The provincial government of Eastern Samar will provide scholarships to aspiring doctors under a partnership with Eastern Samar State University (ESSU).

Governor Ralph Vincent Evardone announced this on Tuesday after the recent inauguration of the ESSU’s College of Medicine on July 2.

Evardone said the scholarship program, formalized through a memorandum of agreement between the provincial government and ESSU, aims to help deserving students pursue a Doctor of Medicine degree while addressing the province’s shortage of healthcare professionals.

Under the agreement, the provincial government will shoulder the educational expenses of 10 medical students for the current academic year. The number of scholars will increase to 20 in the next academic year before settling at 10 new scholars annually in the succeeding years.

“The scholarship program is an investment in our future healthcare workforce and will provide opportunities for qualified students who aspire to become physicians,” Evardone said in a statement.

To further strengthen medical education in the province, the governor also announced that the provincial government has earmarked PHP500 million for the rehabilitation of the Eastern Samar Provincial Hospital.

Once upgraded, the hospital will serve as the clinical training facility for ESSU medical students, allowing them to gain hands-on experience as part of their medical education.

The scholarship announcement coincided with the historic inauguration of the ESSU College of Medicine, marking the opening of the province’s first medical school.

During the ceremony, the university conducted the ceremonial enrollment of the pioneering batch of Doctor of Medicine students for school year 2026-2027. (PNA)