Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo “Albee” Benitez, who chairs the Regional Development Council 6, said Friday that the fastest way to move forward, while the proposed Negros Island Region bill is being deliberated by Congress, is the creation of Region 6A for Negros Occidental and Bacolod City, and Region 7A for Negros Oriental and Siquijor.
Benitez confirmed that various government agencies, especially the Department of Budget and Management, and the National Economic and Development Authority, are pushing for the creation of two sub-regions, while the proposed NIR plus Siquijor is being discussed in the House of Representatives.
Its creation will prompt all national offices to put up their respective satellite braches in two sub regions, he said.
What we are discussing now, Benitez said, “is the degree of autonomy of the sub-region,” adding that it is a “win-win solution” as far as RDC 6 is concerned.
“For people of Negros Occidental and Bacolod City, there is no need to cross to Iloilo in order to transact business with the regional offices if they already have satellite offices here,” he added.
All Negros Island solons, as well as that of Siquijor, either authored or co-sponsored similar bills creating an NIR, which was abolished during the administration of then president Rodrigo Duterte.
Benitez said he already talked with 6th District Rep. Mercedes Alvarez regarding the DBM and NEDA proposals.
While he has yet to get the sentiments of other Negros solons, who are pushing for the NIR, Benitez said “I think this would be a good compromise to move forward.”
“If it can be done, I think we have (already) solved majority of our issues,” the mayor said, adding that he was told by Alvarez that they will review the DBM and NEDA proposals.
“If the congressmen will agree to it, I think it is just a matter of getting DBM to agree. After getting the approval of the DBM and the Department of Interior and Local Government, then maybe the President will issue an executive order for it,” Benitez said./GB
