NINETEETH CONGRESS OF THE 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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Second Regular Session 
)
-> '(Offifp of '
23 DEC-6 P2:00
iir'T; ' • f'
SENATE
S. No. 2507
(In Substitution of S.B. Nos. 89, 812, 1236, 1422, 1469, 
taking into consideration H.B. No. 7355)
Prepared by the Committees on Local Government joint with the Committee on 
Finance, with Senators Zubiri, Villanueva, Gatchalian, Ejercito, Revilla Jr., and Lapid,
as authors thereof.
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE NEGROS ISLAND REGION
Be it enacted by the Senate and 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
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Region Act."
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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.
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Pursuant to this policy, the State shall promote administrative decentralization
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to strengthen local autonomy and accelerate the economic, cultural, and social
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development of the region.
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Sec 3. Creation. -The Negros Island Region (NIR) is hereby established which
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shall be composed of the following provinces, including the cities, municipalities, and
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barangays comprising the provinces:
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a. Negros Occidental including Bacolod City;


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b. Negros Oriental; and
c. Siquijor
Sec. 4. Negros Island Region Government Offices. - To ensure the effective 
delivery of public services to the NIR, regional offices shall be established and 
designated in the following manner:
I.
Negros Occidental
A. Agriculture and Land-Related Cluster
1. Department of Agriculture
2. Department of Environment and Natural Resources
3. Department of Agrarian Reform
4. Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development
B. Peace and Order and Security Cluster
1. Department of Justice
2. Department of the Interior and Local Government
3. Philippine National Police
4. Department of National Defense
C. Governance Cluster
1. Department of Budget and Management
2. Department of Finance
3. National Economic Development Authority
4. Department of Foreign Affairs
5. Commission on Audit
6. Commission on Elections
II. Negros Oriental 
A. Human Development Cluster 
1. Department of Education


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2. Department of Social Welfare and Development
3. Department of Health
4. Technical Education and Skills Development Authority
5. Commission on Higher Education
6. Civil Service Commission
7. Philippine Statistics Authority
8. Department of Labor and Employment
B. Infrastructure Cluster
1. Department of Public Works and Highways
2. Department of Transportation
3. Department of Information and Communications Technology
4. Department of Energy
C. Industry and Labor Cluster
1. Department of Trade and Industry
2. Department of Tourism
3. Department of Science and Technology
4. DOF - Securities and Exchange Commission
Sec. 5. Creation of a Technical Working Group (TWG). - Upon the approval of 
this Act, a Technical Working Group (TWG) shall be constituted. This will be composed 
of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), the Department of the 
Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Budget and Management 
(DBM), the representative of the Office of the Governor of the provinces, and the 
representatives from all elected members of the House of Representatives of the 
provinces.
The TWG shall formulate the plan or roadmap to put in place all institutional 
arrangements for the Negros Island Region, arrange for the organizational 
development requirements as well as other necessary concerns for development 
planning, investment programming and public service provision. The DILG shall serve 
as the secretariat of the TWG.


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Sec. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from the
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effectivity of this Act, the DILG, NEDA, and DBM, in consultation with the provincial
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governments of Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor are mandated to
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promulgate the implementing rules and regulation in relation to this Act.
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Sec. 7. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is held invalid or
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unconstitutional, other parts or provisions hereof not affected thereby shall continue
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to be in full force and effect.
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Sec. 8. Repealing Clause. - All laws, issuances, rules and regulations or parts
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thereof that are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed,
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amended, and modified accordingly.
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Sec. 9. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from its
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complete publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,
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