First government-owned medical oxygen plant to rise in Sorsogon

First government-owned medical oxygen plant will be built in Sorsogon Province.

This was disclosed by Governor Chiz Escudero after the Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank) approved the P94.5 million loan by the Province to fund its construction.

Escudero said the oxygen plant will greatly help the province’s health care system and fight against pandemics.

“I thank the LandBank for the expeditious approval of our loans.”

“We can now start the construction of our oxygen plant, the first government-owned facility of such in the country, ”Escudero said.

“This is a big thing to maintain public health and save our countrymen from death,” he added.

The former senator said Sorsogon’s nine (9) public hospitals will no longer be short of medical oxygen supply, and this oxygen project will also benefit other provinces in the Bicol Region.

More than 800,000 residents of Sorsogon and those living in neighboring provinces are expected to benefit.

The oxygen plant is targeted for completion in early 2022, as part of local government’s response to the worsening health crisis, and the growing number of patients in need of oxygen, especially as the number of infections continue the to rise.

Meanwhile, Landbank affirms its all out support to local governments’ development initiatives.

“Landbank remains committed to serving the nation at the frontlines of our battle against the pandemic. Alongside our LGU partners, we stand ready to service growth and recovery requirements, which include boosting local healthcare services and providing support to medical frontliners and their constituents,” LandBank President and CEO Cecilia Borromeo said in a statement.

Once the plant is built, the refill price per oxygen tank will be only P157 from the current price of P490.

The province will have sustainable medical oxygen supply, and no longer dependent on a single supplier in Camarines Sur.