By Glazyl Y. Masculino and Dolly Yasa
BACOLOD CITY – Senator Imee Marcos announced on Thursday that the budget allocation for the Negros Island Region (NIR) did not make it into the proposed 2025 National Expenditure Program (NEP).
Marcos was in the city to attend the Provincial Assembly and Seminar of the Philippine Councilors League (PCL) Negros Oriental Federation at the SMX Convention Center.
In a press briefing, Marcos expressed grave concern over the budget exclusion, emphasizing that people have high expectations for the significant changes in NIR.
Marcos mentioned discussing the budget situation with Negros Occidental Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer and Negros Oriental Governor Manuel Sagarbarria during her visit.
Senator JV Ejercito, principal author of the NIR, previously stated that a PHP 3.6 billion budget has been recommended for NIR within three years.
“We need to devise a game plan to include at least skeletal offices – the most important offices in Bacolod and Dumaguete,” Marcos said.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the senator’s brother, signed Republic Act 12000 or the NIR, comprising the provinces of Negros Occidental (including Bacolod City), Negros Oriental, and Siquijor, on June 13.
“It was signed after budget preparations. Wala pang Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). Hindi na nakapasok sa budget. The (2025) budget was already planned and printed,” Marcos explained.
Marcos indicated the original timeline for NIR to be operational is after the elections, with full operation in two years.
“But given the enthusiasm and expectations of our people, let’s try to hasten it a bit,” she added.
Marcos assured that efforts are underway to establish various offices and that discussions with President Marcos are forthcoming. She emphasized the need to consult financial managers on the best approach to establish skeletal offices and to seek resources from the discretionary funds of various departments.
“Hopefully, we can pull together and find some funds,” Marcos said, promising her utmost effort during this budget season.
Governor Sagarbarria, a vocal supporter of NIR, mentioned that they are looking for spaces for regional offices in their province.
“I know it’s not going to be instant, but I hope the budget really comes. If that happens, it will be a good start,” Sagarbarria said, noting the need for hiring personnel, agreements, and satellite offices.
During the transition period, people expect more programs and economic developments to stir progress in the region.
“Everything is positive; there may be small changes, but it’s very doable and solvable,” he said.
Vice Governor Ferrer remains optimistic about finding ways to insert funds for NIR during budget deliberations. “There’s going to be a lot of time for that,” he said.
ONE NIR SITE
Meanwhile, Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson expressed a preference for a single location for the regional offices of the newly approved Negros Island Region (NIR).
“I prefer one place for all the regional offices,” Lacson told reporters on Friday. “That was the original plan.”
Lacson noted that the Technical Working Group for the establishment of NIR was scheduled to meet on August 2, 2024, but the meeting was rescheduled to August 9, 2024.
He confirmed his attendance and stated that governors and district representatives from the three regions comprising NIR (Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor) would attend.
Lacson aims to determine whether there will be just one site for the regional offices and expressed his interest in the 2025 budget for NIR.
“We knew that the NIR budget was not included in the national government’s 2025 General Appropriations Act. Now that it’s in Congress, maybe our legislators can include it or district representatives can push for it,” Lacson said.
He urged district representatives to advocate for the inclusion of NIR in the 2025 budget. “I hope they successfully convince the national government to include NIR in its 2025 budget,” he added.
