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Republic of the Philippines

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
Seventeenth Congress
Second Regular Session

6699

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Honorable Roger G. Mercado

EXPLANATORY NOTE

It shall be the duty of the state to protect the welfare of its people including
the well being of every individual. By ensuring that every province nationwide
shall have quality medical practitioners who will serve the govemment, access to
health care in every province will significantly improve. The state shall counter the
Current trend of doctors of not serving the rural areas due to the less attractive
Prospects of medical practice thereat, considering the huge expenses that a
Person will entail to study medicine.

The scholarship program will provide the state the tool to combat
Perception that medical practice in the rural areas is not desirable. Eliminating the

cost aspect in the study of medicine, individuals who intend to go into the medical
Practice can avail of a scholarship program if given the right circumstances.

In view of the foregoing, passage of this bill is hereby being earnestly

‘sought.
itd CA

ROGER G. MERCADO

VA \
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Republic of the Philippines

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
‘Quezon City, Metro Manila
Seventeenth Congress
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. Ga

Introduced by Honorable Roger G. Mercado

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A MEDICAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM TO ENSURE THE
AVAILABILITY OF DOCTORS IN EVERY PROVINCE NATIONWIDE

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. It shall be the duty of the state to protect the welfare
of its people including the well being of every individual. By ensuring that every province
nationwide shall have quality medical practitioners who will serve the government, access to
health care in every province will significantly improve. The state shall counter the current
trend of doctors of not serving the rural areas due to the less attractive prospects of medical
practice thereat, considering the huge expenses that a person will entail to study medicine.

The scholarship program will provide the state the tool to combat perception that
medical practice in the rural areas is not desirable.

SECTION 2. Scholarship. There shall be established a scholarship program for
medicine to be implemented by the University of the Philippines’ College of Medicine and
other State Colleges/Universities with College of Medicine.

a) The program shall accept at least five (5) beneficiaries coming from every

Province in the country nationwide as recommended by the Provincial Governor.

b) The beneficiaries shall be required to serve the provincial hospital of their province


for at least ten years. If a particular province has no provincial hospital with which
the beneficiaries can serve, the governor shall nominate the government hospital
which the beneficiary can serve complying the conditions that the governor may
require to offset the absence of the provincial hospital.

¢) The scholarship program shall include free tuition, book allowance, housing
accommodation, transportation allowance and other necessary expenses to
complete the study of medicine without requiring the beneficiary any cost other
than his due diligence in the study of medicine.

SECTION 3. Appropriation. The University of the Philippines and other participating
State Colleges/Universities shall include in their annual budget the funds necessary to
implement the provisions of this Act.

SECTION 4. implementing Rules and Regulations. The Commission on Higher
Education in collaboration with the University of the Philippines shall issue the necessary
rules and regulation for the purpose of implementing the provisions of this Act.

SECTION 5. Repealing Clause. All laws or parts of any law, orders, rules, and
regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or amended
accordingly.

SECTION 6. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days afer its
Publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,