Cong. Thirdy Marañon files NIR bill

Negros Occidental 2nd District Congressman Alfredo “Thirdy” Marañon III has filed a separate bill seeking to re-establish the Negros Island Region (NIR) but excluded the Province of Siquijor.

In an ambush interview during the July 4 inauguration of Cadiz Mayor Salvador Escalante and other city officials, he said that during the inauguration of Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo “Albee” Benitez last Friday, 3rd District Congressman Francisco “Kiko” Benitez presented a draft of the NIR bill.

Marañon said Benitez’s NIR bill should have been filed either yesterday or anytime this week, but he filed his own bill last Friday, House Bill 330, which only included both Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental.

“E-consolidate man na gyapon during the committee hearings,” Marañon explained during the same interview at the Cadiz City Arena where he was also the guest speaker during ceremonies highlighting the 55th Charter Anniversary of Cadiz.

Despite the exclusion of Siquijor, Marañon is not against Siquijor joining the proposed new NIR, and even stated “kung gusto sila mag upod mas mayu.”

When asked if the NIR bill will succeed being passed into law, Marañon said that this time, the bill has an extremely high chance of being passed as the NIR’s establishment is gaining support among other lawmakers in the country, particularly those belonging in the Visayan Bloc.

Marañon is also adamant that Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno will no longer block the NIR’s establishment.

During his earlier stint as Secretary for the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) under former President Rodrigo Duterte, Diokno sought for the dissolution of the NIR pointing out that the region’s retention would cost the national government a total of P19 billion in 2017.

Diokno also pointed out that the region’s establishment should be made into law, not an Executive Order.

The previous NIR was established by the late former President Benigno Aquino III on May 29, 2015, but was dissolved by Duterte on August 9, 2017.

“With the pronouncement of national leaders supporting the NIR, I don’t think Secretary Diokno will also oppose its creation,” Marañon added.

Earlier, Congressman Benitez said the Visayan Bloc will convene for the 19th Congress with some new members as others have graduated.

He said that he is gathering all signatures for the filing of the bill on Monday or Tuesday.
A total of 12 congressmen from Negros island and Siquijor are jointly filing the bill seeking the re-establishment of the NIR.

Earlier, Bacolod Mayor Benitez revealed that the NIR may be revived sooner than expected as President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., may issue an an Executive Order (EO) reviving the region before a law could be passed.

Under the new NIR proposal, all offices of major government agencies will be in Bacolod City while their extension offices will be in Dumaguete City.

The offices that offer social welfare services will be in Dumaguete City with their extension offices in Bacolod City.

More in the video during the interview with Cong. Marañon.* (EYA/DGB)