Siquijor Eyeing to be part of Newly-formed Negros Island Region

The Province of Siquijor, which belongs to Central Visayas (Region 7), is considering separating from its current region to join the newly-formed Negros Island Region (NIR).

This was disclosed by Secretary Manuel Roxas II of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) during his meeting with Negros Occidental officials to discuss major concerns on the creation of the NIR here Monday.

“Siquijor is thinking about joining,” Roxas said in a meeting with Negrense officials.

The travel time between Negros Oriental, which will host the NIR regional offices in Dumaguete City, and Siquijor is much shorter, only an hour. On the other hand, it takes about five hours for residents of Siquijor to reach Cebu, the regional center of Central Visayas.

“That is also a possibility that you have to think about,” the DILG chief also told officials of Negros Occidental.

Siquijor, which used to be a sub-province of Negros Oriental, is an island-province composed of six municipalities, including Enrique Villanueva, Larena, Lazi, Maria, San Juan, and Siquijor, which is the provincial capital.

Siquijor is the third smallest province in the country both in terms of population and land area. (PNA) CTB/NLG