NegOr ‘excited’ on NIR

The provincial government of Negros Oriental is “excited” on the realization of the proposed Negros Island Region (NIR).

This was the response of Woodrow Maquiling Jr, director of the NegOr Provincial Tourism Board to the question of Bacolod newsmen this morning, a complete turnaround from the stand of the late Gov. Roel Degamo.

Maquiling, who represented NegOr Governor Manuel “Chaco” Sagarbarria at the opening of the 16th Negros Island Organic Farmers Festival in Bacolod City, said “we want NIR to come into fruition sooner than later.”

“The governor and other stakeholders are really anticipating and excited about the proposed NIR,” he said.

Maquiling said he will hold discussions with Bacolod Mayor Albee Benitez on how to “further push tourism for the whole island already.”

“Masskara Festival is one of the grandest not just in the country but the rest of the world as well,” he pointed out.

He added that we want to push and help prior to the NIR “so we could start with tourism especially food tourism.”

“The slow food movement is starting now in Negros Oriental. It started here in Occidental and has spread to the Oriental side. The governor is very supportive of that,” he added.

“We are looking at food tourism and organic agriculture as one of the bedrock of Negros Island relationship between the two provinces,” Maquiling also said.

Negros Occidental is under Region VI (Western Visayas) while Negros Oriental and Siquijor are under Region VII (Central Visayas), respectively.

The NIR proposal is currently pending at the Senate Committee on local government chaired by Senator JV Ejercito.

House Bill 7355, creating the NIR, was passed by the House of Representatives in March this year

The NIR shall be composed of the cities, municipalities, and barangays in Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, and the island province of Siquijor.

The Senate Committee on Local Government has also approved Senate Bill 1236, authored by Senator JV Ejercito, seeking to create the NIR to boost the efficiency of the delivery of government services and provide convenience for the region’s residents in line with the administration’s goal of rightsizing.

In September, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri met with Ejercito and Special Assistant to the President Anton Lagdameo, met with Lacson and vice governor Jeffrey Ferrer of Negros Occidental, and Governor Manuel Sagarbarria and Vice Governor Jake Reyes of Negros Oriental. All the officials in the meeting expressed support for the revival of the NIR.* (Eugene Y. Adiong)