Creation of Negros Island Region pushed

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson of Negros Occidental has expressed support for a call by local business leaders for the issuance of an executive order (EO) from Malacañang creating the Negros Island Region (NIR) to include Siquijor, ahead of the passage of a law for such purpose.

Businessmen from Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental sought the establishment of a region that will include the islands of Negros and Siquijor.

The proposed NIR bill, which was approved by the House committee on local government, is up for deliberations by the committee on appropriations prior to its passage on second reading.

Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Benitez also pushed for the issuance of an EO by President Marcos to expedite the NIR creation.

Lacson said the creation of the NIR needs another executive order similar to what was done during the administration of former president Benigno Aquino III in 2015.

Aquino’s successor, Rodrigo Duterte, dissolved the NIR two years after its creation.

“An executive order from the present administration, I think will be sufficient,” Lacson said.

While Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo opposed the call, three lawmakers from the province co-authored the proposal to create the NIR along with six others from Negros Occidental and another from Siquijor.

Siquijor Gov. Zaldy Villa is also amenable to the creation of the NIR.

In a statement, Roberto Montelibano and Frank Carbon, president and executive officer of the Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry, respectively, said it’s time for the people of Negros and Siquijor to have their own empowered regional development council.

With the implementation of the Mandanas ruling issued by the Supreme Court, regional elected leaders will have the autonomy to unite, plan and execute projects that will benefit the citizens, the statement read.

Aside from Montelibano and Carbon, the statement was signed by Edward Du, chief of the Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Edgar Sy, president of the Bacolod Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Arthur Aguilar, president of the Biopower Group of Companies, and Eduardo Jereza, corporate secretary of the Negros Economic Development Foundation.

Under the present setup, Negros Oriental and Siquijor are part of Central Visayas region while Negros Occidental is part of Western Visayas.