Negros Island Region revival won’t have adverse effects on Iloilo – guv
ILOILO – The economic aspects and other facets of Iloilo province will not be adversely affected by the potential establishment of the Negros Island Region (NIR), according to Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr.
The creation of NIR would result in Negros Occidental’s departure from Region 6.
The Senate recently passed on third and final reading a bill that proposes the formation of the NIR, which would include Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor.
Defensor emphasized the advantages of establishing separate regional government agency offices on Negros Island. He pointed out that this would obviate the need for crossing the sea to conduct transactions in Iloilo City, which currently acts as the hub for the regional offices of Region 6.
“The separation caused by the sea justifies the need for Negros to have its own regional offices, leading to i mproved administrative organization,” said Defensor.
While he i s satisfied with Negros Occidental’s i nclusion i n Region 6, Defensor recognized the potential benefits of creating the NIR, particularly given the geographic cohesion of Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental on the same island.
He noted that this perspective aligns with the administrative arrangement of other provinces in the region, such as Antique, Capiz, Aklan, and Iloilo, all of which are situated on Panay Island.
The NIR was initially established in 2015 through Executive Order No. 183 by the late President Benigno Aquino III but was subsequently dissolved in 2017 by former President Rodrigo Duterte through Executive Order No. 38.
The dissolution was attributed to financial concerns for priority government programs and projects.
Recently, the House of Representatives also passed House Bill No. 7355 on its third and final reading, aiming to re-establish the NIR./