House’s TWG still waiting for NIR papers
NEGROS Occidental Sixth District Rep. Mercedes Alvarez said yesterday, November 24, that the Technical Working Group (TWG) created by the House Committee on Local Government is still waiting for the position papers on the proposed recreation of the Negros Island Region (NIR).
Alvarez was tasked by committee chair and Valenzuela Rep. Rex Gatchalian to co-chair the TWG for the consolidation of the proposed NIR bills.
“Since the bills vary so we need the TWG,” Alvarez said, as she explained that the proposals on the sub-regions creating Region 6A and Region 7A was not yet formally put on the table by any of its members.
She said this is because the TWG has not convened yet since they are waiting for the submission of the position papers of some agencies and local government units.
“I have to study it (the proposal for the sub-regions) because we have to wait for the position papers of the Department of Budget and Management which is the most important agency,” Alvarez said.
The lawmaker explained that nothing will happen without the funds which will eventually come from the DBM.
The House of Representatives has three weeks before the Christmas break and that the TWG may convene by January next year.
It may be recalled that the DBM and the National Economic Development Authority (Neda) were among the national agencies that proposed the creation of Region 6A for Negros Occidental and Region 7A for Negros Oriental.*