Former Department of Health (DOH) officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire has been tapped as the chief of undersecretaries of the department’s operation.

In a television interview, Teodoro ‘Ted’ Herbosa said he gave Vergeire the position during their first meeting.

“She was the first person I talked to. I gave her the position of chief of all the undersecretaries that are in charge of our operations of different regions,” he said.

Vergeire will be heading the undersecretaries in charge in Northern Luzon, Central Luzon, Southern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

Presently, Enrique Tayag is the Undersecretary in North and Central Luzon, Undersecretary Nestor Santiago Jr. in National Capital Region (NCR), Undersecretary Camilo Cascolan in the Visayas, and Undersecretary Abdullah Dumama Jr. in Mindanao.

“She will be helping me. She will be helping me deliver the goals,” Herbosa said.

He noted that Vergeire’s previous role as the health department caretaker will continue.

In July 2022, President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. designated Vergeire as the officer-in-charge of DOH.

Herbosa was named as DOH Secretary last Monday, June 5.