JV Ejercito disputes claims of delaying the passage of Negros Island Region bill
November 22, 2023
Senator Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito
on Wednesday, Nov. 22 refuted claims insinuating that he is causing a delay in
the passage of the proposed Negros Island Region (NIR).
The proposed measure seeks to revive the
creation of the Negros Island Region to be composed of the provinces of Negros
Occidental, Negros Oriental and Siquijor.
“There is no truth to the insinuation that the
NIR bill is stuck in my committee,” said Ejercito, who chairs the Senate
Committee on Local Government handling the NIR bill.
Ejercito underscored that the committee only
adhered to the legislative process, conducting several joint hearings for
consultations with various stakeholders. Senators and provincial leaderships
took part in these discussions.
“The NIR bill was not delayed under my
committee because we followed the proper process. It's crucial to understand
the stakeholders' positions before moving forward in the process,” he
explained.
According to Ejercito, the committee report is
set to be released this week for members' signatures, with the bill's
sponsorship scheduled for the following week.
In September, Ejercito, alongside Senate
President Juan Miguel Zubiri and Special Assistant to the President Anton
Lagdameo, convened a meeting in Manila with Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio
Jose Lacson, Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer, Negros Oriental Governor Manuel
Sagarbarria, and Vice Governor Jaime Reyes to discuss the establishment of
Negros Island Region.
"We don’t want to pass the measure only
to be vetoed. That is why we are making sure all bases are covered.”
Ejercito, whose mother hails from Bacolod
City, said the NIR bill is necessary for boosting the efficiency of service
delivery in the area and providing convenience for the region’s residents.
The lawmaker from San Juan was one of the
first to support the passage of the Negros Island Region by filing Senate Bill
No. 1236.
“I'm all for this bill because it gives the
people of Negros a chance to show they can stand on their own and help the
country achieve its goals.”
In
2015, the NIR was established through Executive Order No. 183. It was later
abolished in 2017 through Executive Order No. 38.
