LA TRINIDAD, Benguet (PIA) -- Aspiring Cordilleran students who are interested in pursuing a Doctor of Medicine degree will have better chances to realize their dreams with the opening of the College of Medicine at the Benguet State University (BSU) this year.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed on December 20, 2023 Republic Act No. 11970 or an “Act Establishing a College of Medicine in the Benguet State University located in the Municipality of La Trinidad, Benguet.”

This makes BSU the first state university in the Cordillera region to have its College of Medicine (COM).

BSU president Felipe Comila said a Regional Quality Assurance Team is expected to visit and validate the readiness of BSU to open COM.

After the Commission of Higher Education commission en banc issues a decision finally approving the opening of the College of Medicine, classes for the first batch of students will start in August 2024, Comila said.

BSU will accept 60 students for the first batch of medical students. All  the 13 municipalities of Benguet will have one scholar each. Two to three slots will also be allotted for Baguio City. The remaining slots will be opened for applicants from other areas in the region.

“Adda ti maysa nga in-earmark mi kas scholar nga akseptaren mi per municipality. Nu haan nga na-satisfy diyay, nu awan ti qualified according to the criteria that we will come up, sakamin to ag-accept iti ruar in addition to completethe 60 [We have earmarked one slot of scholar per municipality. If there is no qualified, according to the criteria that we will come up, we will then accept from the outside to complete the 60]. Baguio is also given 2 or 3 slots,” Comila said.

Pursuant to the law, the BSU COM will primarily offer a Doctor of Medicine program including an Integrated Liberal Arts and Medicine program that aims to develop a corps of professional physicians to help strengthen the healthcaresystem of the country, as well as to respond to the human resource development needs of the province of Benguet and the Cordillera region.

Comila assured that they are ready for the opening of the COM with incoming dean, Dr. Ruel Revilla. The College of Nursing will temporarily host the medical students.

BSU broke ground for the COM Complex at its compound in Cabanao, La Trinidad, on September 25 last year.

Benguet Representative Eric Yap lobbied for funds for the construction of the COM building, and it was included in the 2024 national budget. He authored House Bill No. 312 seeking for the establishment of the BSU College of Medicine.

“Kailangan magkaroon tayo ng College of Medicine para mas maraming mabigyan ng pagkakataong makapag-aral, mas maraming scholarships, mas maraming opportunity para maiangat ng kabataan ang standard of living ngkanyang pamilya,” Yap said.

“Naragsak tayo unay agsipudta naikkan tayo iti gundaway a mangpaadal kadagitoy annak tayo nga agbalin nga doktor karkaro iti barrios, iti nababbaba a tuition fee, pero quality education nga ited tayo [We are very happy becauseour children are given the opportunity to pursue their dreams of becoming doctors, especially in the barrios, with lower tuition fees yet quality education],” Comila said.

Prospective applicants are advised to stay updated on the BSU’s official channels for further information on the application process and requirements. (JDP/DEG-PIA CAR)