
Negros Oriental has asked for the Department of Budget and Management and Commission on Elections regional offices when the Negros Island Region (NIR) is established.
Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Thursday, Nov. 16, that both provinces had previously agreed on how the regional offices would be divided under the NIR but Negros Oriental very recently asked for a swap.
They requested if they can have the DBM and Comelec that were assigned to Negros Occidental, in exchange for the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Department of Health that were supposed to be in Negros Oriental, Lacson said.
Lacson said he immediately said yes to the Negros Oriental request.
The House of Representatives has approved a bill seeking the creation of the NIR composed of Negros Occidental and Oriental, and Siquijor, but a counterpart measure is still pending in the Senate.
“We just have to remain positive” that the NIR will become a reality, Lacson said.
He said because of the support of the provinces involved the chances of its approval are higher, Lacson said.
“We remain hopeful”, he said.
Meanwhile, the detailed engineering study for the Panay-Guimaras bridge is expected to commence in 2024 and actual civil works in 2026, Engr. Sonny Boy Oropel, officer-in-charge of the Department of Public Works and Highways in Region 6, said.
He said the bidding for the detailed engineering study for the Guimaras-Negros bridge has yet to be set.*