Marcos intends to sign measure creating Negros Island Region

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. on Monday said he intends to sign the measure creating the Negros Island Region.

''I think, it makes sense because it’s very difficult for Oriental to be, and be serviced in a regional center. So, kailangan talagang maayos ‘yan. Matagal nang problema ‘yan. [So it has to be fixed. It has been a problem since then.] Until we can consolidate, I can put it all together properly, and right now hindi pa ganun,'' Marcos said in an ambush interview.

''It is very hard to bring government services to the people. And, that’s the reason behind the regional, the push for making it a single region so that may regional office siya na sarili [so that it can have a regional office of its own]. And it’s probably a good idea even if only for that,'' he said. '' Yeah, I think, I will sign it.''

Last month, the Senate approved on third and final reading a bill seeking to create the Negros Island Region. Senate Bill 2507 got 22 affirmative votes, zero negative votes, and zero abstentions.

The proposed Negros Island Region will be composed of Negros Occidental, Bacolod City, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor.

Senator JV Ejercito, sponsor of the measure, said the goal is for the six clusters of regional offices to be divided between the two halves of the island to ensure the effective delivery of services.

The counterpart measure of the bill in the House of Representatives was approved on final reading in March 2023. — Anna Felicia Bajo/RSJ, GMA Integrated News