NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
s. No. 1236
of ^ • --r.-.n'
72 AUG 31 A 8 31
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR JOSEPH VICTOR G. EJEROTO
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE NEGROS ISLAND REGION TO BE KNOWN AS REGION 
XVIII
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Administrative regions are established to better promote efficiency in 
government to provide better services to the people and to strengthen the relationship 
between leaders and the people they serv'e. This is strengthened by our Constitution's 
declared policy that territorial and political subdivisions of the State shall enjoy local 
autonomy to provide them opportunities to utilize their full potential in public service 
and make them more effective partners of the national government.
In 2015, the Negros Island Region (NIR), composed of the provinces of Negros 
Occidental and Negros Oriental, was created by virtue of Executive Order No. 183. 
However, it was abolished through Executive Order No 38 that was signed in 2017.
The proposed bill seeks to revive the creation of the Negros Island Region (NIR) 
to be composed of the provinces of Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental. This 
proposed measure is reasonable considering the geographic location, size and distance 
from each other of the two provinces. The passage of this measure allows the two 
provinces to fully achieve better efficiency In the delivery of services and promote 
higher social and economic development and greater opportunity to both provinces.
It Is fervently hoped that the people of Negros be given the same opportunity 
to prove themselves as self-reliant and supportive region to the national goals of our 
beloved government.


In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
JOSEPH VICTOR G. EJERCITO


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
S. No.
)
)
SENATE
1236
ifi TIME:
BILLS \§J INDEX
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR JOSEPH VICTOR G. EJERCITO
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE NEGROS ISLAND REGION TO BE KNOWN AS REGION 
XVIII
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Phiiippinesf in 
Congress assembled:
1 
SECTION 1. Short Title.- This Act shall be known as the "Negros Island
2 
Region Act of2022'.
3 
Sec 2. Declaration of Policy. - It Is the policy of the State that territorial and
4 
political subdivisions of the State shall enjoy local autonomy to provide them
5 
opportunities to utilize their full potential to be able to attain the fullest development
6 
and make them more effective partners of the national government.
7 
It is also the State's policy to promote administrative decentralization to
8 
strengthen local autonomy and to speed-up the economic, cultural and social
9 
development of the region.
10 
Sec 3. Pursuant to this Act, the Negros Island Region (NIR) is hereby created
11 
which shall be composed of the following provinces, including the cities, municipalities,
12 
and barangays comprising the provinces mentioned below:
13 
a. Negros Occidental, and
14 
b. Negros Oriental
15 
Sec. 4. Creation of a Technical Working Group. - Upon approval of this Act, a
16 
Technical Working Group (TWG) shall be constituted composed of the National
17 
Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), the Department of the Interior and
18 
Local Government (DILG), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the
19 
representative of the Office of the Governor of both provinces, and the representatives
20 
from all elected members of the House of Representatives for both provinces.
1


1 
The TWG shall formulate the plan or roadmap to put in place all institutional
2 
arrangements for the Negros Island Region, recommend to the Office of the President
3 
the preferred Regional Center, arrange for the organizational development
4 
requirements as well as other necessary concerns for development planning,
5 
investment programming and public service provision.
6 
The DILG shall serve as the secretariat of the TWG.
7 
Sec. 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from the
8 
effectivity of this Act, the DILG is mandated to promulgate the implementing rules and
9 
regulation in relation to this Act.
10 
Sec. 6. Repealing Clause. - All laws, issuances, rules and regulations or parts
11 
thereof that are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed,
12 
amended, and modified accordingly.
13 
Sec,7. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act Is held invalid or
14 
unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other
15 
provisions hereof.
16 
Sec. 8. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from Its
17 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,