Negros execs elated by plan to move government offices to NIR

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — The proposal of Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez to relocate key government offices, and possibly even Malacañang, to Negros Island Region is a welcome development for Negros officials, who are pushing for the retention of the newly-created region.

“This is very good, very positive (to NIR), Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. said. At the same time, Marañon added that it will also boost the effort to retain NIR. The governor also said the Alvarez proposal is “a virtual endorsement of the NIR.”

Negrense leaders have been campaigning for the continued existence of NIR after Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno disclosed last month that an executive order abolishing the region is ready to be signed by Duterte.

Representative Alfredo Benitez (3rd district, Negros Occidental), chairman of the House committee on housing and urban development, also welcomed the proposal, which Alvarez relayed to the congressman during the visit during the visit of President Rodrigo Duterte here last month.

Benitez said: “This is to be fair to everyone as the best location is the area which is in the center. If that pushes through that is good for us. The idea makes sense because Metro Manila is already very congested. Traffic and population is terrible. It is also practical to first move the government offices. It will also develop the area where it will be transferred.”

Alvarez has proposed the relocation of Malacañang, Senate, House of Representatives and other government agencies to Negros island to decongest Metro Manila and speed up the development of the Visayas.

The Speaker added that he is not in favor of moving the seat of government and state offices to the Clark Freeport Zone in Angeles City, because that it is far from those coming from Visayas, Mindanao and even the Bicol region.

The relocation site in Negros was preferable to Alvarez because of its accessibility to everybody, and has vast areas that could accommodate Malacañang and other state offices.

Following the proposal of Alvarez, Benitez filed House Bill No.83 calling for the creation of an Administrative Capital City Planning Commission (ACCPC) tasked to study the relocation of most of government agencies outside Metro Manila.

Under the proposed House Bill, Benitez said a seven-member commission will be created and to be tasked to draw a comprehensive master plan for the establishment of the administrative city, including identification of suitable site, the agencies to be relocated and its financial feasibility.

Benitez said his proposal is now the subject of consultation among Cabinet members led by Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez.

Negros Occidental Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson also described it as a positive development for Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental provinces, composing the NIR. But Lacson said “Let’s not get too excited, when it happens then that is when we should be very happy. Right now it probably is just an idea. Let’s wait for it to materialize.” (FREEMAN)