Negros Ace backs creation of expanded Negros Island Region

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL CAPITOL A picturesque scenery of lush greenery right outside the Negros Occidental capitol building in Bacolod City. The province will play a key role in the bid to revive the Negros Island region materializes. —PHOTO COURTESY OF RONNIE BALDONADO

BACOLOD CITY — The Negros Association of Chief Executives Inc. (Negros ACE) has unanimously passed a resolution supporting the bills filed in the House of Representatives seeking the creation of the expanded Negros Island Region (NIR).

The resolution was turned over by Negros ACE president and Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel “Javi” Benitez and secretary general, Cadiz City Mayor Salvador Escalante, to Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and Vice Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer on Wednesday.

Under an expanded NIR, regional government offices will be more accessible to the people, bringing governance closer to the grassroots and communities producing boon ripple effects on peace and order, economic growth, and social development.

“Greater economic coordination will strengthen economics of scale in the two Negros provinces and Siquijor, and will consolidate separate development plans into a coherent, complementary roadmap for sustainable and inclusive economic growth,” said the group in its resolution.

In 2015, the NIR was created by virtue of Executive Order No. 183 issued by then president Benigno Aquino III and was revoked by former President Rodrigo Duterte in 2017.

The vision of a united Negros had its long and arduous journey tracing back from the establishment of the first unified “Canton Republic of Negros” by two Negrense generals a century ago, the Negros ACE resolution said.

The re-establishment of the NIR with Siquijor is necessary for faster coordination and implementation of public programs, projects, and initiatives.

“An administrative region enjoys a degree of independence in planning, management, and administration resulting to convenience in doing business between the provinces and efficient utilization of the available resources,” it said.

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