Capitol to look into suggestion of giving out medical scholarships

CEBU, Philippines - Granting scholarships to medical students was among the initial recommendations made by the team from Asia Public/Private Partnership Institute (APPPI) of Toyo University in Japan to Cebu provincial government to address the lack of medical personnel manning the 16 provincial and district hospitals.

Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III admitted that the province still needs more medical staff, considering that improvement of health facilities is one of his administration’s agenda.

He said, quoting the recommendation of the Japanese team, medical students under the scholarship of the Capitol will be asked through an agreement that once they graduate and pass the board examinations, they would serve the province-run hospitals for eight to ten years.

Breach of contract would mean refund of the scholarship grant, Davide added.

“Kini aron masiguro gyod nga naay doctors atong hospitals. Sa Japan mao daw ilang gibuhat. Kung mo-undang daw, pabayron ang scholars,” he said.

The governor, however, made it clear that though it is possible, the province will still have to study the matter.

The team from APPPI has been staying in Cebu since Monday to study possibilities and opportunities in the province in terms of socio-economic development that can be undertaken under the PPP scheme.

The preliminary findings were presented yesterday at the Capitol. The full report and recommendations will be presented to Davide in March this year.

APPPI Director Sam Tabuchi explained that the data they gathered during their study in Cebu will be brought to Japan for finalization.

He said that they will also introduce interested private companies to partner with the province in the implementation of the proposed projects.

“We are proposing all private sector participation so the public investment is minimized. It’s our way of helping the cities in Asia to grow. We don’t take any money in,” he added.

APPPI was established in 2011 “to foster and enhance development of Asian economy through PPP,” as stated in its website.  Its main activities are educational training and project support for local and national governments. — Michael Vencynth H. Braga/ATO (FREEMAN)