Marcos signs law creating Negros Island Region

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos yesterday signed into law a bill establishing the Negros Island Region (NIR) and called on lawmakers to pass more “inclusive, responsive and people-centered” bills this year.

Republic Act 12000, enacted into law by Marcos, creates the Negros Island Region unifying the provinces of Negros Occidental, including Bacolod City, Negros Oriental and Siquijor.

The measure aims to promote administration decentralization, strengthen local autonomy and accelerate economic, cultural and social development.

“This union is long overdue and makes very practical sense, especially in the Negros Island, where people are located on one island but are governed under separate administrative regions,” the President said.

“So, for decades now, Negrenses have endured the rigors of sea travel, unnecessary expenses, bureaucratic red tape, [and] inefficiency that this arrangement has brought, especially when there is a need to urgently access government services from regional centers on other islands,” he added.

“To our fellow workers in both the houses of Congress, I implore that before the year ends ..that laws which are more inclusive, responsive, and people-centered to be passed. And we are deep in discussion about that,” Marcos also said.

“Our people are eagerly awaiting the passage of the 17 priority bills certified by LEDAC (Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council) – which we will be discussing very soon – which if passed and enacted, will steer our national development and improve the conditions of our fellow countrymen. So, let’s continue to collaborate and work closely on these matters.”

During the fourth LEDAC full meeting in March, officials from the executive branch and legislators agreed to prioritize the passage of 20 bills by the end of June.

Former Senate president Juan Miguel Zubiri said RA 12000 would bring a “wave of development” to the new region.

“The NIR has long been a dream of mine and of my fellow Negrenses,” said Zubiri, whose paternal family hails from Kabankalan, Negros Occidental.

“We have long wanted to have our own region, with our own government offices readily accessible to our people,” he added.

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