More doctors will soon be available to serve Cordillerans as Benguet State University (BSU) – College of Medicine accepts an initial 50 students in the first semester of school year 2025-26.

Dr. Kenneth Laruan, BSU president, said 13 slots will be allocated for students from Benguet. They will later serve far-flung barrios (communities).

“We will prioritize the 13 medical student scholars of Benguet who have passed the screening of the province and will receive a fund for the completion of their studies,” he said in a press conference aired on social media Tuesday.

BSU will be charging PHP70,000 per semester, which Laruan said is 50 percent lower than in other schools in the region offering the same course.

Laruan said scholarships are also available.

He said the first batch of students under the College of Medicine will use the Nursing Building, but noted that about PHP120 million has been allocated for the program under this year’s national budget.

Dr. Florence Poltic, BSU medical officer and a member of the Technical Working Group for the College of Doctor of Medicine program, is hopeful that other provinces will also have scholarship for medicine students at BSU.

She said Kalinga State University is also in the process of establishing a medicine course.

“Maganda iyon lalo na at may Universal Health Care Law na naglalayong maging accessible sa lahat ang medical services (That is good news especially with the Universal Health Care law that aims to make medical services accessible),” she added. (PNA)