The income of the Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital for 2012 is projected to reach P130 million, from last year’s P94 million, Provincial Health Officer Dante Domingo said yesterday.

With this income, NOPH can repay the proposed bank loan of P350 million to construct the Central Block Building, which, he said, is badly needed by the more than 400,000 “poorest of the poor” Negrenses.

Domingo said the loan is a good investment for the health of the people, but added that he understands the sentiments of several local officials who are hesitant over the proposal of the provincial government.

Part of the loan will be used to construct an oxygen plant that will generate 100 tanks a day, to be pumped directly to various wards and clinical sections of the hospital. He said the NOPH spends around P450,000 a month, or P6 million annually, on oxygen.

When the oxygen plant is realized, the provincial hospital will have a lot of savings that can be used for the amortization on the loan. It is important that the project is implemented to provide space and quality dwelling places for patients, watchers, and the public, Domingo said.

Gov. Roel Degamo said he will push for the construction of the Central Block Building, despite threats of a legal suit.*JG