As some agencies still await full-time secretaries, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said he is continuously revisiting the process, particularly at the end of the year when defeated candidates in the May 2022 elections may join the selection pool for the said vacant positions.
"We always -- these things are revisited, especially every year, at the end of the first year," he told reporters in Quezon City on Thursday, Dec. 1.
"I don't think that's a secret to anyone. At the end of the first year, 'yung mga ibang kandidato (the other candidates), they will now join the mix of possible nominees. So let's be patient," he added.
The President has not appointed secretaries for the Department of Health (DOH) and Department of National Defense (DND) while he serves as acting secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA).
Despite this, Marcos said he was satisfied with the work of Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire and Undersecretary Jose Faustino Jr. as officers-in-charge (OICs) of the DOH and the DND, respectively.
"Wala pa kaming DOH. Wala pa kaming inino-nominate (We haven't nominated anyone for the DOH yet). Usec. Vergeire is doing a fine job. Let her do — kasi (it's because) we are still not out of the pandemic, so we have to continue to be careful," he said.
"Sa DND, no, I think-- I'm happy with the situation as it is now. We'll see," he added.
The President said what mattered to him was the OICs were able to get the job done.
"Basta ako, ang concern ko lang, 'yung kailangang gawin na trabaho, nagagawa. So far, naman nagagawa (For me, my only concern is they are able to do the job that needs to be done. So far, they're doing it)," he said.