thanked the President for making the hope of Negrenses a reality.
In a statement, Lacson said that he is grateful that this aspiration, more than three decades in the making, has finally come to fruition.
“This welcome development will undoubtedly lead to positive impacts on the maintenance of internal security, peace and order, environmental management, disaster risk reduction, tourism promotion, integrated development planning, and easier access to regional offices,” he said in a statement.
“Our belief that the immense potential of Negros Island, Siquijor, and our people can best be realized by becoming one region has driven our efforts and determination through the years,” he added
Other officials from Negros Occidental who witnessed the signing in Malacañang were Bacolod Mayor Albee Benitez, Moises Padilla Mayor Ella Garcia-Yulo, Kabankalan Mayor Benjie Miranda, Victorias Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez, Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya, fifth district Rep. Emilio Yulo, sixth district Rep. Mercedes Alvarez-Lansang, third district Rep. Jose Francisco Benitez, and Negros Oriental Gov. Manuel Sagarbarria.
Marcos said NIR, composed of Negros Occidental including Bacolod City, Negros Oriental and Siquijor, could be “one of the centers of development in the Visayas” that would accelerate socio-economic development for millions of Negrenses.
Marcos said this was “long overdue and makes very practical sense” since residents in these provinces are located in just one island but were governed under separate administrative regions. (PNA)
