- GILBERT BAYORAN
Negros Occidental 6th District Representative Mercedes Alvarez, who co-chairs the Technical Working Group in the deliberation of the proposed bills for the revival of the Negros Island Region, said Nov. 24 that they are still waiting for the position paper from the Department of Budget and Management on the proposal.
“We have to wait for the position paper, especially from the DBM, since nothing will happen to the separate region or sub-region proposals if there is no budget,” Alvarez said.
The NIR, which was created through an executive order issued by then president Benigno Aquino III in 2015, was abolished by his successor, Rodrigo Duterte, in 2017, due to budget constraints.
Then DBM Secretary Benjamin Diokno, who is now the Finance secretary, opposed the NIR, stressing that the P19 billion proposed budget was too costly for the government.
The House Committee on Local Government, chaired by Rep. Rex Gatchalian, tasked the TWG to consolidate the numerous bills regarding the creation of the NIR, which also include Siquijor.
As to the creation of sub-regions in Regions 6 and 7 pending deliberations on the proposed NIR bills in Congress, Alvarez said she will study it first.
She added that it was not formally put on the table yet by any member, as the TWG has still to convene. Alvarez said they are still awaiting the position papers of Negros Oriental, and DBM.
Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Benitez, who chairs the Regional Development Council 6, earlier described the proposal of DBM and the National Economic and Development Authority to create two sub-regions as “the fastest way to move forward” while Congress deliberates on the NIR proposal.
Benitez said they are discussing the degree of autonomy of a sub-region.
But Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer said they still prefer the NIR, instead of establishing sub-regions./GB
