Vergeire: I am now ready to be DOH secretary

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 30) — Department of Health officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said she is now ready to be appointed as the agency’s chief after six months of working on the ground showed her opportunities to carry out reforms in the healthcare system.

“Nung nakita ko yung oportunidad [When I saw the opportunity,] it convinced me to really take on the position because, as you all know, I have a lot of hesitancy because of my career executive position, the tenure of this position,” Vergeire said Tuesday in a DOH media forum.

“Pero sa tingin ko [But I think], with all these things happening, for us to really improve our healthcare system, this is the appropriate time to help the country,” she added.

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However, Vergeire clarified that her appointment will “go through a process” in which she will have a discussion with President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.

“If and when, that [appointment] would be his [Marcos] decision, pero hindi niya ako kailangan lapitan para i-appoint,” Vergeire said. “Ako po ang makikipag-usap sa kanya.”

[Translation: If and when, that would be his decision but he need not be the one to approach me. I will be the one who will talk to him].

Vergeire was appointed as DOH officer-in-charge on July 14, 2022 as Marcos searched for a head for the department.