The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a bill establishing a new state-owned college of medicine in Eastern Samar, House Minority Leader and 4Ps party-list Rep. Marcelino Libanan announced on Sunday.
House Bill No. 11342, which Libanan authored, mandates the creation of a medical school under the Eastern Samar State University (ESSU) in Borongan City.
“Once the new state-subsidized college of medicine is established, we expect it to make medical education more accessible, particularly to students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds,” he said.
“Over time, we are also counting on the medical school to help address the shortage of doctors, especially in rural and underserved areas like Eastern Samar,” Libanan added.
Although a lawyer by profession, Libanan also holds a degree in medical technology. He is a native of Eastern Samar and previously represented the province’s lone district in Congress for nine years.
At present, only seven state-owned higher institutions of learning are offering the Doctor of Medicine program:
- Mariano Marcos State University in Batac, Ilocos Norte
- University of Northern Philippines in Vigan City
- Cagayan State University in Tuguegarao City
- Bicol University in Daraga, Albay
- West Visayas State University in Iloilo City
- University of the Philippines in Manila
- Mindanao State University in Marawi City
Between 2023 to 2024, the House of Representatives also passed five laws creating new medical colleges at:
- Benguet State University in La Trinidad, Benguet
- Southern Luzon State University in Lucban, Quezon
- University of Eastern Philippines in Catarman, Northern Samar
- Visayas State University in Baybay City
- Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University in Agoo, La Union
Libanan had earlier urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to certify as urgent at least nine House bills seeking to establish additional medical schools in state universities.