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New Health Usec Vega does not see self replacing Duque
By LLANESCA T. PANTI, GMA News Newly-appointed Health Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega said Monday he does not see himself replacing Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and instead vowed coordinated government response amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Vega, who previously served as chief of the Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City, hometown of President Rodrigo Duterte, was appointed last week after the chief executive expressed disappointment over the delay in the release of monetary compensation for healthcare workers who were infected with or died due to COVID-19.
“From my perception, [I am here because] I would help them out in making sure that services and commitments are committed, and that I had to make some coordination with the different agencies of the national government,” Vega said during a Palace briefing.
“I am very humbled and honored. I am taking the challenge in this new field of work. It is a different field, but I am willing to learn and collaborate. I am preparing for a job as Undersecretary; I cannot fathom being the [Health] Secretary at this time,” he added.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, for his part, said that Vega was hired for his dependability.
“What I can say is that President was very unhappy with the said delay, at kailangan ng maaasahan na tao sa DOH and that is Undersecretary Vega,” Roque said.
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Duque has initially blamed his subordinates for the delayed release of benefits for health workers who fell ill due to COVID-19 before taking responsibility.
Before that, the Health secretary said the country is already on second wave of COVID-19 cases. He later apologized and took back such pronouncement back.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said two days ago that the heirs of 29 medical frontliners who died while battling COVID-19 have already received their P1-million benefit checks and the P100,000 compensation to public and private health workers who contracted COVID-19 while in the line of duty is also being prepared.
It is Vergeire who usually faces the media to answer queries and provide updates on COVID-19 situation in the Philippines in her capacity as spokesperson for DOH for more than two months and counting.
The Philippines has recorded 21,895 COVID-19 cases so far. Of this number, 4,530 recovered while 1,003 died.—AOL, GMA News