Looming NIR’s ‘death’ saddens business group

CEBU, Philippines - The Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NOCCI) expressed sadness upon learning that the Negros Island Region (NIR) is headed to dissolution as soon as President Rodrigo Duterte issues an executive order for that purpose.

NOCCI president Ed Du said he was personally told by Department of Budget and Management Secretary Ben Diokno that the NIR revocation is “a done deal” because the government cannot afford the huge budget that was requested to fund the operation of the new region. Diokno said the P19 billion proposed budget for the NIR is “so big.”

NOCCI was one of the proponents for a zero-budget for NIR when its creation snowballed one-and-a-half years ago, the chamber’s position paper of which was submitted to then local government secretary Mar Roxas during a meeting in Kabankalan City, with the governors of the two Negros provinces, congressmen, mayors, and councilors, among others.

NOCCI’s suggestion at the time was for incumbent provincial directors to act as regional directors in concurrent capacity to save on costs without necessarily constructing new buildings but use the existing offices. The chamber was aware that fund allocation for the new region would be very big.

When the NIR is finally dissolved, the NIR regional directors will report back to their mother units in Regions 6 and 7.

According to Du, going back to the original set-up in 2014 will have a big effect on the part of the businessmen because they have to travel again to Cebu for their permits, licenses, among others.

He stressed history repeats itself because in 1993-1994, the first time this composition came about during the time of then and late governor Emilio Macias II and fomer president Fidel V. Ramos, the disapproval was for reason of budget.

Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo, for his part, is still hoping for a reconsideration over the looming NIR revocation, so that the gains and cooperation between the two provinces will not be put to waste.

However, in the event of a final dissolution, the governor is making this appeal for the national government to provide each province regional satellite offices where Negrenses can transact instead of going to the regional offices either in Cebu City, for Region 7, or to Iloilo City, for Region 6.

It will be recalled that Gov. Degamo was asking then for a feasibility study if uniting both provinces would already improve the livelihood condition of the people in Negros Oriental, and suggested that it should be provided with a budget.

Meanwhile, NOCCI is set to become a back-to-back winner as the outstanding chamber of commerce and industry for the whole country for the second consecutive year. It is now hoping for a grand slam next year and be included in the Hall of Fame.

Next month, NOCCI will be in Taipei, Taiwan for the battle of the Asia Pacific Chambers of Commerce, with stiff competition from the chambers of Singaporean and Malaysian, among other ASEAN countries, as well as Australia.

NOCCI was chosen as outstanding chamber of commerce in the country for the impact it contributed to the local economy, in bringing investors to the province that resulted in job generation. 

Records show that it helped a lot in the coming of big investors, the ethanol and solar plants in Bais City, expansion of the geothermal plant in Valencia town, the coming over of BPOs, and opening of new establishments such as the City Mall, among others. (FREEMAN)