The creation of Regions 6 (Western Visayas) and 7 (Central Visayas) sub regions instead of a Negros Island Region could “be a good compromise for us to move forward”, Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez said Friday, November 18.
However, he does not know if the congressmen pushing for a Negros Island Region, which will include Siquijor, will withdraw their bills that have already been filed in the Lower House.
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the National Economic and Development Authority have proposed that instead of making Negros Occidental and Oriental and Siquijor 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 to serve Negros Occidental and Bacolod where people can transact business without having to go to Iloilo, he said.
The Region 7B sub-region will also have similar offices to serve Negros Oriental and Siquijor so residents will not have to go to Cebu, he added.
The degree of autonomy of the satellite offices in the sub regions is being discussed, he said.
Benitez said he has raised the matter with Rep. Mercedes Alvarez (Neg. Occ., 6th District) and she said they will review the proposal and let him know.*