BACOLOD CITY – The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) is working to build a cohesive relationship among the provinces of Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor as it sets up its office in the newly formed Negros Island Region (NIR). Arecio Casing Jr., who serves as the concurrent officer-in-charge Regional Director for NEDA-NIR, highlighted the importance of synergy during the launch of the agency’s temporary office at the Carlos Hilado Memorial State University (CHMSU) Alijis Campus on Thursday.
Casing, also the regional director for NEDA-Western Visayas, noted the challenge of restoring economic growth in the region, which had been halved following Negros Occidental’s departure from Region 6 to join the new administrative region. The transition team is tasked with revitalizing the area’s economic prospects.
Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, the outgoing chairman of the Regional Development Council-6, mentioned an upcoming meeting with NEDA-6 and President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on February 13. He proposed a subsequent meeting focused solely on NIR, given its unofficial status and current leadership by officers-in-charge.
President Marcos signed Republic Act 12000, the NIR Act, on June 13, 2024, establishing the new region which includes Negros Occidental, the highly-urbanized Bacolod City, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor. This act separates Negros Occidental and Bacolod City from Western Visayas, and Negros Oriental and Siquijor from Central Visayas.
Casing expressed optimism about leveraging the robust economy of Central Visayas to benefit NIR, particularly noting the larger economy of Negros Occidental within the new region.
To facilitate the establishment of the NIR regional office, Casing signed a usufruct agreement with CHMSU president Norberto Mangulabnan. The signing was witnessed by NEDA Undersecretary Carlos Bernardo Abad Santos, Central Visayas Regional Director Jennifer Bretaña, and CHMSU Vice President for Administration and Finance Rosalinda Tuvilla.
Mangulabnan welcomed NEDA to the university, emphasizing the importance of mutual support in the new region. In response, Abad Santos expressed gratitude for CHMSU’s support, underscoring the significance of collaboration between government and academia in the early stages of regional office operations.