Facing a long-standing shortage of physicians, the Cebu Provincial Government has launched a free medical scholarship that requires scholars to serve in underserved communities after graduation.
The initiative was formalized through a Memorandum of Agreement signed during the Healthcare Heroes Appreciation Night at the Capitol Social Hall last Friday.
The agreement was forged among the Province of Cebu, Cebu Normal University, and Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center under a consortium aimed at producing more doctors committed to public service.
Leading the ceremonial signing was Governor Pamela Baricuatro, joined by Provincial Board Member Dr. Stanley Caminero, Department of Health Central Visayas Director Dr. Joshua Brillantes, CNU President Dr. Laurence Garcia III, and VSMMC Chief Dr. Gerardo Aquino.
Under the program, qualified students from Cebu Province will receive free medical education.
In return, they must render service in local government hospitals and communities facing critical healthcare gaps.
Capitol officials said the scholarship aims not only to ease the financial burden of medical education but also to ensure newly trained physicians remain in Cebu to serve those who need them most.
Baricuatro described the initiative as a strategic investment that goes beyond infrastructure upgrades. For the governor, strengthening healthcare means securing a steady pipeline of competent and compassionate doctors for the province.
“Your work is more than a profession; it is a calling. Every life you comfort, every patient you heal, and every family you reassure reflects the compassion and strength that define the Cebuano spirit,” she said in her address.
The scholarship signing was one of two major healthcare agreements sealed that evening.
The province also entered into a separate MOA with VSMMC and the Department of Health to establish a Practice-Based Residency Training Program for doctors assigned to provincial and district hospitals.
Through the residency program, physicians can pursue specialization in family medicine while continuing to serve in government hospitals, allowing them to advance professionally without leaving their communities.
The agreements were announced during a night dedicated to honoring Cebu’s medical frontliners who participated in surgical and medical missions over the past seven months.
Provincial data showed that these missions delivered healthcare services valued at approximately P100,495,800, benefiting thousands of patients across Cebu, particularly in areas affected by disasters.
Capitol Piso Health Consultant Dr. Elise Nicole Catalan emphasized that the numbers represent more than financial value.
The missions, she said, meant “real lives touched, real pain relieved, real families helped.”
“Tonight is about our healthcare heroes,” Catalan said.
“You are selfless in effort, generous in skill, and unwavering in your commitment to serve,” she added.
Baricuatro closed the evening by reaffirming the Capitol’s commitment to expand hospital services, upgrade equipment, and support healthcare workers.
She thanked doctors, nurses, midwives, medical technologists, hospital staff, community health workers, responders, and partners for their unwavering service, especially during disasters and public health threats.
She added that the Capitol will continue to improve hospitals, expand access to services, invest in equipment, and support programs that uplift both patients and healthcare workers. (SBA)
