The Commission on Appointments (CA) has bypassed the ad interim appointment of Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Teodoro Javier “Ted” Herbosa due to lack of material time.

Health Secretary Teodoro Javier "Ted" Herbosa faces the Commission on Appointments' (CA) Committee meeting on the deliberation of his ad interim appointment as health chief Tuesday, September 26, 2023. (Senate PRIB Photo)

Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri, chairman of the powerful appointments body, confirmed this, but said Herbosa’s appointment “will be taken up again” when Congress resumes in November.

Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go, who presided the CA committee meeting, also affirmed that there was “lack of material time” for the panel to deliberate on Herbosa’s ad interim appointment.

Because of this, Herbosa has to be reappointed by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. since Congress will adjourn sessions on Sept. 30, 2023.

In an interview, Go declined to say that Herbosa’s appointment has been bypassed or deferred, saying they only suspended the hearing since the members of the panel, both from the House of Representatives and the Senate, have signified their intention to ask further questions.

“Yes (he should be reappointed), once he is reappointed, we can resume the proceedings, because we just suspended the hearing,” Go told reporters in a press briefing after the hearing.

“As chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, I support our secretary. But we have so many members who wish to ask him questions. But I also believe in his ability to lead the DOH,” he said.

Rep. Luis Raymund “LRay” Villafuerte echoed Go’s position, saying there is really lack of time to deliberate on Herbosa’s appointment.

“We have two session days left, today and tomorrow, so basically its really a lack of material time,” Villafuerte said.

“And we think he will be re-appointed,” he said. Congress will resume sessions in Nov. 6, 2023.

Both Go and Villafuerte said questions on Herbosa’s appointment centered mostly on policy questions and not about his qualifications as DOH chief, increasing the probability of him getting reappointed.

However, in a statement, the Alliance of Health Workers (AHW) called on the CA to reject Herbosa’s appointment, reiterating their position on the issue.

“With Herbosa in DOH for three months now as DOH appointed Secretary, we see no change. Health workers are still overworked and underpaid, the much needed and long delayed health emergency allowance is not yet provided. Health workers’ miserable situation remains,” Robert Mendoza, AHW national president, said.

The AHW scored Herbosa for not defending the extreme and huge 2024 budget cut in health, amounting to P13.9-billion.

The group cited the P10-billion budget cut that befell 69 DOH hospitals, the P1.7-billion cut in specialty hospitals and the P2-billion budget cut for the Philippine General Hospital (PGH).

AHW also raised questions on the P8-million cut from the Philippine National Aids Council, and the P148-million cut from the National Nutrition Council.

The group also cited a 2016 resolution by then-Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales that found Herbosa guilty of an administrative offense regarding the anomalies surrounding the 2012 hospital modernization program.

They recalled Herbosa was ordered dismissed from government service and perpetually disqualified from holding any public office.

“A DOH chief must have an excellent track record on good governance, accountability, integrity, with good standing as government official. We strongly reject a DOH chief who has records of being involved and found guilty in anomalous transactions and administrative offense in the government,” the group said.