BACOLOD City – The bill creating the Negros Island Region (NIR), comprising the provinces of Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Siquijor, and this city, was sent by Congress to Malacañang on May 13, 2024.
Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has 30 days to sign Senate Bill 2507 or it will lapse into law.
The Regional Development Council (RDC) 6, chaired by Mayor Benitez, convened in this city on Monday, May 27, to discuss preparations ahead of the creation of the NIR.
The consultative meeting was attended by the congressmen, mayors, and regional directors in anticipation of the enactment of the NIR legislation.
Benitez said among issues and concerns particularly raised by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Region 6 was the lack of personnel in some national government agencies (NGAs).
“There were those who said they are undermanned to begin with. We will push for an additional budget for those departments. It’s good that we listen to all the stakeholders in the creation of this region so we can find solutions to the issues before the actual implementation,” said Benitez.
Joy Alita Tigres, regional technical coordinator and chief economic development specialist of NEDA-6, has also mentioned about the infrastructure and logistical requirements of NGAs for NIR.
She said there is currently no available fund for fiscal year 2024 for the establishment of NIR physical offices, adding that existing provincial offices in Negros Island cannot accommodate the requirements for a regional office.
Tigres said 19 out of 21 NGAs are requesting for assistance in the establishment of physical offices for NIR.
Also, of the 21 NGAs, only 13 have available personnel for deployment to NIR offices.
Benitez said that as chair of the RDC-Visayas Area Committee, he will ask the RDC-Central Visayas for a proposal on the staff complement, allocation of resources, and setting up of offices for the NIR.
“Another consultative meeting will be held with Negros Oriental and Siquijor to get their sentiments,” he added.
In the present setup, Negros Occidental and Bacolod City are under Western Visayas, and Negros Oriental and Siquijor belong to Central Visayas, which have regional centers in Iloilo and Cebu, respectively./PN
