Inclusion of Negros Island Region in 2016 budget sought

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – Leaders of the regional development committee (RDC) in the Visayas, which is composed of the Eastern, Central and Western Visayas regions, are asking Malacañang to include in the 2016 budget the allocations for the newly created Negros Island Region (NIR).

The governors issued the call during a meeting in this city on Wednesday, wherein they expressed support for the creation of the new region.

They passed several resolutions supporting the operation of the NIR by October, including a request for President Aquino to include allocations for the new region in the 2016 national budget.

They also asked the President to appoint a transition RDC chairman for NIR.

The meeting was attended by Gov. Leopoldo Dominico Petilla of Leyte, Bohol Gov. Edgar Chatto and outgoing RDC 6 chairman and Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr.

Marañon, whose province will now compose the NIR along with Negros Oriental, will be replaced by RDC 6 vice chairman Ro-Ann Bacal, who is the regional director of the National Economic and Development Authority.

Also present at the meeting was Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo.

The four governors passed a resolution asking the Department of Budget and Management to hasten the processing of requirements needed for the inclusion of NIR in next year’s budget.

A large part of the proposed NIR budget will be used for the establishment of  new regional offices.

Despite the separation of Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental from Western Visayas and Central Visayas, respectively, Petilla believes the two provinces will get equal shares from the national budget.