President Marcos earmarks P186 million for medical school scholarships

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MANILA, Philippines — The Marcos administration has allocated P186 million to provide scholarships for students who want to enroll in state-run medical schools but are financially challenged.

“By financially supporting deserving medical students, especially those from underserved communities, we are helping address the chronic shortage of doctors in far-flung and impoverished areas,” House Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan said. 

“We want more Filipino physicians to serve where they are needed most. Congress earmarked P186 million for the medical scholarship and return service program in state universities and colleges (SUCs) under the 2026 General Appropriations Law. These funds are for aspiring doctors who cannot afford medical education,” he added. 

The Doctor of Medicine scholarship program is being offered in 25 SUCs nationwide.

In Luzon, the SUCs include the 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,  Palawan State University and the University of the Philippines-Manila.

 In the Visayas, the SUCs are West Visayas State University, Bohol Island State University, Cebu Normal University-Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, University of the Philippines School of Health Sciences and Samar State University-Samar Island Institute of Medicine.

For Mindanao, the scholarships can be used at the 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, Caraga State University and Mindanao State University-Marawi City.

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

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

Applicants must be Filipino citizens who are either graduating students or graduates of a pre-medical course.