By Helen Castaño | 10:21 PM November 03, 2021
Former Tesda chief and Senator Joel Villanueva arrived in Bohol Wednesday to attend activities including the payout of Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Displaced/Disadvantaged Workers (Tupad) program and consultative meeting at Bohol Island State University (BISU).
At least 300 beneficiaries in Corella and Tagbilaran City of the said program received their wages after rendering 10 days of various services to the community.
In Corella town, Villanueva, who secured the funding for the program, led the payout ceremony where every worker received P4,200 each with Corella Mayor Hilario Tocmo.
He also attended the orientation and payout at Tagbilaran Saulog Gymnasium. He was accompanied by Bohol 1st district Rep. Edgar Chatto and Tagbilaran Mayor Baba Yap accompanied by his wife Jane.
Villanueva said many Filipinos have lost their jobs and livelihood this pandemic and he wanted to assist and help them provide for their families through this emergency employment program of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
He added that the distribution of salaries is part of the nearly P19-billion fund that has been downloaded to the province through the Tupad program.
Villanueva also attended the consultation meeting with BISU officials regarding the first public school of medicine in the province.
As a member of the governing board of regents, Villanueva discussed with BISU president Regucivilla Pobar and other officials about the bduget and projects and programs of the College of Medicine which will open in 2022.
Villanueva,the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Education, Culture and Arts, authored the “Doktor Para sa Bayan” (Republic Act 11509) which establishes one public school of medicine in every region.
Qualified applicants from municipalities without government physicians will be prioritized in the allocation of scholarship slots to ensure the assignment of at least one doctor for every municipality in the country.
Under the new law, the MSRS program will be made available to deserving Filipino students who want to pursue an MD degree.
Student financial assistance for the MSRS program will include free tuition and other fees; allowance for prescribed books, supplies, and equipment; clothing or uniform allowance; allowance for dormitory or boarding house accommodation; transportation allowance; internship fees, including financial assistance during the mandatory internship; medical board review fees; licensure fees; annual medical insurance; and other education-related miscellaneous subsistence or living allowances.
Villanueva said the BISU medical school is the second in Central Visayas.
Cebu Normal University will formaly launch its medical school on Thursday, Nov. 4.