Commission affirms Duque reappointment as DOH chief

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Appointments on Wednesday upheld the reappointment of Francis Duque III as chief of the Department of Health.

During the confirmation, the members of the commission praised Duque’s past and present service despite the Dengvaxia controversy.

They said his qualification and competence was beyond question.

"The past service of Secretary Duque has been exceptional. Francisco Duque III came back to DOH in an uncomfortable and not so pleasant period in time,” Sen. JV Ejercito, chair of the Senate committee on health, said.

“He 'rearrived' in the time of Dengvaxia but rather than be infected by paranoia, panic and hysteria, he has shown wisdom ad grace under pressure — a true mark of a great leader,” he added.

Duque was reappointed by President Rodrigo Duterte to the DOH last October to replace Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial, whose ad interim appointment was rejected by the CA.

He served as Health secretary from 2005 to 2009 during the presidency of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

In February 2017, Duque was elected chairman of the Government Service Insurance System by its board of trustees.

Duterte initially appointed Duque as a member of the GSIS on February 15 but he was nominated by the Governance Commission for Government-owned and Controlled Corporations as chair.

The DOH chief was previously cited by the World Health Organization for helping make the Philippines “one of the only three countries with an excellent risk communication strategies against AH1N1.”

He was also chair of the Civil Service Commission from 2010 to 2015.