JV Ejercito: New Negros Island Region to enhance business efficiency
June 14, 2024
Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito said that
the creation of the Negros Island Region will make it easier to do business, as
residents and entrepreneurs will have all services available in one
administrative region.
“I think it will ease doing business because
people who want to invest in sugar mills or agriculture in Negros Occidental
will no longer have to travel to Iloilo by ferry for permits and other
requirements,” Ejercito told One News’ The Big Story on Thursday.
“Everything they need will now be available in
Negros,” emphasized the lawmaker from San Juan, who is the sponsor and author
of Republic Act No. 12000, or the Negros Island Region Act, recently signed
into law by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
“Bad weather will no longer hinder people from
Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental from conducting business or seeking
services at regional offices,” he added.
For those interested in investing in
education, health services, or tourism, Ejercito noted that they will no longer
need to take a ferry to Santander and endure a two to three-hour trip to Cebu
City to conduct business.
“If it’s easier and more convenient, it will
definitely encourage more businesses to grow in both provinces.”
According to Ejercito, the rationale for the
creation of the region is to enable unified and coordinated island development
planning, which will hopefully accelerate the economic transformation of Negros
and Siquijor.
He also pointed out that the intention of the
NIR Act is to improve the efficiency of government service delivery.
Moreover, Ejercito said that under the law,
there will be a single police regional office and military command, as well as
coordinated tourism development.
“Negrenses and Siquijodnons will no longer
have to cross the seas to reach their respective regional offices for
transactions and services.”
“The creation of the region will make services
more accessible and efficient.”
