SENATOR Pia Cayetano, sponsor of the 2024 proposed budget of the Commission on Higher Education, is confirmed that the Senate Committee on Finance allocated P1.6 billion for the implementation of Doktor Para sa Bayan and medical scholarships for next year.

“We have always taken the lead on funding this program, the medical scholarships, and the support for medical schools, every year, I am proud to report that because of our initiative, we did not pass a law that simply says ‘dagdagan ang doktor, bigyan namin kayo ng kaunting scholarships,” Cayetano said.

Every year, the senator added that they ensure that there is a budget for capital outlay, Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses, personal services, and the seed fund.

“This program cannot be effective without these very detailed interventions. And again, I also confirm happily, I want to share the joy of our Majority Floor Leader Joel Villanueva that, from eight medical schools in 2020, it’s 2023 and we now have 19, and there are 11 more pending in CHED,” she explained.

At the same time, the lawmaker commended CHED for prioritizing the evaluation of the readiness of these schools.

“That’s why tayo ay may seed fund because if a medical school is not open at the time we are having these debates, then the only time they can have funding is through the seed fund that we lodged with CHED,” she said.

“My final point on this is we cannot provide healthcare to the Filipinos by the services of the doctors alone. And so every year, I always encourage SUCs to strengthen their allied health programs and there have been some,” the lawmaker said.

“I encourage all the SUC presidents here that have med schools and even those that don’t, na dagdagan niyo pa ang allied health programs n’yo because they are also critical,” she added.