Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire on Thursday said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. did not offer her the agency’s top post, which has remained vacant for almost four months now.
“No, honestly. It was not offered. I was asked to be an OIC (officer-in-charge),” Vergeire told ANC’s program “Headstart.”
Vergeire also admitted having reservations about taking the top post.
“I was able to explain to them also my reservations and he (Mr. Marcos) just said, just continue to do the work and then we will discuss further,” she said.
Meanwhile, in a radio interview, Vergeire said she supported the appointment of former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Camilo Cascolan as undersecretary of the agency, saying he is “very qualified” for the job based on his credentials.
Cascolan’s appointment has been met with criticism, with the Alliance of Health Workers (AHW) and ACT Teacher’s party-list Rep. France Castro saying it was an insult to experts who are more qualified for the position.
Vergeire is a career official who has been with the agency for nearly three decades.
She noted that a DOH chief could only serve for up to six years.
“By the time I finish the six years, I’d still have years left to serve, and I want to still serve, of course, until I retire,” she said.
“But as I always say, if I am here for service, we set aside reasons like this… We will see the decision of our President in the coming months or days,” she said.
Vergeire said as officer-in-charge, her banner program, aside from managing the pandemic, is providing primary health care to marginalized sectors.
Iloilo First District Rep. and former Health Secretary Janette Garin recently said many doctors have been offered the position of DOH chief but have declined.
The reasons they cited included not wanting to give up their practice and the fear of possibly facing legal cases due to the procurement process in the agency, she said.
Mr. Marcos said last week that he would name a Health secretary once the country’s COVID-19 situation normalizes.
Cascolan has defended himself, saying his expertise in emergency response would play a role in “bringing health closer to the people.”
The President on Wednesday said the former police chief will have administrative functions at DOH and will not look at health issues.
Vergeire said Cascolan’s assignment in the DOH will be announced in the coming days, after they determine which role suits him most based on his credentials.