Gatchalian vows P4.6-B funding for Doktor Para sa Bayan program

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Tuesday vowed that the Senate will look for funds to support the expansion of medical degree programs and scholarships in the country following the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a public briefing, Gatchalian admitted that the estimated P4.6 billion need to fund the Doktor Para sa Bayan bill was a substantial appropriation.

However, he underscored the importance of its program, which was worthy of the funding.

“Nakita rin namin na malaking pondo rin ang gagamitin at malaking pondo rin ang kakailanganin para mapadami po ang medical school sa ating bansa, pati 'yung scholarship program,” Gatchalian said.

“Kami po, gagawin po namin ang aming makakaya para masiguradong mapondohan ito. Importante na meron tayong doktor sa bawat bayan at sa bawat sulok ng ating bansa,” he added.

On Monday, Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chairperson Prospero De Vera III said in a Senate budget hearing that state universities and colleges (SUCs) would need P4.6 billion to fund the program.

“So, this is the bare-bones budget that has been estimated to increase the number of medical students to about 5,368 per year," he told senators.

The Senate recently passed on third reading the Doktor Para sa Bayan bill which seeks to give medical scholarship to qualified Filipino students who aspired to be doctors.

The P4.6 billion would cover medical students' tuition and other school fees, required textbooks, uniforms, and living allowances, among others, and establish more public medical schools in the Philippines.

The estimated additional budget included P1 billion for the initial operating cost of three SUCs with ongoing application to offer medical degree programs.

The schools were the Cebu Normal University, Western Mindanao State University in Zamboanga City, and the University of Southeastern Philippines in Davao City.

The CHED said that P1.17 billion was needed for the 30 percent increase in the carrying capacity of SUCs with an existing medical program, and P2.45 billion to equip potential SUCs to offer medical degree programs. — DVM, GMA News