TACLOBAN CITY, June 19 -- The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has approved the applications of three state universities in Eastern Visayas to offer the first and second-year levels of their Doctor of Medicine programs beginning academic year 2026-2027.

The approved institutions are the Visayas State University (VSU) in Baybay City, Leyte; Eastern Samar State University (ESSU) in Borongan City; and the University of Eastern Philippines (UEP) in Catarman, Northern Samar.

Also granted authority to open Doctor of Medicine programs were Benguet State University and Cotabato State University-Cotabato Regional Medical Center School of Medicine.

"The move is in line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to expand medic...