Unified Negros Island Region: What’s next?

Republic Act No. 12000 was recently signed by President Marcos creating the Negros Island Region which is envisioned to be a bulwark of greater socioeconomic development as well as a conduit for more effective and efficient delivery of essential services not only in NIR but in the whole Visayas. RA 12000 reconciled Senate Bill No. 2507 and House Bill No. 7355 which both proposed the Negros Island Region. It merges the provinces of Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor which have a combined population of around 4.7 million.

The idea of a NIR is not new. It was first proposed in 1994 by then Governor Rafael “Lito” Coscolluela of Negros Occidental and Governor Emilio “Dodo” Macias II of Negros Oriental. Following several years of debate among the concerned stakeholders, the NIR was officially created in 2015 by then President Benigno Aquino III through Executive Order No. 183. But it was abolished two years later by then President Rodrigo Duterte. The proponents’ dream of a NIR did not die, however. Instead, it generated wider support and more strength, thus leading to the Senate and House bills, and finally RA 12000.

So, what’s next?

A review of the documents generated by the proponents of the NIR since 1994 up to more recent times shows substantive justification as well as benefits of creating it. The logical next step is to translate these visions into an action plan. Planning at the NIR level is critical. As the economic, land use, and transportation patterns of Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor have evolved over the last decades, their urban areas have become increasingly important. To a certain degree, the political boundaries established a long time ago are no longer relevant to businesses’ or residents’ activities, to say nothing of natural and environmental resources, especially water. To meaningfully influence environmental impacts associated with development, land use, and transportation, there’s an urgent need to act at a level where urban, suburban, and rural areas can be considered together.

While the NIR contains a number of cities, its rural area remains at the core for which planning is to be done. Along with rural areas are the many lower-level municipalities with their barangays witnessing the transformation from rural to urban. The NIR plan will have to integrate these different settlements to achieve a balanced development of the region. A specific challenge would be fulfilling the needs of the region’s backward areas while providing higher-order services for rapidly urbanizing areas. Reducing such disparities can be achieved by reducing trip lengths, providing better and more job opportunities as well as required public services in nearby areas.

The plan for the NIR will need to direct new development to defined urban and village growth areas in existing communities in order to spare the agricultural areas and natural landscapes that define the NIR’s character. The plan should also promote investment in the region’s cities and towns, encouraging more compact, interconnected neighborhoods while preserving open space, protecting water resources, and providing for greater housing and transportation choices.

These planning and growth management principles establish a framework for innovative and sustainable development for the new region. It can, for example, require that at least 40 percent of new growth be accommodated within the boundaries of existing development, with appropriate densities for different parts of the region. Where new greenfield development must occur, it must create complete communities, with development configurations and streets that support public transport, walking, biking, parks, and a mix of housing and jobs. It must be built to a scale that makes efficient use of land. All areas must accommodate affordable housing and be disaster-resilient.

By investing in strategies that promote sustainable communities, the NIR can achieve smart growth success with enforceable regional plans. This can set a precedent for other regions across the country to emulate.

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Nathaniel von Einsiedel ([email protected]) is former commissioner for planning of Metro Manila, a fellow of the Philippine Institute of Environmental Planners, and principal urban planner of CONCEP Inc.