The Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) Negros Island Region (NIR) and the Regional Development Council (RDC) NIR, in partnership with the World Bank, convened officials from local government units, regional line agencies, the private sector, and other development partners for the regional report launch and forum “From Cities to Corridors: Unlocking the Philippines’ Urban Growth Potential” Nov. 12 in Bacolod City.
DEPDev undersecretary for Regional Development Carlos Bernardo Abad Santos emphasized that connectivity should be viewed not merely as an infrastructure agenda but as an economic development strategy, highlighting the need to strengthen linkages among cities, production areas, markets, and institutions to enable a more integrated and competitive regional economy.
DEPDev NIR OIC director, Atty. Jam Colas-Villaber, on the other hand, presented a comprehensive profile of NIR to set the expectations and the work to be done in the region in cognizance with the urban diagnostic report.
RDC-NIR chairperson and Negros Oriental Governor Manuel Sagarbarria underscored the need to translate the report’s findings into concrete policies and plans, including the integration of its insights into the region’s upcoming Regional Physical Framework Plan.
RDC NIR Economic Development Committee chairperson and Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, meanwhile, highlighted the opportunities presented by stronger economic connectivity across the NIR provinces, emphasizing the role of urban centers, infrastructure investments, and inter-provincial collaboration in advancing regional prosperity.
The forum provided a venue for stakeholders to exchange perspectives on leveraging urban growth opportunities and advancing sustainable regional development, supporting the shared goal of improving the quality of life of communities in NIR, the DEPDev-NIR said.
The gathering served as an avenue for dialogue and collaboration toward unlocking the urban growth potential of both the Philippines and the Negros Island Region through stronger regional linkages, sustainable development strategies, and expanded economic opportunities, Sagarbarria added. ||
