The building that will address the lack of beds at the Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital is 51 percent complete, and Gov. Roel Degamo led provincial officials, engineers and health personnel, headed by Dr. Henrissa Calumpang, in the traditional topping activity as proof that the structure has already reached the fourth floor.

 

Target completion of the Central Block Building, that is being constructed based on the standards of the Department of Health, is December 31, 2015.

Provincial engineer Franco Alpuerto said the super structure beams and columns have been completed, minus the finishing touches, like piping, electrical, ceilings, and windows, among others, that comprise 49 percent of the remaining work to be done.

The building was the brainchild of the late governor Emilio Macias II, who was a doctor by profession. When Degamo assumed as OIC governor, he promised to continue the project undertaken by his predecessor, and pushed for the sourcing of funds needed for its completion.

He said this is what the public wants, especially indigent patients, who also need to be given similar services offered in private hospitals.

He said he wanted an automatic oxygen system installed in the Central Block building, aside from the emergency room, operating room, delivery room, pedia ward, surgical ward, OB ward with private and semi-private rooms, and with rates that are affordable to the common people.

Board Member Erwin Michael Macias (2 nd District), the only member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan who joined the topping activity, said the project is the “baby” of his late father, and thanked Degamo for realizing the dream.

He recalled that even when the request of the governor for funding support hit a snag in the SP due to technicalities, Degamo did not stop in pushing for the project, until the SP gave him the authority to sign a bank loan package for P350 million, for a 210-bed capacity Central Block building.

DOH Secretary Janet Garin, who was in Negros Oriental last week, assured the governor that she will help facilitate the release of the money and all other funds for the upgrading of health facilities in  the province.* JG