Republic Act No. 12000

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1. Short Title

This Act shall be known as the "Negros Island Region Act".

Section 2. Declaration of Policy

It is hereby declared the policy of the State to promote efficiency in the government to enable it to pursue programs consistent with national goals for accelerated social and economic development.

Pursuant to this policy, the State shall promote administrative decentralization to strengthen local autonomy and accelerate the economic, cultural, and social development of the region.

Section 3. Creation

The Negros Island Region (NIR) is hereby established which shall be composed of the following provinces, including the cities, municipalities, and barangays comprising the provinces:

(a) Negros Occidental including Bacolod City;

(b) Negros Oriental; and

(c) Siquijor.

Section 4. Negros Island Region Government Offices

To ensure the effective delivery of public services to the NIR, regional offices shall be established and designated in the following manner:

(I) Negros Occidental

(a) Agriculture and Land-Related Cluster

(1) Department of Agriculture;

(2) Department of Environment and Natural Resources;

(3) Department of Agrarian Reform; and

(4) Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development.

(b) Peace and Order and Security Cluster

(1) Department of Justice;

(2) Department of the Interior and Local Government;

(3) Philippine National Police; and

(4) Department of National Defense.

(c) Governance Cluster

(1) Department of Budget and Management;

(2) Department of Finance;

(3) National Economic and Development Authority;

(4) Department of Foreign Affairs;

(5) Commission on Audit; and

(6) Commission on Elections.

(II) Negros Oriental

(a) Human Development Cluster

(1) Department of Education;

(2) Department of Social Welfare and Development;

(3) Department of Health;

(4) Technical Education and Skills Development Authority;

(5) Commission on Higher Education;

(6) Civil Service Commission;

(7) Philippine Statistics Authority; and

(8) Department of Labor and Employment.

(b) Infrastructure Cluster

(1) Department of Public Works and Highways;

(2) Department of Transportation;

(3) Department of Information and Communications Technology; and

(4) Department of Energy.

(c) Industry and Labor Cluster

(1) Department of Trade and Industry;

(2) Department of Tourism;

(3) Department of Science and Technology; and

(4) Department of Finance - Securities and Exchange Commission.

Section 5. Creation of a Technical Working Group (TWG)

Upon the approval of this Act, a TWG shall be constituted.

The TWG shall formulate the plan or roadmap to put in place all institutional arrangements for the Negros Island Region and arrange for the organizational development requirements as well as other necessary concerns for development planning, investment programming, and public service provision. The DILG shall serve as the secretariat of the TWG.

Section 6. Appropriations

The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriations of concerned agencies. Thereafter, the amount needed for the implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

Section 7. Implementing Rules and Regulation (IRR)

Within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, the DILG, NEDA, and DBM, in consultation with the provincial governments of Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor, are mandated to promulgate the IRR in relation to this Act.

Section 8. Separability Clause

If any provision of this Act is held invalid or unconstitutional, the other parts or provisions hereof not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

Section 9. Repealing Clause

All laws, issuances, rules and regulations or parts thereof that are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.s

Section 10. Effectivity

This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,

(SGD.) JUAN MIGUEL F. ZUBIRI President of the Senate	(SGD.) FERDINAND MARTIN G. ROMUALDEZ Speaker of the House of Representatives

This Act was passed by the Senate of the Philippines as Senate Bill No. 2507 on March 12, 2024 and adopted by the House of Representatives as an amendment to House Bill No. 7355 on March 13, 2024.

(SGD.) RENATO N. BANTUG, JR. Secretary of the Senate	(SGD.) REGINALD S. VELASCO Secretary General House of Representatives

Approved: JUN 11 2024

FERDINAND ROMUALDEZ MARCOS JR. President of the Philippines