President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has designated Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire as officer-in-charge of the Department of Health (DOH).
This was announced by Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles in an interview on state-run PTV-4.
In a statement, Vergeire thanked Marcos and the nation for the chance to briefly oversee the DOH.
"Maraming salamat po sa ating Pangulo at sa bayan para sa pagkakataong ito na maglingkod," she said.
(I am deeply grateful to the President and the nation for giving me the chance to serve.)
She said that the DOH's top priorities are to step up the COVID-19 vaccination campaign, limit the spread of the coronavirus, and protect the welfare of health workers.
"Patuloy po tayong makikipag-ugnayan sa iba't ibang sector," she said. "Wala pong maiiwan, lahat tayo magkakasama patungo sa universal health care."
(We'll keep working together with the different sectors. As we strive to attain universal health care, no one should be left behind.)
At a press conference in Malacañang, Angeles said Vergeire's term as OIC may be extended if the administration has not chosen a DOH Secretary by the end of the month, in accordance with Memorandum Circular No. 1.
"Tama po kayo na ang MC 1 nagtatalaga lang po ng OIC hanggang sa katapusan ng buwan. Ini-expect po natin na kung wala pang natatalagang pinuno ang DOH before that time ay ie-extend ang pagka-OIC. But titingnan po natin ang mangyayari during that time," she said.
