By Eugene Adiong
July 1, 2016
Business groups in the Negros Island Region (NIR) is pushing for the establishment of the three proposed growth centers in Bacolod, Dumaguete and Kabankalan, Frank Carbon, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry Western Visayas/NIR regional governor, said.
Carbon said the areas will not only fast-track development of towns and cities, but will also attract bigger investors to the Negros Island Region.
The proposal to create the Metro Bacolod, Metro Dumaguete and Metro Kabankalan growth centers was endorsed by the Development Administration Committee during the 3rd Negros Island Regional Development Council meeting in Kabankalan Wednesday.
Instead of competing against each other, the resources of towns and cities will complement and fast-track development, Carbon pointed out.
He said that if the private sector would develop big projects, the growth centers will become more attractive to bigger investors.
The proposal presented by Edward Du, Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce and Industry president, also included a motion to create a Technical Working Group composed of the Department of Interior and Local Government, National Economic and Development Authority, Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board, and the Provincial Planning and Development Offices of Negros Occidental and Oriental.
The proposed NIR Growth Center plans to create a Metro Bacolod comprised of Bacolod, Bago, Talisay, Silay, Murcia and Salvador Benedicto; Metro Dumaguete with Dumaguete, Sibulan, Bacong, Valencia and Dauin, and; Metro Kabankalan with Kabankalan, Himamaylan, Ilog, Mabinay, Ayungon and Tayasan.*
