By Katrina Gracia Consebido
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said on Thursday, Dec. 1, that he is happy and satisfied with the performance of the temporary heads of the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of National Defense (DND).
This was after he was asked by reporters on the sidelines of the Kadiwa ng Pasko caravan in Quezon City regarding the appointment of several agencies’ heads.
“Wala, we just go to the process. Wala pa kaming DOH. Wala pa kaming nino-nominate. USec. [Maria Rosario] Vergeire is dong a fine job. Kasi we are still not out of the pandemic. So we have to continue to be careful,” Marcos said.
“Sa DA (Department of Agriculture), sa DND, no, I think… Happy ako with the situation as it is now. We’ll see. These things are revisited, especially every year at the end of the first year,” he added.
“I don’t think that’s a secret to anyone that at the end of the first year, ‘ yung mga ibang kandidato, they will now join the mix of possible nominees,” he continued.
Former Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff Senior Undersecretary Jose Faustino is the current DND-OIC.
Meanwhile, Marcos said he has a timetable in DA and there are things he still wants to achieve before leaving the department.
There are, however, names being considered to head the DA. The President said he is hoping to make a nomination at the right time. -ag
