Budget Secretary Wendel E. Avisado, who was recently hospitalized after contracting COVID-19, will take a 12-day medical leave, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) announced late Saturday, July 31.Budget Undersecretary Tina Rose Marie L. Canda will serve as Officer-in-Charge while Avisado remains on leave.
In a statement, the DBM said the 68-year-old budget chief will go on medical leave beginning August 2 to 13 "upon the advice of his doctor."
According to the DBM, Avisado had a bout with COVID-19 where he was hospitalized for eight days and quarantined for over a month.
Avisado will "undertake a series of examinations, as it has been 14 years since he’s been undergoing a quadruple open heart bypass," DBM said.
President Duterte appointed Avisado, a former Davao City administrator, as his budget secretary in August 2019.
"Rest assured that the DBM remains steadfast and committed to its mandate of promoting the efficient and effective management of the national budget to support its budget priorities, especially in the midst of the pandemic," the department said.
Last week, President Duterte ordered the DBM to find a source for the cash aid for residents who will be affected by the enhanced community quarantine that will be imposed over Metro Manila from August 6 to 20.