The Regional Development Council of the Negros Island Region (RDC NIR) will prioritize road connectivity and the improvement of the Siquijor Airport, Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Saturday, August 17.
Negros Oriental Governor Manuel “Chaco” Sagarbarria, the newly elected RDC NIR chairperson, emphasized these projects during his speech on August 13, Lacson said.
Sagarbarria highlighted the need to improve road links between the two Negros provinces and to extend the Siquijor Airport runway to potentially make it an international airport.
Lacson noted that a similar upgrade is also needed for Negros Occidental’s airport.
The RDC Secretariat, which is part of the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development, will be tasked with collating all proposals for submission to the national government, he said.
“We cannot have projects unless they pass through the RDC, especially if they need national funding,” Lacson said.
Lacson anticipates that the NIR will receive “full funding as far as personnel services by 2026, but infrastructure for offices, we’re looking at 2027”*