Duterte signs bill granting medical scholarships, 3 other measures

According to the law, qualified applicants from towns which do not have government physicians should be prioritized in the allocation of scholarship slots to make sure that at least one doctor would serve in each municipality.

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 5) — President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law a measure that seeks to grant medical scholarships to aspiring doctors in the country, and three other bills.

Duterte approved on Dec. 23 Republic Act 11509, also known as Doktor Para sa Bayan Act. It provides for medical scholarship and return service or MSRS program for poor but deserving Filipino students in state universities and colleges and in private higher education institutions from regions where there are no SUCs offering a medicine course.

Sotto said Duterte also signed RA 11510 or Alternative Learning System Act, which seeks to establish a learning center in every city and municipality for students with disabilities, those from marginalized sectors, and adults who want to finish formal basic education. It also aims to hire ALS teachers who will be deployed in far-flung, unserved, underserved, and conflict-affected communities.

The chief executive also approved RA 11511 or Amendments to Organic Agriculture Act of 2010, as well as RA 11517, a law that authorizes the President to expedite the processing and issuance of national and local permits, licenses, and certifications in times of national emergency.

The mandatory return service upon integration into the medical service system will be for at least six years for those under the four-year program, and seven years for those who have availed of the five-year program.