BACOLOD CITY, April 8 -- Top officials of Negros Occidental hailed the pronouncement of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. that he will sign into law the bill creating the Negros Island Region (NIR).

"I think, I will sign it," the President said during an interview on the sidelines of the ceremonial energization of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines' Cebu-Negros-Panay 230-kV Backbone Project here on Monday.

He added that "it makes sense" and "probably a good idea" to have a regional center in Negros Island to bring services closer to the people.

Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson thanked the Chief Executive for seeing the need to create the NIR, comprising the provinces of Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental and Siquijor and this...