MANILA, March 12 -- Senators unanimously approved on Tuesday Senate Bill No. 2507 creating the Negros Island Region (NIR) composed of Negros Occidental including Bacolod City, Negros Oriental and Siquijor.

This is to promote administrative decentralization and strengthen local autonomy to accelerate cultural and social development of the region.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, who principally authored the measure, said residents of Negros Occidental, who have transactions with national government agencies, are sometimes stuck in Iloilo due to rough weather.

He said the same situation is experienced by residents of Negros Oriental and Siquijor who have to go to Cebu.

"This is a dream come true for all of them -the people of Negros...