Negros Island Region
Negros Island Region | |
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UTC+8 (PST) | |
Provinces | |
Independent cities | 1 |
Component cities | |
$ 9.5 billion |
The Negros Island Region, abbreviated and officially designated as NIR,
The region was re-established on June 13, 2024, with the inclusion of Siquijor, an island province located southeast of Negros which was formerly part of Central Visayas.[3]
History
Early initiatives
Negros has history as a single province and as a briefly independent republic.[4] The movement for a single-island region started in the 1980s, when officials from both provinces proposed a one-island, one-region unit. At the time, Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental were the only provinces in the Philippines situated on the same island but belonging to two different administrative regions. Their regional offices were located in Panay and Cebu respectively. This led to the filing of House of Representatives Bill No. 1477 titled "An Act Merging the Province of Negros Occidental and Oriental into One-Island Region". This argued that the two provinces "nestle in one common island; have common fowls and beasts in the forest; share the same soil in our plains and mountains; benefit and suffer together from the rivers that snake through our land; and our ancestors roamed the same length and breadth without complications of political, social, economic, religious and lingual obstacles."
The proposal was continued through talks between Governor Daniel Lacson Jr. of Negros Occidental and Governor
Revival of proposal
In 2013, the one-island region talks were continued by Negros Oriental Representatives
Notably, Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo was tagged as being initially opposed to the talks, claiming he was not convinced with a one-island region setup and that his constituents were allegedly not in favor of its creation.[11] He eventually clarified that his original stand as regards the region was being "open" to it and that there were some concerns, such as revenue sharing between the two provinces, that had to be thrashed out first.[12]
President Benigno Aquino III directed the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to study the establishment of a new region.[13] The DILG subsequently endorsed the proposal, noting that the new region would mean integrated planning for holistic development, disaster management, tourism promotion, and peace and order management.[14] NEDA affirmed by saying that its studies show that the proposed region is economically viable.[15]
Establishment
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c8/Ph_locator_nir.svg/220px-Ph_locator_nir.svg.png)
On May 29, 2015, President Aquino III signed Executive Order 183,[16] merging the two Negros provinces into one region — the Negros Island Region. It separated Negros Occidental and its capital Bacolod from Western Visayas (Region VI) and Negros Oriental from Central Visayas (Region VII), raising the total number of regions of the Philippines to 18.[17][18]
Dissolution
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7b/Silliman_Amphitheater.jpg/220px-Silliman_Amphitheater.jpg)
On August 9, 2017, President Rodrigo Duterte signed Executive Order No. 38, revoking the Executive Order No. 183 after former Department of Budget and Management Secretary Benjamin Diokno cited the cost of retaining the region to be at ₱19 billion.[19] Negros officials expressed disappointment and sadness over the dissolution of the NIR.[20]
Reestablishment
In 2020, some officials from Negros and their allies proposed for the region's reestablishment.[19] A bill was also filed in July 2022,[21][22] and in 2023, the proposal was again revived.[23] On March 12, 2024, JV Ejercito's Senate Bill No. 2507 or the Negros Island Region Bill was passed on the third and final reading at the Senate.[24][25][26][27] Some new officials reiterated their intent for consultation first before reestablishment.[28] The measure was also opposed by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Dumaguete, with Bishop Julito Cortes and eight other senior clergy calling it an "insult" to the people of Negros Oriental and adding that residents of the province as well as Siquijor were not consulted on the matter.[29][30] Wilfredo Capundag Jr., the mayor of San Juan, Siquijor, called for the region to be renamed into the Negros Island-Siquijor Administrative Region (NISAR) to acknowledge his province's inclusion.[31]
On June 13, 2024, the bill was signed by President Bongbong Marcos as Republic Act No. 12000.[3] The re-established region, this time, included the nearby island province of Siquijor, upon the request of the provincial authorities; Siquijor, previously part of Region VII along with Negros Oriental,[32] was part of Negros Oriental until it became an independent province in 1971.[33]
Administrative divisions
Current
The region currently has three provinces and 19 cities. Negros Occidental has the most chartered cities amongst all the provinces in the Philippines, with 13, including its provincial capital Bacolod, though it is governed independently from its corresponding province as a highly urbanized city.
