MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. on Monday said he is in favor of a bill seeking to put Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor provinces under one region.

READ: Senate OKs Negros Island Region bill

At present Negros Occidental is under Region 6 (Western Visayas) while Negros Oriental and Siquijor are under Region 7 (Central Visayas).

"It is very hard to bring government services to the people and that's the entire reason behind the push for making a single region para may regional office na sarili. I think I will sign it," Marcos said.

A Negros Island Region was created by executive order in 2015, during the presidency of Benigno Aquino III, for similar reasons.

In 2017, then President Rodrigo Duterte abolished the region, saying putting up regional offices for the NIR would take away funding for other government programs.

The Senate and the House of Representatives have already approved the Negros Island Region bill, which proposes to establish a new region comprising Negros Occidental including Bacolod City, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor.