‘SPLITS BILL’: Negros Island Region bill seeks to split and realign Visayas map

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – House Bill 1446, which seeks to reestablish the Negros Island Region (NIR) via congressional fiat, proposes to split and realign Regions VI and VII (Western Visayas and Central Visayas, respectively).

The nine lawmakers who jointly sponsored HB 1446 believe the move is logical and practical, in view of the proximity and cultural similarities of the two Negros Island provinces (Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental).

HB 1446 was filed on July 6, 2022 by Negros Island Representatives Jose Francisco Benitez, Stephen Joseph Paduano, Gerardo Valmayor Jr., Emilio Bernardino Yulo, Mercedes Alvarez, Greg Gasataya, Jocelyn Sy-Limkaichong, Manuel Sagarbarria and Arnolfo Teves Jr.

Under the proposed bill, the provinces of Antique, Capiz, Iloilo, Aklan, Guimaras and Iloilo City will comprise Region VI-A, while Cebu, Bohol and Cebu City will remain in Region VII.

Region VI-B will include Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Siquijor and the highly urbanized city of Bacolod.

Under the present set up, Negros Occidental belongs to Region VI, while Negros Oriental and Siquijor are with Region VII.

With the creation of Region VI-B, HB1446 states that “greater economic coordination will strengthen economies of scale in the provinces of Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental and Siquijor, and will consolidate separate development plans into a coherent, complimentary road map for sustainable and inclusive economic growth for the provinces.”

Earlier, a similar bill pushing for the creation of Negros Island Region (excluding Siquijor), was also filed by Negros Occidental 2nd district Rep. Alfredo Marañon III, which he expects to be consolidated with other bills during House committee hearing.

Negros Island Region, which was created through an executive order issued by the late President Benigno Aquino III, was dissolved by Rodrigo Duterte during his term citing budgetary constraints.

Interestingly, then Budget and Management Secretary Diokno (under Duterte) pushed for the abolition of NIR because of budgetary impracticality.

Diokno now serves as Finance secretary of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., thus he will handle financial management of the current administration.

NIR EO

Meanwhile, Mayor Alfredo “Albee” Benitez said Monday that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. might issue this year an Executive Order (EO) for the re-establishment of the NIR.

In a press conference, Benitez said he huddled with Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. to discuss the matter during a meeting with city mayors and governors in Malacañang last week.

It was supposed to be a personal meeting with the President but the latter contracted COVID-19, thus he opted to interact with the group virtually.

Benitez said the DILG secretary is receptive to the idea of reviving the NIR.

When asked how soon it will be realized, Benitez said “this year.”

He said the EO will include Siquijor in the NIR.