President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) today, July 22, failed to mention funding for the recently established Negros Island Region (NIR).
Local leaders, including several congressmen from the province had anticipated the president addressing the issue of funding for the NIR’s transition. Under the recently passed NIR law, it consolidated the Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor into a single administrative region.
The lack of mention regarding NIR funding creates uncertainty for the region’s budget in 2025. The operationalization of the NIR hinges on financial resources to establish necessary infrastructure and systems.
Marcos Jr signed into law a bill establishing NIR last June 13, that aims to promote administration decentralization, strengthen local autonomy and accelerate economic, cultural and social development.
