J
NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ] 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ] 
First Regular Session 
]
S.B. No.
SENATE 
812
v'Wnt//«D{fjc? of t'lj?
■22 JUL 25 All 24
RECEIVED BV.
Introduced by SEN. WIN GATCHALIAN
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE NEGROS ISLAND REGION 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
While the creation of the Negros Island Region (NIR) has been initiated through 
Executive Order No. 183 sometime May 2015, its full realization has been put on hold 
on August 2017 through Executive Order No. 38.
Thus, this bill seeks to begin again the process of establishing the NIR, to be 
known as Region XVIII. The NIR will be comprised of the province of Negros 
Occidental, which is currently part of Region VI or Western Visayas, including Bacolod 
City, and the province of Negros Oriental, which is at present a part of Region VII or 
Central Visayas. These provinces comprise the Negros Island.
With the establishment of the NIR, and considering the geography of the 
Negros Island, it is hoped that better synergy is encouraged among the two provinces 
and other political units, to promote a more effective and efficient delivery of basic 
services, and accelerate economic growth, for the more than 4.6 million Negrense in 
the region.


With these considerations, support for the passage is e^i:nestly sought.
GATCHALIAN


^senate
P, C!:.V i,d
NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
]
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
]
First Regular Session 
]
*22 JUL 25 All :24
SENATE
S. B. No.
12
Ri;C£r':f)GV,
Introduced by SEN. WIN GATCHALIAN
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE NEGROS ISLAND REGION 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Phiiippines 
in Congress assembied:
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Negros Island
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Region Act'.
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SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the
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State to promote efficiency in the government to enable it to pursue programs
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consistent with national goals for accelerated social and economic
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development. It is also declared the policy of the State to enhance
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intergovernmental relations for efficient and effective delivery of services.
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Towards these ends, the State, after due consultation with the
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appropriate local government units, government agencies, and the private
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sector, shall formulate socioeconomic development programs in accordance
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with its mandate to promote a more equitable distribution of opportunities,
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income and wealth, and ensure a sustainable increase in the amount of goods
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and services provided for the benefit of the people. The State shall likewise
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provide and promote administrative decentralization to strengthen the


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autonomy of the local government units and accelerate the economic and social 
growth and development of the region.
SEC. 3. Negros Island Region. - The Negros Island Region (NIR) shall be 
composed of the following, including their respective cities, municipalities, and 
barangays:
(a) Provinces:
1. Negros Occidental;
2. Negros Oriental; and
(b) Independent city:
3. Bacolod City.
The regions from which these provinces and Independent city were 
originally a part of shall remain intact except as provided herein.
SEC. 4. Privileges of the Negros Island Region. - The same privileges 
under the rules and regulations covering the regions shall remain in force.
SEC. 5. Establishment of the Regional Center. - The national government 
shall establish a Regional Center in the Negros Island Region which shall be the 
location of the regional offices of the various Departments and national 
government agencies in the Executive Branch. The various Departments and 
national government agencies are mandated to establish their respective 
regional offices in the NIR.
SEC. 6. Establishment of the Negros Island Region Technical Working 
Group (NIR-TWG). - Representatives from the Office of the President (OP), the 
Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the National Economic 
Development Authority (NEDA), and the Department of the Interior and Local 
Government (DILG), and the representatives of the Provinces of Negros 
Oriental and Negros Occidental, is hereby constituted to form a Negros Island 
Region-Technical Working Group (NIR-TWG).


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The NIR-TWG will formulate a Roadmap to put in place the institutional 
arrangements for the NIR; recommend to the OP the preferred Regional 
Center; arrange the requirements for organizational development, staffing, and 
budgeting of regional line and regulatory agencies, as well as the imperatives 
for development planning and investment programming. The NIR-TWG will be 
sustained until the NIR Roadmap is approved by the OP.
SEC. 7. Role of Government Agencies. - All departments, bureaus, 
offices, agencies, and instrumentalities of the national government, including 
government-owned or -controlled corporations, and government financial 
institutions, are hereby directed to extend their full assistance to the NIR-TWG 
In support of its functions and activities.
SEC. 8. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the 
provisions of this Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriations 
of the various agencies and local government units involved. Thereafter, the 
amount needed for the implementation of this Act shall be Included in the 
annual General Appropriations Act.
SEC. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days 
from the approval of this Act, the NEDA, in coordination with the DILG and 
DBM, shall formulate the necessary rules and regulations for the 
implementation of this Act. 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 newspaper of general circulation.
SEC. 10. Amendatory Clause. - The pertinent provisions of Executive 
Order No. 292, otherwise known as the "Administrative Code of the Philippines", 
which are inconsistent with this Act, are hereby amended accordingly. All other 
laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations or part 
thereof, contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are hereby 
likewise repealed or modified accordingly.


SEC. 11. Separability Cause. - If any section or provision of this Act is 
held unconstitutional or invalid, all other sections or provisions shall remain in 
full force and effect.
SEC. 12. Effectivity. -This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette ox in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,