ILOILO CITY — The University of San Agustin (USA) again achieved a 100-percent passing rate for this year’s Medical Technologist (MedTech) board examination, with two of its examinees landing among the Top 10.
This is the second year that USA joined other schools across the country to rank first in the MedTech board test, said Jose Perez Jr., academic supervisor of USA’s Medical Laboratory Science Program, in an interview on Thursday.
The two USA graduates, who made it to the Top 10, are Eldy Villanoy Barrientos (third with a 91.70 percent rating) and Justin Albert Gamboa Escamilla (ninth with 89.80 percent rating).
All its 141 examinees passed the board exam, a repeat of its performance last year, when all its 175 examinees also hurdled the test given by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).
The PRC test results were released on September 26.
“It is not only an honor to the university but actually to Iloilo and even the region (Western Visayas) because this only proves that our system is on par with the system the NCR (National Capital Region) has,” Perez added. “There is no need to go to Manila because we have here USA that could compete and even do better.”
He said they always ensure that all their graduates are prepared to pass the exam even before they finish schooling.
“After their internship, they have their comprehensive exam and a pre-board. Once they pass these two, they are now eligible for graduation and they can take the board exam,” he said.
Meanwhile, Barrientos, in a phone interview, expressed gladness for his achievement.
“This really surprised me because I did not expect this. When I found out that I ranked third, I even cried,” he said.
Barrientos, of Mambusao, Capiz, is the only child of a single mom who works as a clerk in a private firm in Manila.
“I did not expect this but heading to the board exam, I prayed to be included in the Top 10,” he said.
Escamilla, the elder of two siblings, is a native of Iligan City in Mindanao but moved to the city to study. His parents are both entrepreneurs. (Cindy Ferrer/PNA)
