Vergeire not offered DOH chief post, admits reservations

Department of Health officer-in-charge Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire during the press conference at the Department of Health central office on August 16, 2022. (File photo by NOY MORCOSO / INQUIRER.net)

MANILA, Philippines — Department of Health (DOH) officer-in-charge (OIC) Maria Rosario Vergeire on Thursday said that the post of health secretary was not offered to her by the administration although she also admitted having reservations about accepting such an appointment.

In an interview, the DOH career official explained why she was not too enthusiastic about taking the helm of the DOH.

READ: Give Vergeire her rightful place

“It was not offered. I was asked to be an OIC, and I was able to explain to them also my reservations, and he just said that just continue to do the work and we will discuss further,” she said on ANC when asked if President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had asked her to be the health secretary.

“I have been here for almost three decades already, and I am a career official. So kapag may term po kasi tayo, kapag ganyan (So if we have a term, such as the case of a DOH chief), it’s only six years. And by the time I finish the six years, I still have years left to serve. And I want to still serve until I retire,” Vergeire added.

Nevertheless, she said she is awaiting the President’s decision on the matter.

Last week, Marcos said he would only appoint a health secretary once the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines normalizes.

KGA