For aspiring doctors, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) offers the Medical Scholarship and Return Service (MSRS) Program. On the other hand, for those who want to be medical technologists or pharmacists, there’s the Medical Technologists and Pharmacists Scholarship Program (MTP-SP).
The MTP-SP program aims to strengthen the healthcare workforce in the Philippines by providing financial assistance to qualified students who are pursuing degrees in Medical Technology and Pharmacy. In particular, the program supports students from underserved areas, and those who are committed to serving the country’s public health sector after graduation.
Program Benefits
Every academic year, the MTP-SP program provides financial assistance to qualified scholars: PHP 80,000 for tuition and other school fees; PHP 10,000 for book allowance and other learning materials; and PHP 120,000 as stipend for clothing, transportation, field trips, small projects, etc. Per semester, these amounts correspond to PHP 40,000 (tuition), PHP 5,000 (book allowance), and PHP 60,000 (stipend), respectively.
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Eligibility
To qualify for the program, an applicant must:
- Be a Filipino citizen residing in the Philippines;
- Be a senior high school graduate from the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) strand; or a student in the higher year levels of Medical Technology/Medical Laboratory Science or Pharmacy programs with a general weighted average (GWA) of 80% or higher;
- Have passed the entrance exam and complied with other requirements for admission into a bachelor degree of Medical Technology/Medical Laboratory Science or Pharmacy in the identified participating State University or College (SUC) or Private Higher Education Institution (PHEI) where the student plans to enroll (for incoming students);
- Have complied with the academic requirements in the latest term/semester without any failed subjects preceding their scholarship application (for continuing students); and
- Have parents/guardians whose combined annual gross income does not exceed PHP 400,000.
Requirements
When applying for the program, the following documents must be prepared:
- Photocopy of Birth Certificate issued by the Local Civil Registrar or the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA);
- Certified true copy of Form 138 (for incoming first-year students), or certified true copy of grades for the latest term/semester attended (for continuing students); and
- Any of the following documents as proof of income: (a) Certificate of Low Income or Indigency from Barangay; (b) Certificate of Tax Exemption/Non-Filer from Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR); (c) Case Study Report from City/Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (C/MSWDO); (d) Latest Income Tax Return (ITR) of parents or guardian; or (e) Latest copy of contract or proof of income for children of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and seafarers.
How to Sign Up
On the part of the applicant, the process involves these steps:
- Preparation of documentary requirements;
- Filling out Scholarship Application Form (Annex A);
- Filling out Scholar’s Commitment to Render Service Obligation (Annex B); and
- Submission of requirements to the participating SUC or PHEI.
Based on all submitted applications, the CHED Regional Office will come up with a list of qualified scholars. For inquiries, interested applicants can contact their respective CHED Regional Office.
Participating Schools Per Region
The MTP-SP program is implemented by the following schools:
BS Medical Technology/Medical Laboratory Science
- Region II – Cagayan State University
- Region IV – Adventist University of the Philippines, Our Lady of Fatima University – Antipolo
- Region VI – University of San Agustin
- Region VII – Southwestern University PHINMA
- Region X – Liceo de Cagayan University
- Region XI – San Pedro College, University of Immaculate Concepcion
- NCR – Far Eastern University – Dr. Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation
BS Pharmacy
- Region I – Mariano Marcos State University, Urdaneta City University
- Region II – Saint Paul University Philippines
- Region IV – Sacred Heart College of Lucena, University of Perpetual Help System – Laguna, and Our Lady of Fatima University – Antipolo
- Region VI – University of San Agustin
- Region VII – Southwestern University PHINMA
- Region X – Liceo de Cagayan University
- Region XI – San Pedro College, University of Immaculate Concepcion
- NCR – Far Eastern University – Dr. Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation
Ultimately, by investing in the education of future medical technologists and pharmacists, the MTP-SP program contributes to improving the quality of healthcare services in the Philippines.
Notably, another health-related program of CHED is the Cash Grant to Medical Students in State Universities and Colleges (CGMS-SUCs). Visit this link to know more about this program.