The creation of Regions 6 (Western Visayas) and 7 (Central Visayas) sub regions is being proposed as an alternative to the Negros Island Region, Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez said Friday, October 14.
Benitez said he will meet with the governors involved in the proposed Negros Island Region to discuss the suggestion of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).
The DBM and NEDA have proposed that instead on making Negros Occidental and Oriental part of one region, Region 6B and Region 7B should instead be created to address the clamor for efficient delivery of services, he said.
Under Region 6B all national government offices based in Iloilo will have satellite offices in Negros Occidental where people can transact business, he said.
The Region 7B sub-region will also have similar offices in Negros Oriental to address the needs of the province and Siquijor so residents will not have to go to Cebu, he added
The proposal is still up for discussion with political leaders of the affected areas, Benitez said.
There are pending bills in Congress for the creation of the Negros Island Region.*