Alyansa’ bet Sotto calls for more medical scholars
SAN JOSE DEL MONTE CITY — Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial candidate and former Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III on Friday vowed stronger Senate oversight on the Doktor Para sa Bayan Act, saying that the implementation of the medical scholarship program has fallen short of expectations.
Sotto, the principal author of the law, said the program was designed to produce at least 40 medical scholars per school nationwide, but reports indicate that the actual number is significantly lower.
“One of the main functions of the Senate and senators is to exercise oversight over existing laws, and I think the medical scholarship program that we, that I principally authored, Doktor Para sa Bayan will be a big help for San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan,” Sotto told a press conference.
Sotto was joined at the event by other Alyansa senatorial candidates, who have been endorsed by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
The Alyansa slate also includes former Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos, Makati City Mayor Abby Binay, Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Senator Pia Cayetano, former Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, Senator Lito Lapid, Senator Imee Marcos, former Senator Manny Pacquiao, Senator Francis “Tol” Tolentino, ACT-CIS Rep. and former Social Welfare Secretary Erwin Tulfo, and Deputy Speaker Camille Villar.
Sotto noted that San Jose del Monte, the largest city in Bulacan by both population and land area, has struggled with a shortage of doctors—a problem that was amplified during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“So, ‘yung nakikita ko na after five years na pinasa namin ‘yung batas na ‘yun, we need to check on the oversight through the Senate. How? Kasi dapat ideally, 40 scholars per medical school nationwide lalo na dito sa Central Luzon,” Sotto said.
He continued, “Nakita niyo naman ang kakulangan noong panahon ng pandemic—‘yung kakulangan ng mga doctor. Mas marami ang abogado kesa sa doctor. Ngayon ang kailangan dito hindi pupwedeng, kung ideally 40, ang nangyayari dito, 24 lang daw.”
The Commission on Higher Education (CHED), which administers the scholarship program, has attributed the lower number of scholars to budgetary constraints, according to Sotto.
“Bakit? Kasi may problema sa budget daw, naiba ‘yung budget ng CHED ang sinasabi nila,” he said.
Sotto explained that congressional oversight is critical to ensuring that existing laws are properly implemented.
“So, it’s not just the new laws or the laws that are being proposed. It’s also oversight on the current laws, and I think it has a major impact on the city of San Jose del Monte,” he said.
The Doktor Para sa Bayan Act, officially known as Republic Act No. 11509, was signed into law in 2021 to address the country’s shortage of medical professionals, particularly in underserved areas.
The law provides full medical scholarships for deserving students who commit to serving in public health facilities after obtaining their medical degree.
Under the law, the government aims to fund at least 40 medical scholars per state university or college offering a Doctor of Medicine program.
However, implementation has been hampered by budgetary limitations, resulting in fewer scholars than initially planned.
