Transition to Negros Island Region starts

Marchel P. Espina

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Transition to Negros Island Region starts
President Aquino orders national agencies to assist. Interim offices are expected to partially operate by October in Dumaguete City and in Bacolod City

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Philippines – President Benigno Aquino III has ordered the national agencies to help with the transition of two Visayas provinces into the Negros Island Region.

Through Memorandum Circular Number 81, signed by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr on August 6, President Aquino directed all heads of national government agencies “to extend their full assistance in the transition to the Negros Island Region.”

The agency heads are required to:

  • Undertake preliminary transition measures, including the designation of interim regional directors, not later than October 1, 2015.
  • Complete transition measures by January 1, 2016, in time for the opening of the NIR.
  • Organize and/or establish regional offices, including attached agencies, in either Bacolod City or Dumaguete City, in accordance with the guidelines to be issued by the Department of Budget and Management, and until such time that the regional center is developed.
  • Program the transfer of data and other assets of Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental from Region 6 and Region 7, respectively, into the new NIR.

Executive Order 183, which was signed by Aquino on May 29, separated Negros Occidental from Western Visayas or Region VI, and Negros Oriental from Central Visayas or Region VII.

 

The Negros Island Region has a total population of 4,194,525 as of 2010. (FAST FACTS: The Negros Island Region)

 

Negros Occidental is the 4th most vote-rich province, with a voting population of around 1.6 million as of 2013. It is also the richer between the two Negros provinces in terms of income.

 

Meanwhile, Negros Oriental ranks among the provinces with the highest poverty incidence rates, according to 2012 data. (MAP: The poorest provinces in PH).

 

The order also created the NIR-Technical Working Group (TWG), which composed the Office of the President, the Department of Budget and Management, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and representatives of the two provinces.

The NIR-TWG was tasked to arrange the requirements for organizational development, staffing, and budgeting of regional line and regulatory agencies.

The EO also ordered the formation of regional councils and designated NEDA as interim secretariat of Negros Island Development Council; the DILG as secretariat of the Negros Island Peace and Order Council; and the Office of Civil Defense as secretariat of the the Negros Island Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

Negros Occidental Planning and Development Officer Maria Lina Sanogal said regional offices that were assigned in this province had started planning for the requirements of office spaces and workforce needed for the interim offices.

At least 14 regional offices will hold their interim offices in Negros Occidental while Negros Oriental will temporarily house 16 regional offices.

Regional offices under Negros Occidental are:

  • Department of Agriculture
  • Department of Environment and Natural Resources
  • Department of Agrarian Reform
  • Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board
  • Department of Justice and attached agencies, including National Bureau of Investigation
  • Department of the Interior and Local Government and attached agencies, including Bureau of Fire, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Philippine National Police
  • Department of National Defense and Office of Civil Defense
  • Department of Budget and Management
  • Department of Finance
  • National Economic and Development Authority
  • Commission on Audit
  • Commission on Elections

Line agencies picked by Negros Oriental are:

  • Technical Education and Skills Development Authority
  • Department of Education
  • Department of Social Welfare and Development
  • Department of Health
  • Commission on Higher Education
  • Civil Service Commission
  • Philippine Statistics Authority
  • Professional Regulation Commission
  • Department of Public Works and Highways
  • Department of Transportation and Communications and attached agencies, including Land Transportation Office, Maritime Industry Authority, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, and National Telecommunications Commission
  • Department of Labor and Employment
  • Department of Trade and Industry
  • Department of Tourism
  • Department of Science and Technology
  • Securities and Exchange Commission

The interim offices are expected to partially operate by October in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, and in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental. Actual offices are expected to be fully operational in January 2016. – Rappler.com 

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