Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito on Friday expressed his support for the Commission on Higher Education’s (CHED) efforts to strengthen the country’s healthcare system, particularly through the expansion of medical education in state universities and colleges (SUCs).

During the Senate deliberation on CHED’s proposed 2026 budget, Ejercito lauded the agency for allocating P150 million in seed funding for the establishment and development of medical schools in seven SUCs. Ejercito expressed appreciation for CHED’s initiatives that align with the government’s goal of strengthening the Universal Health Care system. This move, he noted, will help address the shortage of doctors, especially in underserved areas.

Ejercito, who is widely recognized as the principal author of the Universal Health Care (UHC) Law, asked CHED to identify the SUCs set to receive the funding and provide details on expected timelines and deliverables.

“Can the Commission identify which SUCs are included in these initiatives and what are the expected outputs or timelines for these medical schools to become fully operational?” he said.

In response, Dr. Cherrie Melanie Ancheta-Diego, Director of CHED’s Office of Programs and Standards Development (OPSD), said the seven SUCs in the pipeline are Bataan Peninsula State University, University of Eastern Philippines, Bukidnon State University, Cotabato State University, Northeastern Mindanao State University, and Benguet State University–La Trinidad Campus.

Ancheta-Diego also explained that the seed funding program is designed to support SUCs that are either planning or in the early stages of launching their medical programs. The funds will help them build facilities, acquire equipment, and meet regulatory standards to become fully operational.

She noted that the program aims to increase the number of accessible and affordable medical education institutions, especially in regions where healthcare workforce shortages are most critical.

Ejercito welcomed the update, emphasizing that investing in public medical education is key to achieving long-term sustainability in the healthcare sector.