Marcos establishes 5 medical schools

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. has signed into law seven bills establishing five new medical schools in the Philippines and expanding the academic offerings of seven other colleges, the Palace said on Thursday.

Established through the bills signed into law by the President are the Benguet State University College of Medicine (RA 11970), the Southern Luzon State University-College of Medicine (RA 11971), the University of Eastern Philippines of Medicine in Catarman, Northern Samar (RA 11972), and the Visayas State University-College of Medicine in Baybay, Leyte (RA 11974).

In addition, Mr. Marcos signed RA 11973 establishing the Bicol University-College of Veterinary Medicine in Lagao City, Albay, which aims to produce a new crop of veterinarians.

Under RA 11968, the San Isidro Satellite campus of the Leyte Normal University (LNU) has been converted into a regular campus that will be named LNU-San Isidro Campus, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said in a statement.

Another institution converted into a regular college campus is the Bataan Peninsula State University Bagac Extension, through RA 11969.

The PCO said that under the new laws, all of the colleges can provide a Doctor of Medicine program, including an integrated liberal arts and medicine program.

The President signed the new laws on Dec. 20 and shall take effect 15 days after their publication on the Official Gazette website or in a local newspaper of general circulation. — John Victor D. Ordoñez