P1Billion scholarship fund allocated for Doktor Para Sa Bayan Law

Manila, Philippines – Republic Act No. 11509 Doktor Para sa Bayan Act (Medical Scholarship and Return Service) which was newly signed by President Rodrigo Duterte on December 23, 2020 has sufficient funding to support its implementation, said principal sponsor and author Senator Joel Villanueva.

Through a senate press release, Villanueva said that congress has allocated over 1billion pesos for the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Department of Health (DOH) to increase more scholarship slots for aspiring doctors and provide them with their needs going to medical school.

“Under this year's national budget, both CHED and DOH were allocated some P802 million to allow them to accommodate more scholars under the medical scholarship program," sated the press release.

It was also said that the Congress "allocated P279 million for Cebu Normal University, University of Southeastern Philippines, and Western Mindanao State University which are all on track to open their own colleges of medicine this year. CHED has also P150 million in its budget to assist other state universities and colleges intending to establish their own medicine programs."

Citing data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, Villanueva said some six out of 10 Filipinos who die in the country were not able to see a doctor for treatment.

Earlier, co-author of the bill Baguio City Congressman Mark Go was keen on defending the bill to which he said in recent statements “aspiring doctors will have the opportunity to pursue a degree in medicine with full scholarship.”

Under the said law, all Filipino citizens residing in the Philippines are qualified of the scholarship.

Others that are qualified include deserving incoming second year medical students and those in the higher year levels of the Doctor of Medicine Program; graduating students or graduate of an appropriate undergraduate program identified as a prerequisite for a Doctor of Medicine degree; and those who obtained a National Medical Admission Test (NMAT) score mandated by CHED.

R.A. 11509 shall grant medical scholarships to deserving students who wish to enter the medical profession. It shall prioritize qualified applicants from different municipalities without government physicians.

These scholars shall them be required to finish the Doctor of Medicine Program within a prescribed time frame and shall serve in their respective LGUs thru its return service program.

The scholarship shall cover: free tuition and other school fees, uniform allowance, dormitory or boarding house accommodation allowance, medical board review and licensure fees, allowances for prescribed books, supplies and equipment, transportation allowance, internship fees including financial assistance during mandatory internship, and annual medical insurance and other education-related miscellaneous subsistence.

OTHER NEWS

Tanudan Mayor sustains free wheelchair project for PWDs in the Municipality

ADVERTISEMENT

Follow Guru Press Cordillera on Facebook for more News and Information