Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 28) — The temporary head of the Department of Health (DOH) said Friday she does not see much difference in the duties of an officer-in-charge and a health secretary.
“I don’t find any difference or I do not see any difficulties in just being an OIC. Because the authority provided to me has led us to continue with all of our services and operations. No disruptions at all,” DOH officer-in-charge Ma. Rosario Vergeire said in a press briefing.
President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. appointed Vergeire as the agency’s OIC last July as he continues to look for his secretary while the pandemic goes on.
Although she does not have the capacity to appoint people as an OIC, Vergeire said that it is not needed at this time.
“Now I think what would just be the difference would be the appointing authority. Yung appointing authority, I don’t think that would be critical at this point for us. Because we still have our officials intact and all are working, and there is no disruption in services,” she said.
“Sa tingin ko, kung meron man kaming issues na kailangan i-clarify at kailangan namin additional authority, easily naman we can go to the Office of the President, like what I do,” Vergeire added.
[Translation: If there are any issues that we need to clarify and we need to have additional authority, we can easily go to the Office of the President like what I do.]
Vergeire earlier revealed that Marcos has not offered her the role of a DOH secretary despite the top post remaining vacant for almost four months since he started his administration. But she also admitted having reservations on being the department’s chief.
Vergeire has frequently faced the media and the public since COVID-19 was declared a pandemic in March 2020.
