THE CEBU Normal University-Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center lauded Senate President Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto III for shepherding the passage of a medical scholarship program into law.

University officials sent Sotto a letter of appreciation for the enactment of Republic Act 11509 or the Doktor Para sa Bayan Act which was signed into law in January this year.

The Senate chief authored Senate Bill No. 1 otherwise known as the Medical Scholarship Act.

The law seeks to improve the country’s doctor-patient ratio by establishing a medical scholarship and Return Service program for deserving students in state universities and colleges or in partner private higher education institutions in regions where there are no state colleges or universities offering a medical course.

“It is with our pride and pleasure to inform your good office and share with you our joy that the Commission on Higher Education Commission En Banc has approved the Cebu Normal University-Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center College of Medicine Consortium to begin accepting students for SY 2021-2022 last May 11, 2021,” Filomena Dayagbil, OIC of the Office of the University President, and Medical Center Chief Gerardo M Aquino Jr. told Sotto.

“We would like to thank you and your esteemed office for all your support and assistance in making this seemingly impossible endeavor a reality and for your belief in our shared cause in training competent, compassionate and passionate doctors for the Filipino, especially the underserved,” they added.

Cebu Normal University is a state research university established in 1902.

It was designated by CHED as a Center of Excellence in Nursing and Teacher education.