Deputy Majority Leader and Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin on Thursday slammed the appointment of former Special Adviser to the National Task Force against COVID-19 Dr. Tony Leachon, saying that he is not an expert on public health.
Garin questioned Leachon’s expertise on public health following his appointment as special adviser for non-communicable diseases of the Department of Health (DOH).
During the budget deliberations on Wednesday, it was revealed that Leachon does not have a masteral or doctorate degree in Public Health to be considered an expert in the field.
Furthermore, Garin cited a statement of Presidential Adviser on Peace Carlito Galvez Jr. who claimed that the data released on vaccines were “skewed” and “malicious.”
“Do you think its fair for the Department of Health to (to give) P100,000 to a person whose statements were always skewed and malicious?…I’m saying this because as a Secretary of Health, you have allies and colleagues with you whose tasks and functions will be affected,” Garin told Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa.
“You can hire him as your personal consultant, but you cannot give him the platform of the Department of Health because that is a lot different,” Garin added.
Instead of giving compensation to a non-expert, Garin said the money should be allotted to the MAIP (Medical Assistance for Indigents Program) workers.
The DOH has proposed a budget of P204.6 billion for 2024.