Vergeire raises women leaders’ plight after ‘authoritarian ruler’ tag

An anonymous group of personnel from the Department of Health (DOH) accused officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire of being an “autocratic ruler,” prompting the official to cry foul of how women leaders are scrutinized more than their male counterparts.

At a press conference on Tuesday, Vergeire reacted to a letter addressed to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on February 17, wherein supposed officers and employees of the department claimed that she “ran the DOH like her fiefdom and treats everyone as if her own subject and must follow all her orders.” 

“She transfers offices, employees and functions without any consultation nor consent of those involved. You will only know the changes once it is published in the DOH Intranet showing the Department Order about the effected changes. She confined herself with her cabal of close followers who make decisions in secret and apportioning DOH juicy positions to their friends and relatives,” the letter read.

“Usec. Vergeire planned an ambitious restructuring of the entire DOH bureaucracy. She had planned it with her select Usecs, Asecs, Directors and Staff. It is shrouded in mystery that even the other Usecs, Asecs, and Directors and regular rank and file had no knowledge and inkling about it,” it added.

The sender thus said that Vergeire needs to be replaced immediately, raising fears that the Universal Health Care may be a failure with how Vergeire manages DOH and how her “cronies” may get the big projects of the agency.

While stressing that she would not allow an anonymous letter to distract her from doing her job, Vergeire countered this by explaining that adjustments and changes, including functional management restructuring, need to be made in fulfillment of the government’s agenda.

In light of the International Women’s Month, she raised concern on how women leaders carry a heavier burden compared to male leaders.

“Ang mga kababaihang namumuno ay kadalasang isinasailalim sa mas mahigpit na pagsusuri ng kanilang mga pinamumunuan kumpara sa kanilang mga male counterparts. If a woman is vocal and decisive, she risks being called aggressive and difficult, while men are lauded for their passion and fire in the belly,” Vergeire said.

(Women leaders are often subjected to more rigorous scrutiny by their subordinates compared to their male counterparts.)

“We, as women, have to perform balancing acts such as making sure that as leaders we are likable enough to be personable but not too likable lest we be seen as not competent enough for our jobs partikular lalo sa may mataas na katungkulan kung saan ang mga kababaihan ay sinusuri kung sila ba ay likeable o magaan makisama,” she added.

(This is particular in higher positions where women are evaluated to see if they are likeable or easy to get along with.)

Despite the issue, Vergeire said that there is no need for a loyalty check in the DOH, adding that she vouches for the integrity of her officials and trusts that they have confidence in her system management.

“Simple lang po ang aming hiling—nawa at sa tuwing tayo ay magaakusa ng kahigpitan sa pamamalakad, sinusuri natin kung ang kahigpitang ito ay tunay na hindi makatarungan o hindi lang ba ito makatarungan dahil babae ang namamalakad?” she said.

(Our request is simple—-every time you accuse us of strictness in our leadership, examine first whether the strictness is really unjust or is it just unjust because a woman is the one who is in charge?)

She also said that her office is always open for any suggestions and criticisms.

“Kung may mga suggestions po tayo o komento na sa palagay natin ay makakatulong sa pagbibigay serbisyo natin sa sambayanan, wag po kayong magaatubiling ilapit upang maisama natin sa ating pagpaplano,” she said.

(If you have suggestions or comments that you think will help us provide services to the public, please do not hesitate to bring them up to us so that we can include them in our planning.)

In January, Vergeire expressed readiness if and when she will be appointed as the next secretary of DOH.

Marcos previously said that he would only appoint a DOH secretary if the country's situation returns to normal in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis.—LDF, GMA Integrated News