Despite having no health chief amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the Department of Health (DOH) assured on Monday, July 4 its staff and the public that all of the agency's services and activities are ongoing.
In a statement, DOH Undersecretary Lilibeth C. David said that this includes pandemic response efforts and other disease prevention and control as well as health promotion matters. DOH conducted its first flag ceremony on Monday under the administration of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr.
Senior officials and staff attended face to face at the open-air DOH central office gym, where David delivered a message on behalf of the Executive Committee.
“We eagerly await the announcement of the name of the new Secretary of Health. We look forward to working with our new Secretary on delivering services that promote the people’s health,” David said.
DOH stressed that it has been continuing pandemic response and other operations under the leadership of its senior career officials. Following Department Personnel Order (DPO) No. 2022-2357, David leads the Health Policy & Systems Development Team (HPSDT) and Health Facilities and Infrastructure Development Team (HFIDT), assisted by Assistant Secretary Kenneth G. Ronquillo.
On the other hand, DOH said that Usec. Abdullah B. Dumama leads the Field Implementation & Coordination Team (FICT) and Health Regulation Team (HRT), assisted by Assistant Secretary Charade B. Mercado-Grande and Assistant Secretary Roy B. Ferrer.
It added that Usec. Carolina Taino leads the Administration & Financial Management Team (AFMT) and Procurement & Supply Chain Management Team (PSCMT), assisted by Assistant Secretary Maylene M. Beltran and Assistant Secretary Romeo A. Ong.
Lastly, Usec. Maria Rosario Singh-Vergeire leads the Public Health Services Team (PHST) and the Office of the Chief of Staff (OCS), assisted by Assistant Secretary Nestor F. Santiago.
“The DOH continues to serve our people, delivering the best, and further developing programs and policies for a better and Healthy Pilipinas. Whoever becomes our new Secretary, our commitment to cater to the health needs of every Juan and Juana will be upheld,” David said.