Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire has been designated as the officer-in-charge of the Department of Health, Malacañang announced.
Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles confirmed the designation of Vergeire during a press briefing on Thursday, July 14.
"Doctor Rosario Vergeire has been designated OIC ng (of the) Department of Health (DOH). Siya po ay (She is) currently the Undersecretary for Public Health Services of the DOH," Angeles said.
The Health department is among the few key agencies of the government whose heads have not been appointed by the President.
Vergeire has been serving as the spokesperson of DOH since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic the country in 2020.
She has been among the Health officials regularly appearing on various press briefings and official meetings to deliver reports about the pandemic.
Vergeire first started working at the Marikina City Health Office in 1996 and stayed for 11 years.
She entered the DOH in 2007 as a medical officer in the Health Policy Development and Planning Bureau and was eventually appointed Director III in 2015.
She was also assigned as Officer-in-Charge Deputy Director General for Field Regulatory Operations in the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in November 2015 and stayed until 2016.
After her stint in the FDA, she transferred back to the DOH and held various positions.
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