Slowly but surely, the newly-formed Negros Island Region is taking shape, with the setting up of offices, and the trimming down of others.
The opening of the Department of Foreign Affairs office in Dumaguete last month signaled the start of the tedious process needed to make the NIR a reality.
Negros Oriental has been tasked to host the DFA Regional Office, among many other regional offices.
Taking the cue, the Philippine Army has announced the pullout of the 302nd Brigade. In announcing the pullout, the Army said the Negros Island Region will now be under just one brigade, the 303rd Brigade.
Two Army Brigades had been placed in Negros Island before — one for each Province, because Negros Oriental belonged to Region 7, while Negros Occidental belonged to Region 6.
With the NIR, Region 7 and Region 6 are no longer relevant to the security profile.
This setup, incidentally, had its beginnings with the Negros Island Command in the latter part of the Marcos years. The military back then had one umbrella command for both Provinces but which didn’t last because of the differences in the regional groupings of the two Provinces.
Now, the NIR is an idea whose time has finally come. Kudos are in order for the many men and women who worked hard to make this happen. We are witnessing history unfold before our eyes. Let us do our part in making this dream a reality.
