Negros Oriental biz group hopes PBBM will include NIR in SONA
2024-Jul-20 12:00
BIZ TALK. Edward Du (left), president of the Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce and Industry, discusses business opportunities at the opening of the Dumaguete Coffee Festival on Friday (July 19, 2024) in Dumaguete City. Du is hoping that the recently created Negros Island Region will be included in the State of the Nation Address of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday (July 22). (PNA/Mary Judaline Flores Partlow)
DUMAGUETE CITY – The Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NOCCI) is hopeful that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. will include the recently created Negros Island Region (NIR) in his State of the Nation Address on Monday.
NOCCI president Edward Du said in an interview Friday that the NIR, which the President signed into law last month, is expected to take off in 2025 after budgetary requirements have been met and approved by the national government.
"First and foremost, I hope the President will mention the NIR, especially because we are looking forward to having our own separate budget for 2025," Du said.
He said they would like the President to mention countryside development, including more money for infrastructure and support services outside of Metro Manila.
Du underscored the need for a "shift in infrastructure investments" to the countryside as the trend leans towards just Metro Manila getting the bigger share.
He cited the building of bridges such as the Guimaras-Panay connectivity, among others, that would benefit the provinces.
Du is among the early proponents and a strong supporter of the creation of the NIR, which includes the provinces of Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, and Siquijor. (PNA)