Following the signing of President Benigno Aquino III of Executive Order 183 on May 29, Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental have merged into a single region called Negros Island Region.
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EO 183 aims “to promote efficiency in the Government, accelerate social and economical development” and “improve the delivery of public services in the aforementioned provinces [Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental].”Â
Both provinces are from different regions. Negros Occidental belongs to Western Visayas (Region VI), while Negros Oriental is in Central Visayas (Region VII) and both are to be removed from their respective regions to merge. In addition, the executive order will constitute various sectors under Negros Island Region Technical Working Group (NIR-TWG) to process the institutional arrangements for the region.Â
During President Aquino’s visit in Bacolod City, he promised the residents to sign the executive order and was hopeful it will lead to the development of the said provinces.
