NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
of tijf fefti ftar^
•22 OCT 27 P3 53
SENATE
S. No. 1422
RECEIVED BV:
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE NEGROS ISLAND REGION AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The creation of the Negros Island Region (NIR) has been initiated through 
Executive Order No. 183, s. 2015, however its full realization has been put on hold 
through Executive Order No. 38, s. 2017.
This bill seeks to establish the NIR - 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. With the establishment of the NIR, and considering the geography of 
the Negros Island, it is hoped that better coordinating mechanism is established 
among the two provinces and other political units to promote efficient delivery of basic 
social and other government services. This measure is seen as instrumental in 
harnessing the potential of NIR toward genuine economic and social progress and for 
the benefit of the more than 4.6 million Negrenses.
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this measure is highly 
recommended.
RAMON
REVILLA, JR.


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
Senate
of tijc ^Ptvftar^
•22 OCT 27 P 3 53
SENATE
1422
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE NEGROS ISLAND REGION AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the" One Negros Island Acfn.
2 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
3 
promote efficiency in the government to enable it to pursue programs consistent with
4 
national goals for accelerated social and economic development. It is also declared
5 
the policy of the State to enhance intergovernmental relations for efficient and
6 
effective delivery of services.
7 
Towards these ends, the State, after due consultation with the appropriate local
8 
government units (LGUs), government agencies, and the private sector, shall
9 
formulate socioeconomic development programs in accordance with its mandate to
10 
promote a more equitable distribution of opportunities, income and wealth, and ensure
11 
a sustainable increase in the amount of goods and services provided for the benefit of
12 
the people. The State shall likewise provide and promote administrative
13 
decentralization to strengthen autonomy of the LGUs and accelerate the economic and
14 
social growth and development of the region.
15 
Sec. 3. Negros Island Region. - The Negros Island Region (NIR) shall be
16 
composed of the following, including their respective cities, municipalities, and
17 
barangays: (a) Provinces: 1. Negros Occidental; 2. Negros Oriental; and (b)
18 
Independent city: 3. Bacolod City.


1 
The regions, from which these provinces and independent city were originally
2 
a part of, shall remain intact except as provided herein.
3 
Sec. 4. Privileges of the Negros Island Region. - The same privileges under the
4 
rules and regulations covering the regions shall remain in force.
5 
Sec. 5. Establishment of The Regional Center. -The National Government shall
6 
establish a Regional Center in the Negros Island Region which shall be the location of
7 
the regional offices of the various Departments and National Government Agencies
8 
(NGAs) in the Executive Branch. Such Departments and NGAs are mandated to
9 
establish their respective regional offices in the NIR.
10 
Sec. 6. Establishment of the Negros Island Region Technical Working Group
11 
(NIR-TWG). - Representatives from the Office of the President (OP), the Department
12 
of Budget and Management (DBM), the National Economic Development Authority
13 
(NEDA), and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the
14 
representatives of the Provinces of Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental, are hereby
15 
constituted to form a Negros Island Region-Technical Working Group (NIR-TWG). The
16 
NIR-TWG will formulate a Roadmap to put in place the institutional arrangements for
17 
the NIR; recommend to the OP the preferred Regional Center; arrange the
18 
requirements for organizational development, staffing, and budgeting of regional line
19 
and regulatory agencies, as well as the imperatives for development planning and
20 
investment programming. The NIR-TWG will be sustained until the NIR Roadmap is
21 
approved by the OP.
22 
Sec. 7. Roie of Government Agencies. - All departments, bureaus, offices,
23 
agencies, and instrumentalities of the National Government, including government-
24 
owned or-controlled corporations, and government financial institutions, are hereby
25 
directed to extend their full assistance to the NIR-TWG in support of its functions and
26 
activities.
27 
Sec. 8. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of
28 
this Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriations of the various
29 
agencies and LGUs involved. Thereafter, the amount needed for the implementation
30 
of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
31 
Sec. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). - Within sixty (60) days
32 
from the approval of this Act, the NEDA, in coordination with the DILG and DBM, shall


1 
formulate the necessary rules and regulations for the implementation of this Act. The
2 
IRR issued pursuant to this section shall take effect thirty (30) days after its complete
3 
publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.
4 
Sec. 10. Amendatory Clause. - The pertinent provisions of Executive Order No.
5 
292, otherwise known as the "Administrative Code of the Philippine^', which are
6 
inconsistent with this Act, are hereby amended accordingly. All other laws, presidential
7 
decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations or part thereof, contrary to or
8 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are hereby likewise repealed or modified
9 
accordingiy.
10 
Sec. 11. Separability Cause. - If any section or provision of this Act is held
11 
unconstitutional or invalid, other provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall
12 
remain in full force and effect.
13 
Sec. 12. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
14 
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation in
15 
the Philippines.
Approved,