S.

Leyte produces more doctors from its med scholarship program

MAASIN CITY — After the success of Dra. Paola Elisha Cutamora, who hurdled the Physician Licensure
Exam last May this year, another batch of medical professionals were being produced by our local
government’s program.

Among the new batch of “Doctor to the Barrios” are Dr. Lester Clerigo and Dr. Steve Aldrich Guias, all
from San Ricardo town.

According to Hospital Enterprise Board (HEB) Member and at the same time, the program’s liaison
officer, Sil Toledo, the province attains 100% passing rate on the recent November licensure
examination.

“They are the new product of our medical scholarship program, which main goal is to help Southern
Leyteños achieved their dreams to become medical doctors and at the same time, to address the
shortage of government physicians at local government hospitals in the province,” he said.

The scholarship program aims to produce home-grown doctors to cater to the need for government
physicians at the Salvacion Oppus Yñiguez Memorial Provincial Hospital (SOYMPH) and other district
hospitals in the different towns of the province.

“We aim to have at least one doctor per municipality,” he added.

The medical scholarship is given on the condition that after graduation, the state- funded scholars would
first serve in Southern Leyte’s public hospitals for a given time.

The scholars, together with their parents, are obliged to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU)
stipulating the term of years of local hospital service.

The province’s medical scholarship includes grants, monthly stipends, board and lodging expenses,
transportation, uniform and book allowances.