Senate President Vicente Sotto III during a campaign rally in Jagna, Bohol on Tuesday, April 5, 2022. (Photo from Lacson-Sotto Media Bureau)
JAGNA, Bohol, Philippines — If it were up to Senate President Vicente Sotto III, even students with low grades can also secure a medical scholarship under the Doktor Para sa Bayan Act.
Sotto is the principal author of the law, which was enacted in January 2021. It aims to produce more physicians by offering qualified candidates free tuition, book, living and other allowances. In return, scholars will have to serve in public health facilities for at least one year.
“It seems what the CHEd [Commission on Higher Education] wants are only those with high grades. They’re the only ones who can get in. It can’t be that way. If this will be implemented by me and Senator [Panfilo] Lacson, even those with just a grade of 75 can become a doctor,” Sotto said, speaking in a mix of English and Filipino, during the “Jagnaanon For Progressive Governance” proclamation rally here on Tuesday.
“The Philippines needs to have more doctors,” he added. “This had to be implemented properly.”
Sotto and his running mate, Lacson, are scheduled to visit Cebu Normal University on Thursday to meet with officials regarding the implementation of the said law, among other concerns.
The visit is part of their two-day visit to the province from April 6 to 7.
They will also drop by the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, which is named after the Senate president’s grandfather.
In wooing voters here, Sotto reiterated his and Lacson’s decades of experience in crafting laws. Sotto has been a senator for 24 years and Lacson for 18 years.
“We believe that those who made the law, if they are the ones to implement it, will be able to implement it correctly and with more order,” Sotto said.
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