The Department of Health (DOH) announced on Monday, April 8 the retirement of Undersecretary Enrique "Eric" Tayag after 35 years of dedicated public service as a highly esteemed official of the DOH.
During the flag ceremony held on Monday, the Executive Committee and the entire staff of the Department extended their appreciation to Tayag for his invaluable contributions.
The DOH also expressed gratitude for Tayag's commitment to advancing the nation's health landscape.
"On behalf of the entire Department and the health sector, I thank Usec. Eric Tayag for his time and talent all these decades in the service of the Philippine health sector. I am witness to his well-deserved progression from a young infectious disease doctor and epidemiologist, to health Undersecretary, Chief Information Officer, and DOH Spokesperson," said Secretary Teodoro Herbosa.
As Tayag steps down, the DOH revealed that on April 15, Assistant Secretary Ariel I. Valencia is set to assume the responsibilities of heading the DOH Public Health Services Cluster (PHSC), overseeing vital aspects of epidemiology, disease prevention, and health promotion.
Additionally, Undersecretary Emmie Liza Perez-Chiong will succeed Tayag as the new Chief Information Officer (CIO), spearheading initiatives in digital health and health information systems.
Officer-in-Charge Assistant Secretary Albert Francis Domingo will take on the mantle of Department Spokesperson.
Herbosa conveyed his confidence in Tayag's commitment to service, stating, "Maaasahan talaga si Usec. Eric! Maraming salamat sa serbisyo. We know that your heart and passion for service will continue (Usec. Eric can be relied upon! Thank you very much for your service. We know that your heart and passion for service will continue)."