President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has designated Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire as the officer-in-charge of the Department of Health while he still looks for his secretary.
In a media briefing on Thursday, Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said that Vergeire, who leads the DOH’s Public Health Services Team, would serve as OIC until the end of the month but can be extended if Marcos still cannot pick his next Health secretary by July 31.
Vergeire, who served as head of the National Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC), has been facing the media and the public since the COVID-19 pandemic was declared in March 2020.
DOH thanked Marcos for temporarily entrusting the department under Vergeire's supervision.
"Usec. Vergeire is the current Undersecretary for the Public Health Services Team and Office of the Chief of Staff. DOH appreciates the President’s confidence in one of its career executives, including the immense responsibility such trust brings," the department said in a statement.
