CA confirms Duque appointment as health secretary
Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III will have his hands full in the midst of the Dengvaxia controversy after the Commission on Appointments (CA) confirmed his appointment yesterday.
Senator Gregorio Honasan, chair of the CA Com-
mittee on Health, in recommending Duque’s confirmation before the CA plenary, said the returning secretary of health is “adequately equipped” to lead the DOH.
Malacañang welcomed the CA decision.
“We are confident that Secretary Duque would be able to deliver better health programs and services as the DOH once again aims to regain the trust of our people through integrity, professionalism and good governance,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement.
“Kampante po ang Malacañang na (Malacañang is confident that) with Secretary Duque at the helm of the DOH, lahat po ng ating mga problema, lalo na dito sa Dengvaxia, ay mabibigyan po ng tamang solusyon (all of our problems, including Dengvaxia will be addressed), he added.
Duque served as health secretary of the Arroyo administration from 2005 to 2010 and chairman of the Civil Service Commission from 2010 to 2015. He was appointed by President Duterte to the DOH after Sec. Paulyn Jean Ubial failed to get the nod of the CA last October.
Other members of the CA – Senators Joseph Victor Ejercito, Juan Miguel Zubiri, Ralph Recto, and Emmanuel Pacquiao also expressed their support for Duque’s confirmation.
Davao Oriental Representative Joel Mayo Almario said he expects Duque to address the lack of hospitals and medical equipment in local government units, especially in provinces.
Shot in the arm In an interview, Duque said, “It’s a big relief and hopefully this will be a boost to the entire Department. I dedicate and share the confirmation to everyone,” Duque said.
“We need something like this, like a shot in the arm. Nothing like Dengvaxia, of course,” he added.
The controversial dengue immunization program continued to hound Duque’s confirmation. In the two hearings on his appointment, Duque was repeatedly asked how the agency is addressing the issue, and what measures are being done to prevent a repeat of the incident.
At the resumption of the CA’s deliberation Wednesday, Duque even turned emotional when asked by Sen. Riza Hontiveros how he plans to “rebuild public trust” in the DOH, and “boost the morale” of his men amid the Dengvaxia issue.
“It’s a struggle – I’ll be the first to admit, your honor – to rebuild the morale of our ailing organization. But as doctors, we are prepared to deal with it,” he said.
“The mandate of the DOH is to provide the much-needed public health service, and linking this ultimately to public service satisfaction or endearment. It’s not just satisfaction that we’re after but it’s the endearment to the capacity of the DOH to provide quality health service.”
Duque told the CA he has not missed a flag raising ceremony every Monday “to ensure that I address the organization.”
“This is a challenge for all of us, it’s difficult, it’s a struggle, but we must realize that these difficulties also teach us lessons. Lessons that are so important so that next time this thing doesn’t happen again,” he told health employees.
Performance scheme
“I tell them during my time, our budget was a measly 110 (billion), 111 billion with much better immunization coverage. We enjoyed consistent public trust and satisfaction ratings... and I said what happened, now that we have so much budget?” he added.
“I think we need to recapture the glorious days of the DOH. And we hope that we’ll be able to motivate and inspire our people to...” Duque said, cutting his statement to control his tears.
He said they are working on putting in place a performance governance system in the DOH to address the shortcomings of the agency.
Duque reiterated the DOH is continuously monitoring the condition of children who were administered with Dengvaxia, particularly in the National Capital Region (NCR), and Regions 3, 4A, and 7.
They are also currently studying legal options against Sanofi Pasteur, the maker of Dengvaxia after it refused a full refund of the used vaccines amounting to 11.8 billion and create an indemnity fund for those who were given dengvaxia vaccine. (With a report from Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos)