The recent claim, promoted by Sagarbarria Media Operation, that the expanded Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital (NOPH) will include a Heart Center, Lung Center, Dialysis Center, and Oncology Center—or what they falsely refer to as a “Chemo Center”—is an unrealistic and misleading promise. Given the economic realities of Negros Oriental, one of the poorest provinces in the Philippines, it is financially impossible to sustain the operation of all four specialized centers.
The Harsh Reality of Hospital Operations
For reference, let’s examine the annual operating budgets of two existing, government-run specialty hospitals in Metro Manila:
- Lung Center of the Philippines (LCP): PHP 835.2 million (2023)
- Philippine Heart Center (PHC): PHP 2.1 billion (2023)
These hospitals receive substantial national funding, are situated in a metropolitan area with a higher-paying patient base, and still struggle with operational costs. Negros Oriental’s entire provincial budget is now burdened with servicing a PHP 5.8 billion loan, which includes PHP 3.3 billion earmarked for the new medical facility—excluding equipment and staffing costs. If LCP and PHC each require close to or above a billion pesos annually, how does Negros Oriental, with its limited financial resources, expect to run four such centers simultaneously?
The Unfinished Picture: Missing Costs and Infrastructure Challenges
The scope of work for the Negros Oriental Medical City reveals a massive infrastructure project:
- 400-bed Level 3 Hospital – 35,800 sq.m.
- Medical Arts Building – 4,800 sq.m.
- Multi-level Utility Parking – 5,000 sq.m.
- Site Development – 19,000 sq.m.
- Total Area – 64,600 sq.m.
While this list is impressive in scope, there is no mention of medical equipment procurement or staffing costs. A medical center is more than just concrete structures; it requires state-of-the-art medical devices, trained professionals, and sustainable operational funding. Even Metro Manila’s specialty hospitals struggle to recruit and retain medical specialists—how will a province with fewer resources attract top-tier doctors, nurses, and specialists to run these ambitious centers?
An Expensive Illusion
Negros Oriental’s government is selling a grandiose vision without addressing the fundamental financial and logistical concerns. The province’s already strained budget cannot support this project at the level required to operate multiple specialty centers effectively. While healthcare expansion is a noble goal, it must be rooted in financial realism, not populist propaganda designed to mislead the public.
If local leaders are serious about improving healthcare, they should prioritize funding for existing hospital operations, invest in medical staff retention, and secure sustainable partnerships rather than making empty promises about specialty centers that the province simply cannot afford to maintain.
Negros Oriental deserves quality healthcare—but not at the cost of financial ruin.
NOTE: THE PHP 3.3 BILLION BUDGET COVERS ONLY CONSTRUCTION COSTS. IT DOES NOT INCLUDE HOSPITAL EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES.
Negros Oriental Medical City – Scope of Work
- Location: North National Highway, Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental
- Total Project Area: 64,600 sq.m.
- Contract Duration: 1,440 calendar days
- Approved Budget for Contract (ABC): PHP 3,300,000,000.00
Scope of Work:
- Site Development: 19,000 sq.m.
- Main Hospital Building (400-bed Level 3): 35,800 sq.m.
- Medical Arts Building: 4,800 sq.m.
- Multi-Level Utility Parking: 5,000 sq.m.
Construction Phases:
- Planning & Design Phase: Surveys, site/soil investigation, design development
- Demolition: Removal of existing structures
- Construction Phase: Earthworks, structural works, utilities, architectural works
Breakdown of Work:
- General Requirements: Permits, safety requirements, temporary facilities
- Earthworks: Excavation, embankment
- Structural Works: Roads, sidewalks, parking, sewage treatment plant, framework
- Architectural Works: Landscaping, tiling, painting, masonry, doors/windows
- Water System: Waterlines, fire hydrants, overhead water tank
- Plumbing & Drainage: Drainage system, plumbing
- Electrical Works: Transformer banks, transmission lines, lighting, power lines
- Special Items: Backup generator, 13 elevators, 1 escalator, nurse call system, office furniture
- Auxiliary Works: Public address system, fire detection & alarm system, CCTV, data cabling
- Mechanical Works: Air-conditioning, fire protection system
Pre-Bid Conference:
- Date: 01/10/2024
- Time: 2:00 PM
- Venue: Provincial Administrator’s Conference Room, 2nd Floor, Capitol Building, Dumaguete City
Bid Submission Deadline:
- Closing Date: 15/10/2024
- Time: 1:00 PM
⚠️ REMINDER: THIS PROJECT DOES NOT COVER MEDICAL EQUIPMENT OR SUPPLIES.
