Negros Oriental Gov. Emilio Macias II announced six things in his wish list for the province when he delivered his third State of the Province Address, Thursday at the Provincial Capitol, in Dumaguete City.

In his 13-page report, the governor said his hopes for the province include the drawing up of a plan  for climate change adaptation and mitigation in the  local government units; to acquire additional equipment to make the Diagnostic Center at the Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital more reliable and dependable; completion of the four-storey Central Block at the  NOPH; focus on the implementation of the Mini Agricultural Communal Irrigation Access System; continue  the Paningkamot Caravan series to serve LGU’s that  have  not been  visited; and train more members for Search and Rescue  team  of  Negros Oriental  particularly  in disaster-prone areas.

Macias said he is confident  these  target  programs   will be accomplished  with the strong cooperation  of the Provincial  Board.  He also reported that the  province  has recorded a  significant increase in the production of  palay, fruits and vegetable harvest, although a slight drop was noticed in corn production because of  crop diversification  and  changes in climatic conditions.

In the health program, there are four scholars at the Silliman University School of Medicine who are now in their post-graduate internship, and will be  taking the medical board exams and  another one graduating this year, he said.

He also said he hopes that the computer-based Hospital Information System will be fully operational before yearend. The aim of HIS  is to achieve the best  possible support of  the patient care and hospital administration by electronic date processing.

He also cited the recent  acquisition of  the .4 Tesla new generation Magnetic Resonance Imaging, 2D Sonogram and Immunology Analyzer.

In tourism development,  the provincial government  has   allocated  funds for  the development of  the  tourism destinations  which  include  the  famous Mabinay caves, Lake Balanan  in Siation and Twin Lakes in Sibulan, Baslay Twin Springs in Dauin, Board Walk and Mangrove Park in Barangay Luca  of  Tanjay City,  and the Mantalip  reef in Bindoy.

In education,  a  total of 133 classrooms  were completed  through  the counterparting agreement with  the  local government  units.  The province got  a P 64 million loan package from Development  Bank of the Philippines  intended  for  the Basta NegOr Education 104 program, Macias said.

He hoped to continue  the  good working relationship  with  the Sanguniang Panlalawigan  until the  end of  his term, Macias said.*MA

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