Bacolod, the center of the
Province or HUC | Capital | Population (2020)[1] | Area[34] | Density | Cities | Muni. | Bgy. | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
km2 | sq mi | /km2 | /sq mi | ||||||||||
Negros Occidental | Bacolod | 48.6% | 2,022,389 | 7,802.54 | 3,012.58 | 260 | 670 | 12 | 19 | 601 | |||
Negros Oriental | Dumaguete | 34.5% | 1,432,990 | 5,385.53 | 2,079.36 | 270 | 700 | 6 | 19 | 557 | |||
Siquijor | Siquijor | 2.5% | 103,395 | 790 | 310 | 130 | 340 | 0 | 6 | 134 | |||
Bacolod | † | — | 14.4% | 600,783 | 162.67 | 62.81 | 3,700 | 9,600 | — | — | 61 | ||
Total | 4,159,557 | 14,140.74 | 5,459.77 | 290 | 750 | 19 | 44 | 1,353 | |||||
† Bacolod is a highly urbanized city; figures are excluded from Negros Occidental. |
Governors and vice governors
Province | Image | Governor | Political Party | Vice Governor | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() |
Eugenio Jose Lacson | NPC | Jeffrey Ferrer | ||
![]() |
Manuel L. Sagarbarria | NPC | Jaime Reyes | ||
![]() |
Jake Vincent Villa | NPC | Mei Ling Quezon-Brown |
Cities
City | Population (2020)[1] | Area[35] | Density | City class | Income class | Province | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
km2 | sq mi | /km2 | /sq mi | |||||
Bacolod | 600,783 | 162.67 | 62.81 | 3,700 | 9,600 | Highly urbanized | 1st | Negros Occidental |
Bago | 191,210 | 401.20 | 154.90 | 480 | 1,200 | Component | 2nd | Negros Occidental |
Bais | 84,317 | 319.64 | 123.41 | 260 | 670 | Component | 3rd | Negros Oriental |
Bayawan | 122,747 | 699.08 | 269.92 | 180 | 470 | Component | 1st | Negros Oriental |
Cadiz | 158,544 | 524.57 | 202.54 | 300 | 780 | Component | 2nd | Negros Occidental |
Canlaon | 58,822 | 170.93 | 66.00 | 340 | 880 | Component | 4th | Negros Oriental |
Dumaguete | 134,103 | 33.62 | 12.98 | 4,000 | 10,000 | Component | 2nd | Negros Oriental |
Escalante | 96,159 | 192.76 | 74.43 | 500 | 1,300 | Component | 4th | Negros Occidental |
Guihulngan | 102,656 | 388.56 | 150.02 | 260 | 670 | Component | 5th | Negros Oriental |
Himamaylan | 116,240 | 367.04 | 141.71 | 320 | 830 | Component | 3rd | Negros Occidental |
Kabankalan | 200,198 | 697.35 | 269.25 | 290 | 750 | Component | 1st | Negros Occidental |
La Carlota | 66,664 | 137.29 | 53.01 | 490 | 1,300 | Component | 4th | Negros Occidental |
Sagay | 148,894 | 330.34 | 127.54 | 450 | 1,200 | Component | 3rd | Negros Occidental |
San Carlos | 132,650 | 451.50 | 174.33 | 290 | 750 | Component | 2nd | Negros Occidental |
Silay | 130,478 | 214.80 | 82.93 | 610 | 1,600 | Component | 3rd | Negros Occidental |
Sipalay | 72,448 | 379.78 | 146.63 | 190 | 490 | Component | 4th | Negros Occidental |
Talisay | 108,909 | 201.18 | 77.68 | 540 | 1,400 | Component | 4th | Negros Occidental |
Tanjay | 82,642 | 276.05 | 106.58 | 300 | 780 | Component | 4th | Negros Oriental |
Victorias | 90,101 | 133.92 | 51.71 | 670 | 1,700 | Component | 4th | Negros Occidental |
2015–2017
Year | By 2017 (Disestablishment) |
By 2024 (Re-establishment) |
---|---|---|
Provinces | 2 | 3 |
Cities | 19 Component cities: 18 Highly urbanized city: 1 (Bacolod) | |
Municipalities | 38 | 44 |
Barangays | 1,219 | 1,353 |
Area | 13,350.74 km² (5,154.75 sq mi) |
14,140.74 km² (5,459.77 sq mi) |
The capitals were Bacolod and Dumaguete as interim joint temporary regional centers for a four-year transition period; Kabankalan and neighboring Mabinay were to be joint permanent regional centers.
