As Benguet State University (BSU) College of Medicine takes on an initial 50 students in the first semester of the 2025–2026 academic year, more physicians will soon be available to serve Cordillerans, especially in far-flung areas.
According to BSU President Dr. Kenneth Laruan, 13 spots will be given to Benguet students who will subsequently work in remote barrios.
House Bill (HB) 312–which was written by Representative Eric Yap of the Lone District of Benguet–led to the creation of the College of Medicine and aims to ensure that worthy students from the isolated communities of the Cordillera, Ilocos, and Cagayan Valley could enroll in medical courses.
Course details
The College of Medicine gives students of Benguet–and surrounding provinces–the chance to pursue high-quality medical education and training without having to move to cities across the nation. It also seeks to close the notable gap in medical education in the area.
According to Laruan, BSU would charge PHP70,000 every semester, which is 50% less than what other local universities charge for identical courses.
He stated that the Nursing Building will be used by the first group of College of Medicine students, with the program receiving approximately PHP120 million in this year's national budget.
Far-flung communities’ struggles
Disparities in health outcomes result from the major obstacles that residents of remote areas frequently experience, such as extended travel times and a lack of medical infrastructure.
Healthcare outreach can lower death rates, prevent diseases, and enhance general quality of life by tackling these issues.
This is something that BSU hopes to remedy with its curriculum.
