1 week ago
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BACOLOD CITY — The provincial government of Negros Occidental is offering two areas as possible sites of regional centers of the Negros Island Region (NIR), lawyer Rayfrando Diaz II, provincial administrator, said on Wednesday.
Diaz presented the plans for the two areas during the 1st Coordination Meeting of the Regional Directors on the Organization of Regional Development Council of the NIR at the Capitol Social Hall.
The two areas are the Capitol-owned property in Brgy. Matab-ang in Talisay City and the 25-hectares lot along Lacson St. and Cottage Road in Bacolod City.
The 25-hectare property of the provincial government in Talisay City has already been subdivided, Diaz said.
Should majority of the regional offices go for it, he said they will immediately commence its site development, including the roads, communication, electricity and water, starting this year.
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Diaz added that various regional offices may enter into agreement with the provincial government, via usufruct, and not by donation, since it will dissipate the assets of the province.
"Hopefully, by 2027, if it will push through, they can start building their own offices, at their own expense," said Diaz.
The other site being offered by the provincial government is the 7,500 square meter property in Bacolod City which will be a 28 floor multipurpose building.
He also said that the budget estimated for its construction is P6 billion.
Diaz said that Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson wants a "one-stop shop" for convenience of government offices, and for the constituents they served.
Earlier, Lacson said that the high-rise building, which could be built in the area through a public-private partnerships, could provide also spaces for the regional offices.
For 2026, according to the Department of Budget Management, the focus will be on the establishment of positions and personnel of various regional offices, Diaz said.
By 2027, NIR offices may start asking budgets for the construction of their respective of the offices, Diaz pointed out.
Currently, NIR regional offices are relying their respective budgets from Regions 6 (Western Visayas) and 7 (Central Visayas).
The budget of NIR is expected to be included in the 2026 General Appropriations Act.
