Vergeire says DOH sect post not offered to her
By Nidz Godino
"Honestly, it was not offered… I was asked to be an OIC… I was able to explain to them also my reservations and he just said, 'You just continue to do the work and we will discuss further,'" Department of Health (DOH) officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos did not offer her post of Health secretary and she has reservations about it.
Vergeire, a career official and with DOH for almost 30 years, wanted to continue serving public even after administration's six-year term or until she retires.
"Kapag may term po kasi tayo it's only six years and by the time I finish the six years, I still have years left to serve… I want to still serve until I retire," she said.
A Cabinet secretary is coterminous with the appointing authority.
In a separate radio interview, Vergeire asked public to just wait for announcement of the President on the next DOH chief.
"We just wait for decision of the President…tuloy-tuloy pa rin naman ang trabaho whether we get the secretary post or not," she said in the same radio interview.
Vergeire backed appointment of former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Camilo Cascolan as undersecretary of the agency, saying that he is "very qualified" based on his credentials.
"Ang sa atin na lang po, paano ba mas makatutulong ang mga taong naa-appoint at pinapasok sa kagawaran natin…so let's see…hindi pa natin nakikita, hindi pa natin nasusubukan…makikita ho natin 'yan," she answered when asked for reaction regarding the clamor that those appointed in DOH should have background in medicine or public health.
"I think he is very qualified naman doon sa kanyang mga credentials na nakalagay diyan…meron naman tayong mga trabaho dito na kailangan din natin talaga ng for operations," she stressed.
Vergeire said applications of those vying for high level positions in the government are transmitted to the Office of the President, and the President would then have prerogative whether or not they will be appointed.
"Lahat naman po ay bibigyan natin din syempre ng opportunity at binigyan sila ng ganitong appointment ng ating Presidente…we will be assigning him kung saan ang proper naman dito para makatulong din siya sa Kagawaran ng Kalusugan," she said.
Cascolan's appointment has been met with criticisms, with Alliance of Health Workers (AHW) and ACT Teacher's party-list Representative France Castro saying it was an "insult to" and a "slap in the face of" experts who are more qualified for the position.
The retired police general defended himself, saying his expertise on emergency response, network, and experience will "play great role in bringing health closer to the people."
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said Cascolan will have administrative functions at DOH, and will not look at health issues.
Vergeire said Cascolan's assignment in DOH will be announced in the coming days, after they determine which role suits him most based on his credentials.
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