ASPIRING students who cannot get into medical schools due to financial constraints, can now fulfill their dream as the Marikina local government is offering full medical scholarship grant in nine selected medical schools in Metro Manila, Mayor Marcelino “Marcy” Teodoro said.
Mayor Teodoro signed City Ordinance No. 078 Series 2019 or “Libreng Pag-aaral sa Pagdodoktor para sa Marikenos” during a ceremonial signing at the Shoe Hall on Monday.
The city ordinance was authored by Vice Mayor Marion Andres, M.D. He was the one who pushed for its passage in the City Council.
Under the city ordinance, the scholarship grant can be availed at these schools: Pamantasan Lungsod ng Maynila; Far Eastern University; Emilio Aguinaldo College; Manila Central University; University of Sto. Tomas; Fatima University; University of the East; University of Perpetual Help System DALTA; and St. Lukes College of Medicine.
Mayor Tedoro said the ordinance on the Entrance Examination for Medicine in the any of the above nine mentioned schools requires the following from applicants:
*Must be a bonafide Marikina resident.
*Must not be more than 30 years of age upon graduating from pre-medicine courses.
*Must submit a letter of intent on the “Libreng Pag-aaral sa Pagdodoktor para sa Marikenos” scholarship program grants.
*Has obtained any Bachelor’s Degree that is construed as pre-medicine courses.
*Has passed and endorsed by the Medical Scholarship Grant Secretariat and the Medical Scholarship Board.
Section 9 of the ordinance states that continuing medical students on their 2nd to 4th year status can avail of the scholarship. “Same procedure shall apply on the process of their application.”
According to the Section 4 of the ordinance, the medical scholarship program will only be limited to five (5) slots per school year.
Andres, a doctor by profession, said that he wrote the ordinance in order for others to be able to pursue a career in the medical field.
“I was also a beneficiary of a college scholarship that’s why I was able to study medicine despite the fact that I came from a poor family. My father was a war veteran, that’s why I was able to avail of a medical scholarship,” he said.
Because of this reason, I authored this ordinance to help aspiring doctors. I promised this to our fellow Marikenos during the campaign period that is why I am fulfilling it,” the vice mayor added.
Mayor Teodoro said that medical scholars of the local government, ,who pass the Board Exams, must render two years of professional service to the city government of Marikina.
The mayor congratulated Andres for creating the ordinance, which will produce doctors for the city.
The Medical Scholarship Board is composed of the mayor as chairman, the vice mayor as the vice chairman, and the chairman on the Committee on Education of Sangguniang Panglungsod.
The amount of the scholarship grant per semester will be determined by the chairman of the Medical Scholarship Board. The grant may be used for the scholar’s tuition, transportation, allowances, board and lodging allowances, uniforms, textbooks, and other necessary supplies.
