Pres. Bongbong Marcos OKs Creation of Negros Island Region bringing PH Regions to 18
MARCOS – Philippine President Bongbong Marcos Jr. signed the law seeking the creation of the Negros Island Region (NIR).
In 2015, the late former President Noynoy Aquino signed the Executive Order 183 creating the Negros Island Region. It pulled out the Province of Negros Occidental from Western Visayas and Negros Oriental from Central Visayas for the creation of the NIR.
The creation of the Negros Island Region was years in the making but it was also opposed by several politicians. In 2017, then Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte terminated the Negros Island Region. The insufficient funding was cited as one of the reasons.
After around 7 years, the creation of the Negros Island Region is set once again after President Bongbong Marcos Jr. signed the measure seeking the creation of the NIR. The new region will be composed of the provinces of Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental, Bacolod City, and Siquijor.
The Philippines is composed of 17 regions until the recent creation of the Negros Island Region. The country is composed of the following regions now:
- Region I – Ilocos Region
- Region II – Cagayan Valley
- Region III – Central Luzon
- Region IV‑A – CALABARZON
- MIMAROPA Region
- Region V – Bicol Region
- Region VI – Western Visayas
- Region VII – Central Visayas
- Region VIII – Eastern Visayas
- Region IX – Zamboanga Peninsula
- Region X – Northern Mindanao
- Region XI – Davao Region
- Region XII – SOCCSKSARGEN
- Region XIII – Caraga
- NCR – National Capital Region
- CAR – Cordillera Administrative Region
- BARMM – Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao
- Negros Island Region
The creation of the Negros Island Region aims to consolidate the services, resources, and efforts for purposes that will be of benefit to the constituents of Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Siquijor, and Bacolod City. It is believed that having the NIR can also help in the peace initiatives in the covered areas.
Based on a report on GMA News, it was in March when the Senate gave its go signal the measure seeking the creation of the NIR on its third and final reading. It was in March 2023 when the House of Representatives passed the counterpart of the bill in the lower chamber.
The bill is sponsored by Senator JV Ejercito. It is among the targets of the bill to boost the local economy and speed up the cultural, economic, and social development of the region.