Who says the government doesn't have money to help aspiring doctors get through medical school?

According to House Minority Leader 4Ps Party-list Rep. Marcelino “Nonoy” Libanan, the government has set aside P186 million this year for a national scholarship program aimed at helping aspiring doctors who cannot afford medical education.

“Congress earmarked P186 million for the Medical Scholarship and Return Service Program in State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) under the 2026 General Appropriations Law,” Libanan said.

“By financially supporting deserving medical students, especially those from underserved communities, we are also helping address the chronic shortage of doctors in far-flung and impoverished areas,” pointed out the House leader.

“We want more Filipino physicians to serve where they are needed most,” he added.

The Doctor of Medicine scholarship program is being offered in at least 25 SUCs nationwide. Libanan identified the participating SUCs as follows:

•Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University

•Mariano Marcos State University

•University of Northern Philippines

•Cagayan State University

•Isabela State University

•Bulacan State University

•Batangas State University

•Cavite State University

•Southern Luzon State University

•Bicol University

•West Visayas State University

•Bohol Island State University

•Cebu Normal University-Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center

•University of the Philippines School of Health Sciences

•Samar State University-Samar Island Institute of Medicine

•Western Mindanao State University

•University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines

•University of Southeastern Philippines

•Mindanao State University-General Santos City

•Sultan Kudarat State University

•University of Southern Mindanao

•University of the Philippines Manila

•Palawan State University

•Caraga State University

•Mindanao State University-Marawi City

The medical scholarship program in SUCs is open to qualified and deserving Filipino students who are willing to complete the required return service after graduation.

Priority is given to applicants residing in municipalities and provinces with low doctor-to-population ratios and high poverty rates, geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas, and disaster-prone or conflict-affected communities.

The program likewise prioritizes applicants from low-income families earning less than P450,000 annually, members of indigenous or ethnic communities, and dependents of community health volunteers.

Applicants must be Filipino citizens who are either graduating students or graduates of a pre-medical course required for a Doctor of Medicine degree.

They must also obtain the required National Medical Admission Test (NMAT) score prescribed by the Commission on Higher Education and their chosen SUC, and pass the admission requirements of the participating school.

Though a lawyer by profession, Libanan also holds a degree in medical technology and has consistently advocated greater access to state-subsidized medical education.

He also authored a bill seeking to establish a new College of Medicine at Eastern Samar State University in Borongan City. The House of Representatives recently approved the measure on third and final reading.