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DOH says no disruption of services as PBBM yet to pick new health chief

Philippines | National

DOH says no disruption of services as PBBM yet to pick new health chief

By Analou de Vera

DOH

The Department of Health (DOH) assured the public that there is no disruption in its services despite having no appointed health chief yet.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has yet to name the country’s health chief after he assumed the presidency three months ago.

Last July, Marcos appointed DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire as the agency’s officer in charge (OIC) pending the appointment of the DOH secretary.

“In spite of the OIC position or the OIC secretary right now, there are no disruption of services,” said Vergeire in a press briefing on Tuesday, Sept 27.

“Tuloy tuloy po pati yung accountabilities and authorities ng ibat-ibang opisyales ng Department of Health (The accountabilities and authorities of the various officials of the Department of Health still continue),” she added.

Vergeire said that the DOH has new sets of undersecretaries that were “approved and issued by the Office of the President.”

“We have Usec. Nestor Santiago from assistant secretary naging undersecretary siya ( now designated as undersecretary). Then, Usec. Kenneth Ronquillo—from assistant secretary also promoted to undersecretary,” said Vergeire.

Vergeire said they also have directors in other DOH offices, particularly in the agency’s regional offices.

“ hospitals also, we have complete medical center chiefs. Wala po tayong dapat ipag-alala (we have nothing to worry about),” she added.

Related Tags

Department of Health (DOH) Maria Rosario Vergeire

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