Negros Island Region: A dream fulfilled after 21 yrs

BACOLOD CITY—After a 21-year lobby and four presidents, President Aquino’s Executive Order (EO) No. 183 creating the Negros Island Region (NIR) was hailed here as the fulfillment of a dream.

The NIR will be the country’s 18th region.

Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon, a principal mover of its creation, said he was “very elated and happy” over the President’s EO.

“It’s beyond description,” said the governor.

Rep. George Arnaiz said “we are so happy that finally the dream to have a one island-one region for our island is realized.”

Negros Oriental Vice Gov. Mark Macias said “we’re very happy that finally our dream of coming together as one region has been realized.” He said the dream started 21 years ago and was revived last year at a visit to Negros Occidental by officials of Negros Oriental.

“There is a lot of work needed. The NIR creation will not be automatic, but if properly implemented it will definitely improve the lives of the people from both provinces,” Macias said.

In the EO, Mr. Aquino said “there is a need to further accelerate the social and economic development of the cities and municipalities comprising the provinces of Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental, and improve the delivery of public services.”

A technical working group (TWG), composed of the Office of the President, the Department of Budget and Management, the National Economic Development Authority and the Department of the Interior and Local Government, would be created.

Representatives of the two provinces are also part of the TWG.

Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo, who had initially expressed misgivings about uniting the two Negros provinces as a one-island region, said he would create a panel that would serve as his province’s counterpart in the TWG.

Degamo said the agreement is for a 60-40 sharing of funds for the NIR between Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental, with Occidental getting 60 percent because of its bigger population and land area.

Degamo said a meeting with Interior Secretary Mar Roxas and representatives of the TWG is expected this week.

The NIR would have a land area of more than 13,000 square kilometers and a population of more than 4 million.

The lobby for the creation of the NIR started in 1994 during the time of then Negros Occidental Gov. Rafael Coscolluela and Negros Oriental Gov. Emilio Macias during the term of President Fidel Ramos.

Negros Island is the only island with two provinces belonging to two different regions—Negros Occidental in Western Visayas and Negros Oriental in Central Visayas.

Bacolod Rep. Evelio Leonardia said EO 183 “is great news for Bacolod and Negros Island. This is something we have long waited for.” Leonardia said that many years ago, as an official in the Department of Tourism, he was among those pushing for “One-Island Tourism” promotion program for the Negros Island.

“This will surely make Negros Island more attractive to investments and accelerate its growth,” he said.