New NVOC head named; Vergeire to remain DOH OIC, spox

Department of Health officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire on Wednesday said that a new person has been appointed to lead the National Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC), a position she previously held.

At a DOH briefing, Vergeire said that Health Assistant Secretary Dr. Nestor Santiago is now the incident manager of NVOC, but he is still tasked to directly report to her.

“He is part of our field and implementation coordination team. Kasama po natin siya. He is part of our executive committee officials. He is very much capable at saka eksperto po siya sa operations (and an expert in operations),” she said.

“I will still oversee the operations at saka kung anumang mga targets ang kailangan pa natin (and any targets that we need) for policy directions and decision making,” she added.

Former Health Secretary Francisco Duque III previously appointed Vergeire as NVOC head, replacing former chairperson Myrna Cabotaje on June 30.

Vergeire also said the Office of the President has asked her to keep her post as the DOH spokesperson while serving as its OIC.

Due to the amount of workload, Vergeire said she designated Health Promotion Bureau Director Dr. Beverly Lorraine Ho as assistant spokesperson of the DOH.

“Kapag hindi ako available (if I’m not available), she will do the task for us so we can continuously inform the public,” she said.

Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles earlier said Vergeire's term as OIC may be extended if the administration has not chosen a DOH chief by the end of the month, in accordance with Memorandum Circular No. 1. — RSJ, GMA News