Marcos on DOH, DFA chief picks: ‘Shortlist is getting shorter’

President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr, with incoming Budget Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno in the background. Image from BBM Media

MANILA, Philippines — President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has yet to announce his picks for some crucial agencies, such as the Department of Health (DOH) and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), but said Monday that he plans to complete his Cabinet before his inauguration on June 30.

Marcos said this as he announced that he will head—at least for now—the Department of Agriculture, filling out another slot in his Cabinet.

“The shortlist is getting shorter, let me put it that way. If we started with ten names, a dozen names, we are down to maybe three or two in each of those departments,” Marcos said when asked about his picks for other agencies such as the DOH and the DFA.

“We took it really department by department, and of course Health, not to say that the DOH is unimportant, but we’re coming around to that,” he added.

Marcos said that he seeks to name as many Cabinet members as he can before he takes oath on June 30 at the National Museum.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if we have an appointee or a nominee within the next week or so. I really want to get as many of those done before the inauguration,” Marcos said.

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