Vetting for next DOH secretary still ongoing — Palace
PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. has designated Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Singh-Vergeire as officer-in-charge of the Department of Health (DOH), pending the appointment of a permanent head of the department, Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said yesterday.
She also announced the nomination of Melquiades “Mel” Robles as general manager of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).
Angeles said while Memorandum Circular No. 1 issued on June 30 states that OICs of offices will hold their posts only until July 31, Vergeire’s term could be extended if needed, or until Marcos has named a health secretary.
She also said Vergeire was not named the permanent secretary because vetting for the next heath chief is still ongoing. She could not, however, say who or how many are the nominees for the post.
The selection of the next DOH chief has long been awaited because of the two-year-old COVID-19 pandemic and amid rising cases.
Vergeire has been serving as DOH undersecretary for the Public Health Services Team and for the Office of the Chief of Staff.
She has also been serving as the official spokesperson of the DOH since 2020, and was designated head of the National Vaccination Operations Center last month for the transition from the Duterte administration to the Marcos government.
She was first appointed as assistant secretary of the DOH in July 2015.
She started her career at the DOH in 2007 and held several positions including head of the department’s Health Research Division and assistant secretary for public health service until her appointment as undersecretary in 2020.
Vergeire is the sister of Supreme Court associate justice Maria Filomena Sumandan Singh.
The DOH welcomed her appointment.
“The DOH appreciates the President’s confidence in one of its career executives, including the immense responsibility such trust brings,” it said in a statement.
Robles is a former administrator of the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA).
Angeles said Robles has been credited as “having been the only administrator to have made that agency (LRTA) profitable.”
She said Robles is also a former board member of the Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation and currently a businessman engaged in real estate.
Robles joins Junie Cunia at the PCSO who took his oath as chairman last July 5.
ENERGY DEP’T
The Department of Justice yesterday said there is no legal impediment to Raphael “Popo” Lotilla taking the Department of Energy secretary post because an “independent director” is not an officer of an energy company barred by the law from becoming DOE secretary within two years.
Lotilla’s designation was announced by Angeles last Monday. But Angeles later clarified the designation was “a nomination, pending clarification of his employment status,” noting Lotilla is still independent director of Aboitiz Power and of Exenor.
She said Republic Act 7638 or the Act Creating the Department of Energy, states that “no officer, external auditor, accountant, or legal counsel of any private company or enterprise primarily engaged in the energy industry shall be eligible for appointment as secretary within two years from his retirement, resignation, or separation therefrom.”
The DOJ, in an official opinion, said the appointment of Lotilla is valid and lawful as it stressed that the “novel concept” of an independent director was not contemplated by RA 7638.
“In accordance with subsequent laws, namely, the Revised Corporation Code, Securities Regulation Code, and the Code of Corporate Governance, an independent director is not an officer based on the nature, duties, functions and responsibilities vis-a-vis the corporation he serves.It is sui generis in character,” the DOJ said.
The DOJ added the articles and by-laws of Aboitiz Power Corporation and Ace Exenor adopt the concept of “independent director.”
“The position of the department is that the appointment should be valid given that an independent director does not fall within those prohibited by the Department of Energy Act of 1992,” it added.
The DOJ further explained that as an independent director, Lotilla does not fall within the proscription under Section 8 of RA 7638 against an officer, external auditor, accountant or legal counsel of any private company or enterprise primarily engaged in the energy industry.
Lotilla first served as DOE secretary from 2005 to 2007 under then president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. — With Gerard Naval and Ashzel Hachero
