The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) removed the provision in the Negros Island Region implementing rules and regulations granting national government agencies authority to set up satellite offices in provinces within the NIR, Rep. Mercedes Alvarez (Neg. Occ., 6th District) said on Tuesday, Oct. 1.
Alvarez said she has sent a letter to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) seeking the restoration of the provision intended to bring government services closer to the people in the NIR, which is composed of Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental and Siquijor.
Alvarez said she discovered the removal of the provision, which she pushed for and was approved during a technical working group meeting, when copies of the IRR signed by DBM, DILG and National Economic Development Authority officials was sent out to the NIR representatives and governors for signing.
“I pushed that these (national) agencies would be allowed in the future, upon study and recommendation, to put up extension or satellite offices in the provinces in the NIR without regional offices. Apparently they removed that, which was already approved by the technical working group,” Alvarez said.
Alvarez said she did not sign the IRR and sent a letter trying to seek the restoration of the provision but for exigency purposes she also wants the NIR to move forward.
“So I won’t really insist on it anymore because that may cause of the delay of the NIR,” she said.
The matter can be cured through legislation, an amendment to the NIR law can be sought in the next Congress, she said.
Alvarez also said that despite a case filed by six Negros Oriental and Siquijor residents seeking the nullification of the NIR before the Supreme Court, the SC has not issued any order to halt the implementation of the new region.
In fact some national agencies are already setting up their regional offices in the NIR, she pointed out.
She said although funding for the NIR is not included in the 2025 national budget, she is very thankful to the various departments of the national government for allocating portions of their internal funds for the setting up of the NIR regional offices.*