Cascolan to supervise DOH operations in the Visayas

Former Philippine National Police chief and now Health Undersecretary Camilo Cascolan said Thursday that he will oversee the operations of the Department of Health (DOH) in the Visayas regions.

Cascolan said his role in DOH is “purely operational,” as he has been tasked to lead the field implementation and coordinating team.

This oversight unit will ensure that DOH policies and programs on the regional and local levels are being implemented, and the operation of the hospitals and other health facilities in the Western Visayas, Central Visayas, and Eastern Visayas are well.

He also said his expertise on logistics and handling people, and his professional experience in the field for over 38 years would be of asset to DOH.

“One of the plans that I have done for PNP is to boost their morale and welfare. And that’s how we may able to change a lot of people…because it’s true [that with] high morale and their good welfare that a lot of people would be performing well,” Cascolan said in an ANC interview.

“I think I would be of help to DOH considering that I had that managerial initiative to at least implement these things most especially in the field,” he added. 

Asked why he was assigned to supervise the Visayas regions only, he said, “DOH is new to me. First of all, I need to be more knowledgeable of what we’re doing.”

Cascolan took his oath as Health Undersecretary before DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire on Monday.

His appointment was met with criticisms, with the Alliance of Health Workers (AHW) and ACT Teacher's party-list Representative France Castro saying it was an “insult to” and a “slap in the face [of]” experts who are more qualified for the position.

In response to his critics, Cascolan said he should be given a chance and he will “get out” if he would not be able to do his mandate in the Health Department.

“Just observe me. If I’m not good, if I don’t do well, I’ll be the first to get out. Everybody needs to be given a chance,” he said. — Giselle Ombay/RSJ, GMA Integrated News