The Senate will soon discuss the "economic viability" of the proposed creation of the Negros Island Region, according to Senator Imee Marcos.

In a media interview over the weekend, Marcos said tackling the proposed legislation should "always end up being an economic effort."

"If you're going to set up a new area, it should be viable economically. Dapat sulit kasi maglalagay ka ng mga opisina. Mahal yan eh (It should be worth it because you will be setting up offices. That's costly). It should be big enough," Marcos said, noting that she does not have a position yet on the proposal and has not even "heard very much about the bill creating NIR in the Senate."

"There was the argument that it was not feasible economically. I don't know what the revivalists have to say today. I think we have to visit it," she added.

In March, the House of Representatives passed House Bill 7355, creating the NIR, which shall be composed of the cities, municipalities, and barangays in Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, and the island province of Siquijor.

The Senate Committee on Local Government has also approved Senate Bill 1236, authored by Senator JV Ejercito, seeking to create the NIR in a aimed "to boost the efficiency of the delivery of government services and provide convenience for the region's residents in line with the administration's goal of rightsizing."

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri earlier said the upper chamber will tackle the bill before it goes on a break in October.

"We're hoping to do the second reading before the end of September. At the very latest, it would be passed into law before Christmas. Our Christmas gift to the region, as long as it will not be vetoed," he added.