BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Negros Association of Chief Executives have joined mounting calls to support the creation of expanded Negros Island Region.
A resolution, unanimously approved by Negros ACE, led by Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel “Javi” Benitez, said that the re-establishment of a one Negros and the inclusion of Siquijor in one administrative region, as the expanded NIR, is necessary for faster coordination and implementation of public programs, projects and initiatives.
It added that an administrative region enjoys a degree of independence in planning, management, and administration resulting to convenience in doing business between provinces, and the efficient utilization of available resources.
Under an expanded NIR, several regional government offices will be more accessible to the people, making the governance closer to the grass roots and communities, producing a ripple effect on peace and order, economic growth and social development, it further said.
Greater economic coordination will strengthen economics of scale in Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental and Siquijor, and will consolidate separate development plans into a coherent, complementary roadmap for sustainable and inclusive economic growth for the provinces, the resolution also said.
Separate bills have been filed by Negros Island solons at the House of Representatives for the creation of expanded NIR, while Senate president Juan Miguel Zubiri has also filed a counterpart bill in the Senate.
A copy of the resolution was furnished yesterday by Negros ACE members to Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, who administered the oathtaking of its new set of officers, led by Benitez, an event also witnessed by Vice Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer, representatives of the Department of Interior and Local Government, Brig. Gen. Inocencio Ferrer, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander and PCol. Leo Pamittan, provincial police director of Negros Occidental.
COLLABORATION
Benitez, chair of the Negros ACE, called on all the 31 mayors of Negros Occidental to have more collaboration and sharing of best practices and notes among members.
“When there is inaction or ineffective policies and programs of the national government, the mayors have been able to step up,” he said.
“We can be effective and as immediate in addressing our own problems,” the youngest mayor of Negros Occidental stressed.
Benitez also stressed the need to ramp up booster shots, and for Negros ACE to rally behind the provincial government in the fight against dengue.*
