HINOBA-AN Mayor Ernesto Estrao confirmed that the construction of the P125-million Hinoba-an District Hospital located in Barangay Pook will start today, July 2.

Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson led the groundbreaking ceremony of the project on Wednesday, July 1.

It will be a 25-bed capacity hospital that will not only cater to patients from Hinoba-an but also from other neighboring towns and cities, both Occidental and Oriental Negros, Estrao said.

The budget for the hospital came from the Provincial Government, while the Municipal Government donated the one hectare property for the hospital.

"Everything has been ready including the environmental compliance certificate (ECC) from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources so the construction will immediately start today," Estrao said.

The budget was approved last year by the province, Estrao said.

The town only has an infirmary now and that a municipal ambulance has been transporting patients from the town to Bacolod City for free.

Estrao earlier revealed that the Municipal Government has donated one hectare for the new site of the hospital after the first site located in Barangay Bacuyangan encountered problems about the property donation.

The mayor also explained that the hospital is named Eleuterio Decena Hospital but the town council has already made moves to change it to Hinoba-an District Hospital.