15-6-2024 (MANILA) As the momentous creation of the Negros Island Region (NIR) becomes a reality, the business community in Negros Occidental has wasted no time in voicing its top wishes for the newly minted administrative territory. Speaking with a unified voice, they have underscored the pressing need for an international airport and seaport, as well as a stable on-island power supply, to propel the region’s economic growth and global connectivity.
Frank Carbon, the esteemed chief executive officer of the Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI), candidly acknowledged the challenges that lie ahead. “Being an NIR now, we will be losing the Mactan-Cebu International Airport, Iloilo Airport of International Standards, and Cebu International Port as well,” he stated on Thursday, June 13th, emphasizing the urgency of developing alternative infrastructure.
Echoing the sentiments of the business community, Carbon emphasized, “So, we need to prioritize now having our own NIR international airport and seaport the soonest.” His vision for the region’s future is both ambitious and pragmatic, as he believes the Bacolod-Silay Airport in Silay City holds the potential to be upgraded into an international aviation hub, while the deep waters of Bacong in Negros Oriental could pave the way for the construction of an international seaport meeting global standards.
Dino Yulo, the esteemed Representative for Negros Occidental’s 5th District, echoed Carbon’s suggestions, asserting, “International airport and port are a must for NIR.” Yulo underscored the pivotal role these points of entry would play in facilitating the transportation of goods, thereby bolstering the new region’s economic prospects.
Beyond infrastructure, Carbon also highlighted the critical importance of a stable power supply for the region, which currently boasts a generating capacity of 300 megawatts. He emphasized the need for a robust 69- to 138-kiloVolt (KV) backbone transmission grid in a loop configuration, ensuring that the NIR does not solely rely on the existing 230-kV Cebu-Negros-Panay (CPN) backbone transmission project of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines.
As the NIR takes shape, the province of Siquijor has emerged as a promising addition to the region’s tapestry. Carbon envisions a future where Siquijor could become the next Boracay – a world-renowned tourist destination akin to the Western Visayas’ pristine white-sand beaches.
“Siquijor is one splendid island full of potentials to be the next tourism haven just waiting to be discovered,” Carbon remarked, underscoring the province’s untapped potential as a tropical paradise.
Former Negros Occidental governor Rafael Coscolluela, who played a pivotal role in the inception of the NIR, hopes that the first Regional Development Council (RDC) meeting will be held in Siquijor province. “This is to make Siquijodnons feel that they’re part of NIR now,” Coscolluela explained, emphasizing the importance of fostering a sense of belonging and unity within the newly formed region.
The establishment of a Negros Island Region has been a long-standing aspiration, with its roots dating back to 2015 when an executive order was issued by the late former president Benigno Aquino III. However, Siquijor was not initially part of the NIR at that time. In 2017, Aquino’s successor, Rodrigo Duterte, revoked the order due to a lack of funding, temporarily dissolving the region.
Today, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has revived and solidified this dream by signing into law the creation of the NIR, comprising Negros Occidental and the highly urbanized city of Bacolod in Western Visayas, as well as Negros Oriental and Siquijor in Central Visayas.
Marcos has made the establishment of the NIR a priority measure, citing the need to expedite the delivery of government services – a long-standing issue that the people of the island have grappled with, as the two provinces previously belonged to different regions.
With the legislative framework in place, a technical working group will be formed within 15 days of the law’s signing to iron out the intricate details of the institutional arrangement for the NIR. Crucial decisions, such as the location of key government offices, will need to be made.
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson has offered a five-hectare provincial lot in Talisay City as a potential site for regional branches of national government agencies. Meanwhile, Carbon advocates for their establishment in Kabankalan.
Congressman Yuo, cognizant of the economic implications, has also reminded the provincial governments of Negros Occidental and Oriental to revisit their respective Gross National Product figures, as they will be separating from their original regions. “It’s important for two provinces to take a look at their respective economic viability right there and then at the start of their separation from their former regions,” Yulo added, emphasizing the need for a seamless transition and economic stability.
