HINOBA-AN Mayor Ernesto Estrao confirmed that a P125-million Hinoba-an District Hospital will rise this year in Barangay Pook.
It will be a 50-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 comes from the Provincial Government and that once the environmental compliance certificate (ECC) from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources is released, the hospital project will immediately start, the mayor added.
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.
"The whole project has been readied and the hospital construction will start once the ECC is released," Estrao said.
He also 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 a problem about the property donation.
Meanwhile, Estrao saidthat Hinoba-an is now home to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Academy that has 841 Special Operation trainees that composes the first batch. The training has started last year.
The Philippine Coast Guard Academy is equivalent to the Philippine Military Academy and the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA), and Estrao said that they are very proud that the PCG chose the town.
The PCG Academy is located in a 10-hectare property donated by a private person in Barangay Talacagay.
"The Municipal Government, through a resolution, has requested that the PCG Academy be located here," Estrao said.
"Soon, we expect international vessels to dock in Hinoba-an because of the PCG Academy," he added.
He also clarified that he has officially been affiliated with the United Negros Alliance (Unega).
"There is no need for me to transfer to Love-Negros. I am running the town not based on political party or politics but for the people. Besides I am already on my last term and I will be retiring from politics when my term ends," Estrao said.
Estrao has been reported to be one of the two mayors who have shifted from Unega to Love-Negros.