Negros administrative region dissolved

President Rodrigo Duterte has abolished the administrative region of Negros Island.

He issued an executive order revoking Former President Noynoy Aquino's Executive Order 183 that reconized Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental as one region under Negros Island Region (NIR).

Duterte's decision reverts Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental back to Regions 6 and 7.

It also results in the abolition of all offices and councils under NIR.

Malacanang cited huge allocation needed to maintain the administrative region as reason for the move.

The establishment of regional offices "requires substantial appropriation to be fully operational," the Palace explained.