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BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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ILOILO City – The abolition of the Negros Island Region (NIR) won’t disrupt the delivery of government services in Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental, according to the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Region 6.
Negros Occidental will return to Western Visayas and Negros Oriental to Central Visayas.
DILG-6 director Anthony Nuyda said the transition period may take some two months.
“In two months’ time we’ll wind up the activity, meaning we’ll lead the winding up of all the activities in NIR and return the provinces to their mother regions,” said Nuyda.
NIR was created on May 29, 2015 via an executive order (EO) issued by then President Benigno Aquino III. He also ordered the establishment of regional offices of national government agencies in the new region.
On Monday, Aug. 7, President Rodrigo Duterte dissolved the NIR and also abolished the regional offices.
“Magkakaroon lang ng transition pero walang disruption sa delivery of services and implementation of projects. While we are winding up the activities, dapat may sasalo na po doon sa mother agencies para tuloy-tuloy po ang pag-implement ng mga programa,” said Nuyda.
Among the national government agencies with NIR offices were the DILG, Department of Health, Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Agriculture, Technical Education Skills and Development Authority, Department of Labor and Employment, and Philippine National Police.
Nuyda said a working committee will be created to effect the dissolution of NIR, and DILG-6 would be waiting for the general guidelines from its central office.
“When it comes to financial accountabilities, kung merong na-release sa regional offices then we have to liquidate whatever ‘yung na-disburse. Kung may balance, pag-uusapan kung paano i-ta-transfer sa mother region,” said Nuyda.
As to the employees of the regional offices, Nuyda said they would be returning to their respective mother units or agencies.
“Except kung may agencies na nakapag-create ng new positions, seguro pag-uusapan ‘yan with the Department of Budget and Management,” he said.
In abolishing NIR, Duterte said a “substantial appropriation” was needed to jumpstart the full operation of the region.
“The establishment of regional offices of departments and agencies in the NIR requires substantial appropriation to be fully operational, thus competing with government priority programs and projects for funding,” according to Duterte./PN
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