Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by REP. JOSE FRANCISCO “KIKO” B. BENITEZ,  
REP. JOSEPH STEPHEN S. PADUANO, REP. GERARDO P. VALMAYOR JR., 
REP. EMILIO BERNARDINO L. YULO, REP. MERCEDES K. ALVAREZ,  
REP. GREG G. GASATAYA, REP. JOCELYN SY-LIMKAICHONG,  
REP. MANUEL T. SAGARBARRIA, REP. ARNOLFO A. TEVES JR. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Article X, Section 14 of the 1987 Constitution promotes administrative decentralization 
to strengthen the autonomy of local government units and to accelerate economic and social 
development of the same. 
Pursuant to this mandate, administrative regions are established or reorganized to 
promote efficient delivery of public services and accelerate social and economic development. 
In 2015, the Negros Island Region was created by virtue of Executive Order (“EO”) No. 183. 
However, in 2017, due to the substantial funding requirement for the full operation of regional 
offices in the Negros Island Region, EO No. 183 (s. 2015) was revoked, and the transfer of 
functions, personnel, assets and responsibilities was reversed pursuant to EO No. 38 (s.2017).
. 
The dream of consolidating the two Negros provinces – Oriental and Occidental – in 
one administrative region, however, continues to live on – an aspiration that is deeply grounded 
in their histories. 
For 300 years under the Spanish colonial government, Negros Occidental and Negros 
Oriental were governed as a single province. It was only in 1890 when Negros was divided 
into two provinces. 
The two Negros provinces united once again in establishing the cantonal government 
of Negros (popularly called the “Republic of Negros” but officially the Gobierno Republicano 
Federal del Canton de Ysla de Negros or Federal Republican Government of the Canton of 
Negros Island) in 1898 after the surrender of Spanish colonial authorities in Negros Occidental. 
The autonomy of the Negros Canton was short-lived – undermined first by the establishment 
of a unitary government under the Malolos Constitution, then by American occupation.  
Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental had henceforward taken different trajectories. 
Their destinies, however, converge on one commodity: sugar. The sugar industry has shaped 
the provinces’ history, economy and culture. Negros Island accounts for half of the country’s 
total sugarcane production. The Island’s economic dependence on sugar, however, has made it 
vulnerable to price fluctuations in the world market. The decline of the sugar industry in the 
1980s due to low sugar prices had stirred up labor unrest and political dissent, and turned 
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Negros Island into a hotbed of insurgency. The ideological divide that rocked Negros’ sugar 
economy reverberates until today.  
Thus, the challenge is to transform the economy of Negros Island to ensure that 
economic growth redounds to the benefit of the people. Here, the close economic coordination 
of the two Negros provinces is most crucial. Re-unifying the two Negros provinces under one 
administrative region therefore becomes necessary. 
Finally, in view of its proximity and cultural similarities, the inclusion of Siquijor 
Province to the proposed Region VI-B is logical and practical. 
Greater economic coordination will strengthen economies of scale in the provinces of 
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. 
In view of these, the immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
REP. JOSE FRANCISCO “KIKO” B. BENITEZ 
REP. JOSEPH STEPHEN S. PADUANO 
REP. EMILIO BERNARDINO L. YULO 
REP. MERCEDES K. ALVAREZ 
REP. GREG G. GASATAYA 
REP. JOCELYN SY-LIMKAICHONG 
REP. MANUEL T. SAGARBARRIA 
REP. ARNOLFO A. TEVES JR. 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by REP. JOSE FRANCISCO “KIKO” B. BENITEZ,  
REP. JOSEPH STEPHEN S. PADUANO, REP. GERARDO P. VALMAYOR JR., 
REP. EMILIO BERNARDINO L. YULO, REP. MERCEDES K. ALVAREZ,  
REP. GREG G. GASATAYA, REP. JOCELYN SY-LIMKAICHONG,  
REP. MANUEL T. SAGARBARRIA, REP. ARNOLFO A. TEVES JR. 
AN ACT CREATING REGION VI-B AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled:  
SECTION 1. Title – This Act shall be known as the “Region VI-B Act”. 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy – It is hereby declared the policy of the State to promote 
efficiency in the government and accelerate social and economic development. 
In consonance with this policy, the State shall provide for administrative 
decentralization to strengthen the autonomy of local government units, enhance the delivery of 
public services, and promote a more equitable distribution of opportunities and resources in the 
regions. 
SEC. 4. Creation of Region VI-B – The Region VI-B is hereby created to be composed 
of the following provinces, including the component cities, municipalities and barangays 
located therein, and independent city: 
Provinces 
Independent City 
Negros Occidental 
Bacolod City 
Negros Oriental 
Siquijor 
SEC 5. Reconstitution of Region VI-A – The Provinces of Antique, Capiz, Guimaras 
and Iloilo, and Iloilo City shall now form part of Region VI-A. 
SEC. 6. Reconstitution of Region VII – As the Provinces of Negros Oriental and Siquijor 
are hereupon transferred from Region VII to the Region VI-B, Region VII shall now be 
composed of the Provinces of Cebu and Bohol, and Cebu City. 
SEC. 7. Application of existing rules and regulations – The same privileges under the 
rules and regulations covering the regions shall remain in force. 
SEC. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations – Within sixty (60) days from the 
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approval of this Act, the National Economic and Development Authority, in coordination with 
the Department of the Interior and Local Government, shall promulgate the necessary rules and 
regulations for the establishment of the regional center.  
 
The implementing rules and regulations issued pursuant to this section shall take effect 
thirty (30) days after its publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general 
circulation. 
 
SEC. 9. Repealing – All laws, decrees, orders, issuances, and rules and regulations 
inconsistent with this Act are hereby amended, repealed, or modified accordingly. 
 
SEC. 10. Effectivity – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in 
the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
 
APPROVED,