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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Herbosa no-show in Senate DOH budget hearing

Herbosa no-show in Senate DOH budget hearing

Published Sep 28, 2023 08:37 am

Senators on Thursday, September 28 questioned the absence of Dr. Teodoro “Ted" Herbosa in the Senate Committee on Finance’s deliberations on the proposed 2024 budget of the Department of Health (DOH).

 

Ted Herbosa.jpg

DOH Secretary Teodoro Javier "Ted" Herbosa during the Commission on Appointments (CA) deliberation on his ad interim appointment on Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023. (Senate PRIB Photo)

 

This, after the Commission on Appointments (CA) bypassed Herbosa’s ad interim appointment by the Commission on Appointments (CA) last Tuesday, September 26 or during the last day of Congress’ session, before adjournment. 

 

Sen. Francis Tolentino lamented only undersecretaries, assistant secretaries and heads of the DOH’s attached agencies were present during the budget briefing.

 

The DOH, together with its attached agencies, is proposing a P311.3-billion budget for next year. Undersecretary Lilibeth David, together with other officials, presented the agency’s proposed budget.

 

Also present during the deliberations were Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire and Undersecretary Gloria Balboa. 

 

Sen. Pia Cayetano, head of the finance subcommittee panel deliberating on DOH’s budget, defended Herbosa’s absence in the hearing, saying it doesn’t mean that the agency is “headless.”

 

“Hindi naman. Hindi naman sila (No it’s not. They are not) headless, your honor. Actually, all of the senior members of the team approached me a while ago and acknowledged nga that of course, it’s a bit of an awkward situation,” Cayetano said.

 

“But as we all know, Usec. Dr. Ma. Rosario Vergeire was the OIC for many years and was very actively exercising her leadership, not just in the past year, but even during the time of Pres. Duterte,” she said vouching on Vergeire’s competence.

 

“And Dr. Usec. David is the most senior Undersecretary. So I am quite confident in the presentation today that they can answer,” she added.

 

Nevertheless, Cayetano said she has advised them to be candid with the panel if they are asked about a specific policy of the Secretary or incoming secretary that has yet to be confirmed.

 

“They should be candid and tell us if they know, they don’t know, or if it is an ongoing policy that they can further explain, then they should explain. So just be candid with us. That’s just my instruction to them,” she said.

 

Herbosa failed to get his ad interim appointment confirmed by the CA on Wednesday, September 27. But senators said they expect President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to re-appoint him eventually or before Congress resume sessions in November.

 

 

Related Tags

pia cayetano Ted Herbosa Francis Tolentino Senate budget hearing DOH
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