House oks bill for a gov’t-owned medical school in Eastern Samar

by Miriam G. Desacada

Tacloban City–A new government-owned college of medicine shall be established in Eastern Samar province, according to a proposed bill, approved on third and final reading by the House of Representatives.

House Bill 11342, authored by Minority Leader Marcelino “Nonoy” Libanan, 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,” said the Eastern Samar-born Libanan, a 4Ps party-list representative.

“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,” said Libanan who, besides being a lawyer, also holds a degree in medical technology.

Currently, there are only seven state-owned educational institutions that are offering the Doctor of Medicine program:

1. Mariano Marcos State University in Batac, Ilocos Norte
2. University of Northern Philippines in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur
3. Cagayan State University in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan
4. Bicol University in Daraga, Albay
5. West Visayas State University in Iloilo City
6. University of the Philippines in Manila
7. Mindanao State University in Marawi City

Between 2023 and 2024, Congress had passed five laws creating new medical colleges at the following schools:

1. Benguet State University in La Trinidad, Benguet
2. Southern Luzon State University in Lucban, Quezon
3. University of Eastern Philippines in Catarman, Northern Samar
4. Visayas State University in Baybay City, Leyte
5. Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University in Agoo, La Union

Libanan earlier urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to certify as urgent at least nine House bills seeking to establish additional medical schools in state universities.

A native of Eastern Samar, Libanan previously represented the province’s lone district in Congress for nine years. —-Miriam G. Desacada