The Department of Health (DOH) expressed its support to Emmanuel Rufino Ledesma Jr., who was appointed by the Marcos administration as the acting president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).

“We welcome the appointment of Emmanuel Rufino Ledesma Jr. as the acting president and CEO of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation,” said DOH Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire on Friday, Nov. 25.

Vergeire also defended the decision of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s decision to tap Rufino for PhilHealth.

“It is the prerogative of the President who he appoints. Based on the qualifications, tiningnan naman natin yung kanyang (we checked his) credentials, somehow he has the qualifications and experience on management and governance,” she said.

“PhilHealth is just like any other agency though you just need to have technical know-how, especially finance scheme, actuary, on insurance system but part of the work will also be managerial because you are going to oversee and guide the entire organization on the delivery of the objectives of your mandate,” she added.

Vergeire assured that the DOH and the PhilHealth board will help Ledesma.

“We will guide and work together with Mr. Ledesma with this position that he has been given and there are lots of excellent officials in the government who are very well supportive. And of course, the board of PhilHealth is there wherein the chair is SOH (Secretary of Health),” she said.

To note, Ledesma was the former president and CEO of the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation.

Tayag

In a related development, DOH Undersecretary Dr. Eric Tayag will be overseeing the operations of the state health agency in Northern Luzon areas.

Tayag took his oath of office last week, said Vergeire.

“He assumed his position already. He was assigned to our Field Implementation Coordination Team and he is in charge of our Northern Luzon area,” she said.

Vergeire noted that the Northern Luzon area comprises of Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, and Central Luzon.

“He is in charge of overseeing the operations of our hospitals, our treatment and rehab centers, and our regional offices and of course, coordination with LGUs through our regional office there,” she said.

To recall, the DOH confirmed Tayag’s appointment last Nov. 15. Prior to his appointment as undersecretary, Tayag held the position of Director IV of the DOH’s Knowledge Management and Information Technology Service.