NIR RDC chairman Negros Oriental Governor Manuel “Chaco” Sagarbarria and his co-chair Christina Marie “Ina” Gaston with Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson (l-r) in Dumaguete City on Wednesday.*NegOr FB page photo
Negros Oriental Governor Manuel “Chaco” Sagarbarria was elected as the first chairperson of the newly created Negros Island Region (NIR) Regional Development Council (RDC) at the Negros Oriental Convention Center in Dumaguete City on Wednesday afternoon, August 13.
Christina Marie “Ina” Gaston of the Association of Negros Producers was elected as the RDC’s co-chairperson. Their names will be submitted to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for final appointment.
Marcos Jr. signed Republic Act No. 12000, which established the NIR, on June 13, 2024. The new region is composed of Negros Occidental, the highly-urbanized Bacolod City, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor.
Government and private sector representatives from the three provinces led by governors Sagarbarria of Negros Oriental, Eugenio Jose Lacson of Negros Occidental, and Jake Vincent Villa of Siquijor, were present at the historic gathering.
The following were also elected to lead the RDC’s various committees:
- Economic Development Committee: Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, who also heads the NIR Regional Peace and Order Council, chairperson, with Christina Gaston as co-chair.
- Development Administration Committee: Regional Director Lailyn Ortiz of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, chairperson, with Carmenia Benosa of Little Children of the Philippines Foundation Inc. as co-chair.
- Infrastructure Development Committee: Dumaguete City Mayor Manuel “Chiquiting” Sagarbarria, chairperson, with Edward Du of the Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce and Industry as co-chair.
- Social Development Committee: Canlaon City Mayor Jose Chubasco Cardenas, chairperson, with Profetiza Lim of the Negros Oriental Union of Cooperatives as co-chair.
- Environment Committee: Director Charlie E. Fabre of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, chairperson, with Roseo J. Depla of the Negros Economic Development Foundation Inc. as co-chair.*