Senator Joel Villanueva has welcomed the allocation of P1.095 billion for the Doktor Para Sa Bayan law under the 2026 General Appropriations Act, calling it the program’s biggest funding in five years.
Villanueva said the 2026 budget is the highest single appropriation for the program since it became law in 2021 and is nearly equal to the total P1.075 billion allocated from 2021 to 2025.
Funds are used by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) for medical scholarships, return service programs, and the establishment of medical schools in state universities and colleges.
The senator urged CHED to fast-track the creation of more public medical schools nationwide to encourage more students to pursue medicine and ensure proper use of the funds.
The Doktor Para Sa Bayan Act aims to produce more doctors by providing free tuition and allowances to scholars, who are required to serve in public health facilities after passing the licensure exam.IMT
