Health, defense OICs doing OK – Marcos

MANILA, Philippines — The officer-in-charge for the health department is “doing a fine job,” according to President Marcos who also said he is “happy with the situation” in the defense department which is also headed by an OIC.

The President voiced his sentiments yesterday in an interview with reporters where he also noted that appointments are usually “revisited” after the first year of a new administration.

Five months into the presidency, Marcos has yet to appoint secretaries for some line agencies, including the Department of Health (DOH), Department of National Defense (DND) and Department of Agriculture (DA).

Marcos serves as the concurrent agriculture secretary while Undersecretaries Jose Faustino Jr. and Maria Rosario Vergeire were named OICs of the DND and DOH, respectively.

“We just go (through) the process. We do not have a DOH (secretary). We have yet to nominate one. Usec. Vergeire is doing a fine job. Let her do (her work) because we are still not out of the pandemic, so we have to continue to be careful,” the President said.

With regard to Faustino, Marcos said he is “happy with the situation as it is now.” He did not elaborate.

“I don’t think that’s any – that’s a secret to anyone that at the end of the first year, other candidates, they will now join the mix of possible nominees,” Marcos said.

“So let’s be patient...  Ako, ang concern ko lang ‘yung kailangang gawin na trabaho, nagagawa. So far naman, nagagawa (My only concern is what needs to be done is done. So far, it is being done),” he added.

Last Tuesday, Marcos said he wants to accomplish some goals before appointing a DA secretary.

The 1987 Constitution prohibits the appointment of a losing candidate to any office in the government or any state-run or controlled corporations within one year after the election.