Even with no health secretary yet as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is still deciding on who to appoint to lead the department, the Department of Health (DOH) assured the public that its senior career officials are on top of the pandemic response and other operations.
Health Undersecretary Lilibeth David said that all services and activities of the health department, which includes Covid-19 pandemic response efforts, other disease prevention and control, and health promotion matters are still ongoing. She also said that “everything is status quo until new directives from our new president come in.”
David added that the health department is “eagerly” awaiting Marcos’s announcement of the new health chief.
“We look forward to working with our new secretary on delivering services that promote the people’s health,” she was quoted during the agency’s first flag ceremony under the Marcos administration.
The following officials will lead the teams in the DOH:
- Undersecretary David leads the Health Policy and Systems Development Team, and Health Facilities and Infrastructure Development Team, assisted by Assistant Secretary Kenneth Ronquillo
- Undersecretary Abdulla Dumama heads the Field Implementation and Coordination Team, and Health Regulation Team, assisted by Assistant Secretary Charade Mercado-Grande and Assistant Secretary Roy Ferrer
- Undersecretary Carolina Taino leads the Administration and Financial Management Team, and Procurement and Supply Chain Management Team, assisted by Assistant Secretary Maylene Beltran and Assistant Secretary Romeo Ong
- Undersecretary Maria Rosario Singh-Vergeire heads the Public Health Services Team and the Office of the Chief of Staff, assisted by Assistant Secretary Nestor Santiago
— Ronald Espartinez