Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NOCCI) officers led by President Edward Du, recently attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the first-ever Hyperbaric Chamber Center in Negros Oriental. The state-of-the-art facility, located in Pob.1 Dauin, promises to elevate healthcare and dive tourism in the region.
Alongside Du, the event was graced by key figures such as Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco, Governor Manuel L. Sagarbarria, 2nd District Congressman Manuel T. Sagarbarria, and Dauin Mayor Galicano Truita. The center will provide cutting-edge treatments and therapies, expected to enhance the region’s medical tourism sector.
This significant development highlights the growing potential of Negros Oriental as a prime destination for scuba diving, health and wellness. The hyperbaric center will offer advanced solutions to various health conditions and establish the province as a leader in medical tourism in the Visayas. Stakeholders expressed excitement about the project’s potential to create job opportunities and boost local tourism.
The Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NOCCI), led by President Edward Du, took part in a historic milestone for the province as it supported the groundbreaking ceremony of the first-ever Hyperbaric Chamber Center in Negros Oriental. The facility, located in Poblacion 1, Dauin, marks a significant leap forward in enhancing the region’s healthcare capacity and dive tourism potential.
Held earlier this week, the ceremony was attended by an array of national and local dignitaries. Among the prominent guests were Department of Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, Negros Oriental Governor Manuel L. Sagarbarria, 2nd District Representative Manuel T. Sagarbarria, and Dauin Mayor Galicano Truita. Their collective presence underscored the importance of the project, which is seen as a strategic investment in both wellness and economic development.
President Edward Du, representing NOCCI and the broader business community, praised the initiative as a timely and forward-looking response to the growing needs of medical tourism and local dive industries. “Negros Oriental has long been recognized for its vibrant dive sites and tourism potential. With the establishment of this hyperbaric center, we are adding a new dimension to what the province can offer,” Du noted during his address.
Hyperbaric chambers are medical facilities designed to provide hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), a treatment that enhances the body’s natural healing processes through the inhalation of 100% oxygen in a pressurized room. Such treatments are commonly used for decompression sickness—a risk for scuba divers—as well as other conditions like carbon monoxide poisoning, severe infections, and chronic wounds.
The hyperbaric facility in Dauin is expected to significantly strengthen the safety infrastructure for both local and visiting divers. According to local dive operators, the presence of a nearby chamber is a game-changer, reducing the need to transport patients to distant medical centers in Cebu or Manila in emergency cases.
Secretary Frasco lauded the project as a transformative initiative aligned with the Department of Tourism’s efforts to support health and wellness tourism. “This is a best-case example of public-private synergy, with stakeholders coming together to deliver a service that meets both community needs and tourism demands,” she said.
The event also emphasized economic ripple effects. The construction and eventual operation of the hyperbaric chamber is projected to create job opportunities in both the healthcare and tourism sectors. Governor Sagarbarria emphasized the potential of Dauin and surrounding areas to become central hubs for sustainable tourism, particularly with the new medical facility in place.
In addition to enhancing diver safety, the hyperbaric center will offer therapeutic services for locals suffering from various chronic ailments. These treatments have been proven to benefit patients recovering from strokes, diabetic wounds, and certain neurological conditions—expanding the facility’s scope beyond tourism and into broader community health.
NOCCI’s support for the project is rooted in its advocacy for strategic infrastructure that fuels inclusive growth. With businesses increasingly seeking healthcare and wellness components as part of the visitor experience, the new hyperbaric chamber aligns with both global tourism trends and the province’s development goals.
Executive Director John Jalandoni of NOCCI also emphasized the potential for partnerships with private hospitals, wellness resorts, and international travel insurers to further expand the use and reach of the hyperbaric facility. “The technology is here, and so is the vision. What we need now is a seamless collaboration between sectors to ensure sustainability,” he said.
Furthermore, the hyperbaric chamber will serve as a training and learning hub for local medical professionals, potentially bringing in international expertise and elevating the standards of medical practice in the region.
As the ceremonial shovels broke ground, optimism filled the air. For many in attendance, the event was more than a celebration of a construction project—it was the beginning of a shift. A shift towards making Negros Oriental not only a beautiful destination for tourists but also a model for accessible, innovative healthcare services.
With this advancement, NOCCI continues to assert its role as a catalyst for responsible development, building partnerships that go beyond commerce and into the heart of community wellbeing.
As tourism and healthcare increasingly converge on global and local fronts, the hyperbaric chamber in Dauin stands as a symbol of progress—one that promises to elevate the profile of Negros Oriental on the map of medical tourism destinations in Southeast Asia.
The road ahead will require operational excellence, continued investment, and public awareness. But with strong support from NOCCI and local leaders, the future of this hyperbaric initiative looks promising.
