FOLLOWING the establishment of the Negros Island Region (NIR), through Republic Act No. 12000, signed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. last June 11, 2024, Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary Conrado M. Estrella III immediately designated officials as part of the transition team to enhance the delivery of services, promote agricultural practices and address the specific needs of the agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in the newly created DAR–NIR or Region XVIII.
In line with this, a mass turnover of command was recently held, appointing the following officials to the new DAR-NIR: Lucresia S. Taberna as the Regional Director, Manuel A. Velasco and Sharlyn T. Lacuesta as Assistant Regional Directors, Ozelle Tellie C. Tarrosa as Regional Chief Agrarian Reform Program Officer, and Josieline E. Madera, Budget Officer, who are tasked to establish the final operational structure for the new region.
“I now have the bigger platform to initiate direct positive impacts on the lives of the stakeholders, particularly our ARBs. As I am about to unfold and write the first chapter of DAR-NIR, together with our brothers and sisters in the Negros Island and Siquijor, we will strive to continue aspiring for excellence by touching and changing more lives of our ARBs,” Taberna said.
The transition team is tasked to ensure that operations are streamlined, resources are efficiently allocated, and the goals of the agrarian reform program are effectively implemented.
DAR Western Visayas Regional Director Leomides Villareal said the transition team’s role in establishing the new DAR-NIR is crucial. He expressed his confidence that they can deliver and excel at their new tasks.
“I know you have been chosen for your exceptional skills, experience, and dedication to our cause,” Villareal said
Previously, Negros Island was divided into two separate regions – Negros Occidental belonged to Western Visayas, while Negros Oriental belonged to Central Visayas. This led to various inefficiencies and delays in government services, including Negros islanders needing to travel by sea to regional centers located on other islands.
Under the new Bill, NIR is composed of Negros Occidental, including Bacolod CIty, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor. With Negros Island now considered part of a single region, the government can provide greater focus in its development efforts in the area.
2024-11-04