CANLAON CITY -- Even as the fate of Negros Island Region (NIR) remains uncertain, it’s business as usual for the region’s two provinces with their proposal of least P5.309 billion budget for 2018.
The budget proposals of various regional line agencies were presented , Friday, March 17, during the 6th Negros Island Regional Development Council Meeting at the Canlaon Pension House Multi-Purpose Hall here.
However, some regional directors like Gilbert Sadsad of the Department of Education-18 and Chief Superintendent Renato Gumban of Police Regional Office-18 did not present their proposed budgets for next year as their respective central offices are still preparing the documents.
Moreover, other regional directors indicated in their proposals that the budget allocation under the Personal Services were already included in the proposed appropriation of the previous regions, Western Visayas and Central Visayas.
Of the proposed P5.309-billion allocation, P3.685 billion was earmarked for the economic development committee; P309.360 million for social development committee; P241.378 million for development administration committee; and P24.076 million for infrastructure development committee.
Of the amount, P1.365 billion was allocated for the National Irrigation Administration; Department of Agriculture, P1.060 billion; Department of Environment and Natural Resources, P723 million; Department of Agrarian Reform, P405 million; Department of Labor and Employment, P175 million; Department of the Interior and Local Government, P118 million;
Environment Management Bureau, P97 million; Bureau of Fire Protection, P81 million; Department of Social Welfare and Development, P77 million; Commission on Higher Education, P55 million; Department of Trade and Industry, P33 million; Department of Public Works and Highways, P24 million; Philippine Statistics Authority, P21 million; and National Telecommunications Commission, P19 million.
Moreover, P1.048 billion was earmarked for state universities and colleges.
National Economic and Development Authority-18 Director Efren Carreon, who presided the meeting since NI-RDC chair Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. was not around, said the proposed appropriation will be forwarded to the agencies’ respective central offices for inclusion in the agency-wide budget for 2018.
“The central office will consolidate all the budget proposals from all regions, then submit it to the Department of Budget and Management,” he said.
Carreon said he is still not sure if NIR will have a separate budget next year.
“What we are after is that the (allocation for the) programs and projects of the two provinces will be included in the national budget, whether it is still with the previous regions or with the NIR,” he added.
Degamo slams NIA-18
During the presentation of the proposed allocations, Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo confronted an official of the NIA-18 after an irrigation project worth P400 million in Pamplona town in his province was not completed since 2007.
The governor said the project didn’t go through the correct process as NIA-18 officials failed to present the project at the Negros Oriental Provincial Development Council.
Carreon said that NIA-18 will have to comply with the documentary requirements mentioned by Degamo.
He added: “It’s important to hold a consultation. We can then call the committee for a special meeting. But we have to respect the process of consultation.”
Development plan
Also, the NI-RDC approved its first regional development plan, which outlined NIR’s growth strategies and challenges.
Carreon said the development plan will be forwarded to the Neda central office, and to the previous regions of the Negros provinces.
“We will also submit this to Regions 6 and 7 so they will also consider it in their regional development plans,” he added.
Moreover, the NI-RDC also approved various programs and projects in the two provinces, including the proposed Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority and the Kanlaon Inland Resort and Eco-Tourism project.
Prayers needed
Degamo urged his fellow officials to pray that NIR will continue to exist.
He said he is hoping that Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno will understand the clamor of the Negrenses.
He said it doesn’t make sense that President Rodrigo Duterte will dissolve the young region as he was appointed by the former as chair of the Regional Peace and Order Council.
Degamo added that he is also the NIR chairman of Duterte’s political party, Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas Ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).
“This is an indication that NIR will not be dissolved,” he said.
The Negros Oriental governor said he will continue to push for the NIR, and is praying that the region will have a separate budget next year.
The meeting was hosted by the City Government of Canlaon led by Mayor Jimmy Clerigo.
Other mayors like Evelio Leonardia of Bacolod City, Mark Golez of Silay City, and Jose Benito of Pontevedra sent their respective representatives to the meeting.
Negros Occidental First District Representative Melecio Yap Jr. also sent his representative.
NIR was created through Executive Order 183 that was signed by former president Benigno Aquino III on May 29, 2015. It separated Negros Occidental from Western Visayas, or Region 6, and Negros Oriental from Central Visayas, or Region 7.