At the time of its first existence, the region had the fewest provinces in the country (only two), but with 19 cities—making it the region with the most cities amongst the rest in
City | Population (2015)[36] | Area[35] | Density | City class | Income class | Province | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
km2 | sq mi | /km2 | /sq mi | |||||
Bacolod | 561,875 | 162.67 | 62.81 | 3,500 | 9,100 | Highly urbanized | 1st | Negros Occidental |
Bago | 170,981 | 401.20 | 154.90 | 430 | 1,100 | Component | 2nd | Negros Occidental |
Bais | 76,291 | 319.64 | 123.41 | 240 | 620 | Component | 3rd | Negros Oriental |
Bayawan | 117,900 | 699.08 | 269.92 | 170 | 440 | Component | 1st | Negros Oriental |
Cadiz | 154,723 | 524.57 | 202.54 | 290 | 750 | Component | 2nd | Negros Occidental |
Canlaon | 54,509 | 170.93 | 66.00 | 320 | 830 | Component | 4th | Negros Oriental |
Dumaguete | 131,377 | 33.62 | 12.98 | 3,900 | 10,000 | Component | 2nd | Negros Oriental |
Escalante | 94,070 | 192.76 | 74.43 | 490 | 1,300 | Component | 4th | Negros Occidental |
Guihulngan | 95,969 | 388.56 | 150.02 | 250 | 650 | Component | 5th | Negros Oriental |
Himamaylan | 106,880 | 367.04 | 141.71 | 290 | 750 | Component | 3rd | Negros Occidental |
Kabankalan | 181,977 | 697.35 | 269.25 | 260 | 670 | Component | 1st | Negros Occidental |
La Carlota | 64,469 | 137.29 | 53.01 | 470 | 1,200 | Component | 4th | Negros Occidental |
Sagay | 146,264 | 330.34 | 127.54 | 440 | 1,100 | Component | 3rd | Negros Occidental |
San Carlos | 132,536 | 451.50 | 174.33 | 290 | 750 | Component | 2nd | Negros Occidental |
Silay | 126,930 | 214.80 | 82.93 | 590 | 1,500 | Component | 3rd | Negros Occidental |
Sipalay | 70,070 | 379.78 | 146.63 | 180 | 470 | Component | 4th | Negros Occidental |
Talisay | 102,214 | 201.18 | 77.68 | 510 | 1,300 | Component | 4th | Negros Occidental |
Tanjay | 80,532 | 276.05 | 106.58 | 290 | 750 | Component | 4th | Negros Oriental |
Victorias | 87,933 | 133.92 | 51.71 | 660 | 1,700 | Component | 4th | Negros Occidental |
References
- ^ a b c Census of Population (2020). Table B - Population and Annual Growth Rates by Province, City, and Municipality - By Region. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
- ^ Republic Act No. 12000 (June 11, 2024), An Act Establishing the Negros Island Region (PDF), Official Gazette (Philippines), retrieved June 19, 2024.
- ^ a b de Leon, Dwight de (June 13, 2024). "Marcos signs law creating new Negros Island Region". Rappler. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
- ^ Pacete, Ver F. (November 3, 2016). "Pacete: The fate of the Federal Republic of Negros". Sunstar.
- ^ "What Went Before: A history of splits and mergers". Philippine Daily Inquirer. May 19, 2015. Retrieved June 21, 2015.
