What will be the role of Health Usec. Leopoldo Vega?
President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed Leopoldo Vega as the new Health Undersecretary and this made questions about his role arise.
One of the departments in the government that has been working round the clock amid the health crisis in the Philippines is the Department of Health. However, the DOH has been receiving criticisms from Filipinos regarding its response on the COVID-19 pandemic.
This is aside from the fact that many people are also criticizing DOH chief Francisco Duque III due to his “failures”. With this, call for his resignation has also become of a chant of his critics.
However, based on the previous report, Duque stressed that he is working under the pleasure of the President as his response to those urging him to step down.
As Health Usec. Leopoldo Vega is officially part of the department, his role is being asked. Based on the report from GMA News Online, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that Vega’s role is yet to be determined.
The latter, previously the chief of the Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City, one of the country’s first referral centers for COVID-19, was appointed last week.
“Hindi pa namin talaga alam, hindi pa rin talaga clear, kasi hindi pa kami nakakausap regarding this matter,” she said during a press briefing on Tuesday.
Vergeire added, “Wala pa rin iyong order…kasi usually pag may inilalagay na personnel sa department, may inilalabas na department order, at wala pang lumalabas na ganito.”
Based on the report, Vega anticipated that he will working on making sure the the DOH’s services and commitments will be delivered. He also said that he do not see himself as a replacement of Secretary Duque.
What can you say about this?
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