By Glazyl M. Jopson
BACOLOD CITY – Two of the 36 departments under the newly formed Negros Island Region (NIR) have yet to appoint an officer-in-charge (OIC), according to Mayor Alfredo “Albee” Benitez.
Benitez revealed this during a press briefing Tuesday, following the Committee on Visayas Development meeting at the House of Representatives in Manila on Monday. The meeting aimed to fast-track the appointment of regional directors, which he considers crucial in strengthening governance for the region.
He noted that three or four departments did not attend the meeting, while other agencies have already appointed regional directors (RDs) for the NIR. Many of these officials hold concurrent designations in Regions 6 and 7, and some offices are already operational with plantilla workers in place.
Benitez said that two departments, including the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), have yet to officially appoint an OIC.
These agencies are currently under the supervision of a caretaker and a coordinator, which he finds concerning due to their lack of authority to make critical decisions.
He raised questions about whether these interim officials have the legal standing to sign official documents.
Benitez stressed that NIR operations cannot be halted, prompting him to urge relevant committees to press department secretaries to appoint OICs with decision-making powers.
The NIR was officially recognized as an operational region after the publication of its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) on Feb. 3, which was formalized on Feb. 18.
Although 90% of the region is now operational, Benitez acknowledged that the lack of a specific budget allocation for NIR last year remains a challenge.
He said funding will come from central offices during the transition phase, with the national government determining budget allocations for NIR agencies.
Discussions during the meeting also covered the status of the new region, as well as funding and personnel appropriation for 2025.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed Republic Act 12000 into law in June 2024, officially creating the NIR. The region comprises Negros Occidental (including Bacolod City), Negros Oriental, and Siquijor.
Meanwhile, Benitez, who chairs the Regional Development Council (RDC)-6, said it may be more practical to wait until after the midterm elections before appointing a new set of RDC-6 officers.
