THE improvement in connectivity between the two provinces of Negros Island Region (NIR) should be prioritized first before further opening and linking it to other component-regions in the Visayas, a private sector representative to the Regional Development Council (RDC) said.
Frank Carbon, chair of NIRDC Infrastructure Development Committee, said the connectivity between Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental will not only encourage intra-trading in the region but will also make the mountain barangays open to government services.
Carbon, regional governor of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) in NIR and Western Visayas, was reacting to the pronouncement of Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Lloyd Dino that his office is now working on the realization of “One Visayas” concept.
This is by harmonizing the infrastructure and socio-economic developments in the island and strengthening the connectivity of RDCs in Regions 6, 7, 8 and 18 or NIR, Dino said.
“Before we think of other connectivity, let us first work on boosting the links between two provinces of Negros passing through mountain barangays,” Carbon said, adding that through this, people especially in remote areas will also gain improvements.
The NIRDC Infrastructure Development Committee has been pushing for the development of additional road networks to boost interconnectivity within the one-island region.
Aside from the current two major arteries connecting Negros Occidental and Oriental, namely Pontevedra-La Castellana-Canlaon City-Vallehermoso in the north, and Kabankalan City to Mabinay in the south, the committee in its transport master plan has proposed six additional networks.
These are the Binalbagan-Isabela-Guihulngan; Himamaylan City-Tayasan; Kabankalan City-Ayungon passing through Barangay Carol-an; Kabankalan City- Bayawan City; Vallehermoso-San Carlos City; and Canlaon City-San Carlos City.
The development of these road networks is part of the three-year rolling infrastructure program of DPWH. Some are already on construction works, and the completion is targeted by 2020, Carbon had earlier said.
Moreover, Carbon pointed out that bringing the government, its services and programs, closer to the mountain barangays will make the people in these areas more productive.
“We have first to enhance our productivity especially starting from the ground so that we can offer something to our neighboring regions in the Visayas,” he added.
Dino, in his speaking engagement in Bacolod City Saturday, urged Negrenses to strengthen the private sector representation in the RDC as he pointed out that it is easy to lobby for the “One Visayas” projects if there is unity among the public and private sectors.
For his part, Carbon said the local private sector has been doing it by participating actively in various endeavors initiated by the council.
“In fact, what we are doing now is building a coalition of the government agencies and the private sector so that we can bring one strong idea to the RDC,” he added. (With reports from PNA)