NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
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*22 NOV ”7 P12 :05
SENATE
RECEIVLD BY:
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE NEGROS ISLAND REGION TO BE KNOWN AS REGION
XVIII AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Executive Order No. 183, which was issued sometime in May 2015, started the 
process of creating the Negros Island Region (NIR), however its complete 
manifestation has been delayed by way of Executive Order No. 38, issued back in 
August 2017.
The NIR will be comprised of local government units in the Negros Island, 
including the provinces of Negros Occidental, which is currently a part of Region VI or 
Western Visayas, Negros Oriental, and the highly urbanized City of Bacolod, which is 
currently a part of Region VII or Central Visayas.
This bill seeks to pursue the process of establishing a separate administrative 
region for the Negros Island, to be designated as Region XVIII.
With the creation of the NIR, and taking into account the geography of Negros 
Island, it is hoped that a synergy is created between the two provinces and the political 
units that operate within the island to create a more cohesive and effective 
administrative region that promotes better delivery of basic services and accelerate 
economic growth for the more than 4.6 million Negrenses.
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
WANUEL"LIT(
arnestiy sougr
O
LITO" M. LAPID
Senator


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
mh Senate
oftlir ^fcvctarj*
•22 NOV-7 P12 -05
SENA
S. No.
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid
1 
AN ACT
2 
ESTABLISHING THE NEGROS ISLAND REGION TO BE KNOWN AS REGION
3 
XVIII AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled:
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Negros Island Region
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Act of2022'.
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SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. -It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
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promote efficiency in the government to enable it to pursue programs consistent with
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national goals for accelerated social and economic development. It is also declared
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the policy of the State to enhance intergovernmental relations for efficient and
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effective delivery of services.
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SEC. 3. Negros Island Region. - The Negros Island Region (NIR) shall be
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composed of the following, including their respective cities, municipalities, and
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barangays:
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(A) Provinces:
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1. Negros Occidental
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2. Negros Oriental; and
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(B) Independent City:
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3. Bacolod City.


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SEC. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from the
2 
approval of this Act, the NEDA, in coordination with the DILG and DBM, shall formulate
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the necessary rules and regulations for the implementation of this Act. The
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implementing rules and regulations issued pursuant to this section shall take effect
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thirty (30) days after its publication in at least two (2) national newspaper of general
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circulation.
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SEC. 10. Amendatory Clause. -The pertinent provisions of Executive Order No.
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292, otherwise known as the "Administrative Code of the Philippines", which are
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inconsistent with this Act, are hereby amended accordingly. All other laws, presidential
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decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations or part thereof, contrary to or
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inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are hereby likewise repealed or modified
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accordingly.
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SEC. 11. Separability Clause. - If any section or provision of this Act is held
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unconstitutional or invalid, all other sections or provisions shall remain in full force and
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effect.
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SEC. 12. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
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publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
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Approved,


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The regions from which these provinces and independent city were originally
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part of shall remain intact, except as provided under this Act.
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SEC. 4. Privileges of the Negros Island Region. -The same privileges under the
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rules and regulations covering the administrative regions shall apply to the NIR.
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SEC. 5. Establishment of the Regional Center. - The national government shall
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establish a Regional Center in the NIR which shall be the location of the regional
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offices of the various Departments and national government agencies in the Executive
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Branch. The various Departments and national government agencies are mandated to
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establish their respective regional offices in the NIR.
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SEC. 6. Establishment of the Negros Island Region Technical Working Group
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(NIR-TWG). - A Negros Island Region-Technical Working Group is hereby established
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with representatives from the Office of the President (OP), the Department of Budget
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and Management (DBM), the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), the
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Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Provinces of Negros Oriental
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and Negros Occidental, and the City Government of Bacolod City.
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The NIR-TWG will develop a roadmap to set up the institutional arrangements
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for the NIR; recommend the establishment of a Regional Center to the OP, arrange
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for the organizational development, staffing, and budgeting needs of regional line and
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regulatory agencies, as well as the requirements for development planning and
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investment programming. The NIR-TWG will continue to operate until the OP approves
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the NIR Roadmap.
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SEC. 7. Roie of Government Agencies. -All national government departments,
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bureaus, offices, agencies, and instrumentalities, government owned and controlled
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corporations, including government financial institutions, shall provide the NIR-TWG
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with all necessary support and assistance to carry out its mandate.
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SEC. 8. Appropriations. -The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of
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this Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriations of the various
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agencies and local government units involved. Thereafter, the amount needed for the
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implementation of this Act shall be Included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
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