Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH (17") CONGRESS
irst Regular Session

BaD
House Bill No, 4582

Introduced by: Rep. JOSEPH STEPHEN S$, PADUANO.
Rep. ARNOLFO A. TEVES, JR.
Rey ERCEDES K. ALVARE!

EXPLANATORY NOTE
This bill seeks to establish the Negros Island Region to be known as Region XVIII.

Article X, Section 4 of the Constitution provides that the President of the Philippines
shall exercise general supervision over local government units

Article X, Section 14 of the Constitution requires the President to provide for regional
development councils or other similar bodies for purposes of administrative decentralization to
strengthen the autonomy of units therein.

The establishment of a new region is in line with the Local Government Code of the
Philippines and attuned with the contemporary and eventual changes in the form of government
considering the public clamor for regional development in the countryside change in the form of
government to federal system,

Long before Negros island earned its birth rite as a province since 1898, by and in itself
through time evolved and has created its own identity separate and apart from other provinces at
or near their geographical location in terms of development, industry, income, population and
well established customs and tradition from a cross section of their society living within its area
ranging from the local indigenous people to the urban dwellers. They are better known, accepted
and recognized regional identity as “NEGRENS

Considering the inevitable progress and development of Negros Island it is but ripe and
proper as a matter of necessity in preparation for its future development and expanding needs to
establish the “Negros Island Region”, which aims to accelerate the social and economic
development of the cities and municipalities comprising the provinces of Negros Occidental and
Negros Oriental better improving the delivery of public services in the aforementioned provinces
as demanded from their respective constituents.

The establishment of the Negros Island Region is envisioned to promote efficiency,
economy, and the greater impact in the delivery of government services. Moreover, it will pave
the way for the region to determine its growth thrust and greater attention can now be provided
to the island chartering its own destiny

Hence, im Approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

oO
EPHEN S. PADUANO. Rep. ARNOLFO A. TEVES, JR.

Rep. MERCEDES K. ALVAREZ


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH (17") CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No, 4032

Introduced by: Rep. JOSEPH STEPHEN S, PADUANO.
Rep. ARNOLFO A. TEVES, JR.
MERCEDE: ALVARE:

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE NEGROS ISLAND REGION
TO BE KNOWN AS REGION XVIIL

Be it ens
assembled:

ted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress

SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as the “NEGROS ISLAND REGION ACT”.

SEC. 2. It is hereby declared the policy of the State to promote efficiency in the government to
enable it to pursue programs consistent with national goals for accelerated social and economic
development. Further, it will also enhance intergovernmental relations for efficient and effective
delivery of services.

Pursuant to this policy, the State, after due consultation with the appropriate local
government units, government agencies, and the private sector, to formulate socioeconomic
development programs in accordance with its mandate to promote a more equitable distribution
of opportunities, income and wealth, and ensure a sustainable inorease in the amount of goods
and services provided for the benefit of the people.

It is also the policy of the State that it shall promote administrative decentralization to
strengthen the autonomy of the local government units and accelerate the economic and social
growth and development of the region.

SEC. 3. The Negros Island Region is hereby established to be known as Region XVIII. The NIR
shall be composed of the following provinces, including the cities, municipalities, and barangays
comprising the provinces of:

1, Negros Occidental; and
Negros Oriental

SEC. 4, The same privileges under the rules and regulations covering the regions shall remain in
force

SEC. 5. Within sixty (60) days from the approval of this Act, the National Economic and
Development Authority, in coordination with the Department of the Interior and Local
Government, shall formulate and 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 a least two (2) national
newspaper of general circulation.



SEC. 6, All laws, decrees, orders and rules and regulations which are inconsistent with this Act
are hereby amended, repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 7. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or
in newspaper of general circulation,

Approved,