Gov’t now has P1-B seed fund for state university med schools
Some P150 million has been set aside in this year’s budget to set up new medical schools in state universities and colleges (SUCs) around the country, bringing to P1 billion the cumulative seed money for the purpose.
In a statement on Sunday, Quezon City Rep. Marvin Rillo, vice chairperson of the House of Representatives’ committee on higher and technical education, said, “In the 2025 General Appropriations Law, Congress has added P150 million to the seed fund for the development of new colleges of medicine in SUCs.”
Rillo, who is also a member of the House panel on appropriations, pointed out that the P150 million is on top of a total of P925 million allocated for the SUC medical school seed fund since 2021.
When Congress first set up the startup fund in 2021, an initial P150 million was set aside in the national budget. Both for 2022 and for 2023, P250 million was allocated for the fund while P275 million was set aside last year.
“The seed money will support the new schools of medicine in our SUCs, helping them develop their capacity to provide instruction, acquire teaching materials, upgrade libraries and build advanced laboratory facilities,” the lawmaker said.
He noted that the 19th Congress has, so far, passed five draft measures creating new colleges of medicine in the Benguet State University in La Trinidad, Benguet; the Southern Luzon State University in Lucban, Quezon; University of Eastern Philippines in Catarman, Northern Samar; the Visayas State University in Baybay City, Leyte; and at the Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University in Agoo, La Union.
More physicians needed
“Congress is committed to fully developing our new schools of medicine in SUCs to enable the country to train and produce more physicians,” Rillo said. “We need more physicians to meet the growing demand of Filipinos for improved health outcomes.”
Last week, House Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan urged President Marcos to certify as urgent nine draft laws creating medical schools in SUCs to produce more doctors and strengthen the country’s health-care system. Congress is set to take a break for the elections starting Feb. 8.
The 4Ps representative cited Department of Health data showing the country’s doctor-to-population ratio at around 3.6 doctors for every 10,000 people where the ideal ratio, according to the World Health Organization, was 10 doctors for every 10,000 people, or one doctor for every 1,000 people.
Libanan said: “Right now, we are not producing enough new doctors due to the prohibitive cost of medical schooling in private higher education institutions. This is why we need more colleges of medicine in our SUCs, especially in the provinces.”
Libanan authored one of the nine bills seeking to establish new medical schools in SUCs including at the Eastern Samar State University in Borongan City; the Polytechnic University of the Philippines in Quezon City; the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines in Cagayan de Oro City; Samar State University in Catbalogan City; Aklan State University in Ibajay, Aklan; Mindanao State University in General Santos City; North Eastern Mindanao State University in Tandag, Surigao del Sur; Bukidnon State University in Malaybalay City; and at Sultan Kudarat State University in Tacurong City.