- ^ "Negros Island Region reborn: The long road to new beginnings". Rappler. June 13, 2024. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
- ^ "One-island region for Negros provinces revived". Philippine Daily Inquirer. June 27, 2013. Retrieved June 21, 2015.
- ^ Espina, Marchel P. (April 1, 2014). "Talks on one-island Negros region proposal to resume". The Freeman. The Philippine Star. Retrieved June 21, 2015.
- ^ Gomez, Carla (June 25, 2014). "Island region possible before 2016, Mar says but support data needed". Visayan Daily Star. Retrieved June 21, 2015.
- ^ Bayoran, Gilbert (May 22, 2014). "More support one-island region". Visayan Daily Star. Retrieved June 21, 2015.
- ^ Ellera, Teresa (August 7, 2014). "One regional guv for Negros 'not true'". Sun.Star. Retrieved June 21, 2015.
- ^ Partlow, Judy Flores (May 1, 2015). "On Negros Island Region: Degamo denies saying "yes"". The Freeman. The Philippine Star. Retrieved June 21, 2015.
- ^ "One Negros dream: Aquino won't commit, points to Roxas". Philippine Daily Inquirer. May 27, 2014. Retrieved June 21, 2015.
- ^ Gomez, Carla (January 6, 2015). "PNoy okay of island region seen". Visayan Daily Star. Retrieved June 21, 2015.
- ^ "NEDA: Negros Occ can survive if separated from WV". The Freeman. The Philippine Star. April 19, 2015. Retrieved June 21, 2015.
- ^ "Executive Order No. 183, s. 2015". Official Gazette. Retrieved October 12, 2015.
- ^ "Aquino OKs creation of Negros Island Region". Philippine Daily Inquirer. June 5, 2015. Retrieved June 5, 2015.
- ^ "PNoy joins 2 Negros provinces into one region". ABS-CBNnews.com. June 5, 2015. Retrieved June 21, 2015.
- ^ a b Singuay, Mae (May 7, 2021). "Negros Island Region revival mulled anew". Panay News. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
- Sun.Star. August 9, 2017. Archived from the originalon August 9, 2017. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
- ^ Bayoran, Gilbert (July 5, 2022). "Negros Island Region bill filed anew". The Philippine Star. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
- ^ Fernandez, Daniza (December 5, 2022). "Senate panel OKs creation of Negros Island Region". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
- ^ https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1196749 [bare URL]
- ^ Cheng, Willard (March 12, 2024). "Senate OKs Negros Island Region bill". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
- ^ Abarca, Charie (March 12, 2024). "Senate approves Negros Island Region bill". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
- ^ Titon, Raymond (March 17, 2024). "Southern Negros Occidental city eyes to 'benefit most' from NIR bill push". Rappler. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
- ^ "Marcos intends to sign measure creating Negros Island Region". GMA Integrated News. April 8, 2024. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
- ^ de la Vega, Chito (April 11, 2024). "Diocese of Dumaguete opposes creation of Negros Island Region, asks Marcos to veto bill". Rappler. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
- ^ "Bishop's last-minute opposition casts shadow over Negros Island Region revival". Rappler. March 27, 2024.
- ^ "Diocese of Dumaguete opposes creation of Negros Island Region, asks Marcos to veto bill". Rappler. April 11, 2024.
- ^ "Mayor pushes for renaming Negros Island Region to acknowledge Siquijor". Rappler. June 18, 2024.
- ^ Ellera, Teresa; Pedrosa, Merlinda (June 13, 2024). "PBBM to sign NIR today". SunStar. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
- ^ Delilan, Erwin (May 7, 2024). "Siquijor coalition joins opposition vs creation of Negros Island Region". Rappler. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
- ^ "PSGC Interactive; List of Provinces". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
- ^ a b "PSGC Interactive; List of Cities". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
- ^ Census of Population (2015). Highlights of the Philippine Population 2015 Census of Population. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
External links
Media related to Negros Island Region at Wikimedia Commons