In a return of sorts, Negros Island Region (NIR) will compete in the Palarong Pambansa as a cluster of its own, independent from Central Visayas and perennial powerhouse Western Visayas.

Nine years and five Palaro games have passed since Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental last competed under one NIR banner. 

The Negros Island contingent first saw action in 2016 as a result of an Executive Order (EO) signed by the late former President Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino IV in May 2015. 

The EO effectively divorced Negros Occidental from Western Visayas, and Negros Oriental from Central Visayas, to form the NIR.

In its first stint in 2016, NIR finished sixth overall behind an 88-medal haul (21 golds, 28 silvers, 39 bronzes). 

It would improve its placement in 2017, moving up to fourth overall with 89 total medals (26 golds, 27 silvers, 36 bronzes). It was beaten out for the third spot by podium mainstay Western Visayas by a sizable margin.

The next administration under former state chief Rodrigo Duterte would however revoke the PNoy’s EO in August 2017, forging back the old delegations by reinstating both Negros provinces into Western and Central Visayas.

No NIR contingent would compete in the Palaro from 2018 to 2025, but was due for yet another shift when in 2024, President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. signed into law R.A. 12000– an act institutionalizing the creation of NIR composed Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor, along with the highly urbanized city of Bacolod.

According to a Philippine News Agency report, the upcoming 66th Palarong Pambansa scheduled from May 24 to 31 is the first time that the Negros Island Region will compete using its official moniker ‘Visayan Vipers,’ sending to Agusan del Sur an 865-strong contingent. 

Meanwhile, local reports suggest that the Western Visayas Champs (Region VI) is sending a 1,023-member delegation from member provinces Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo and Guimaras.