Healthcare Groups Voice Concern Over DOH Officials Removal
MANILA, Philippines — Over 50 healthcare organizations have voiced serious alarm regarding the recent removal of Dr. Maria Rosario Singh-Vergeire and other seasoned career officials from the Department of Health (DOH). These groups urged President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to uphold the integrity of the civil service, emphasizing that the removal of long-serving officials, especially within the DOH, threatens institutional stability and public confidence.
“We are deeply concerned over her recent removal, along with other career DOH officials who have shown competence and dedication,” the coalition of 55 groups stated. The statement was spearheaded by the Philippine Medical Association, the largest body representing nearly 100,000 physicians nationwide.
They warned that such actions, combined with the appointment of officials lacking critical public health backgrounds, could destabilize the institution, demoralize health workers, and erode the trust built with the public over years.
New Appointment Raises Questions About DOH Leadership
On August 1, Malacañang confirmed Randy Escolango as the new DOH undersecretary, succeeding Vergeire. Escolango previously served as undersecretary in the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development. His career also includes roles in the Department of Labor and Employment, Insurance Commission, and Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority.
While respecting the president’s authority to appoint officials, the medical groups urged that meritocracy and civil service integrity must remain paramount. “Political changes must not compromise technical expertise or institutional memory, especially as the country continues to face pressing health challenges and recent disasters,” the groups emphasized.
They appealed to President Marcos Jr. to safeguard and reinforce professional, non-partisan health governance during this transition.
Unexplained Removal of a Trusted Health Leader
A letter dated July 14 from Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin informed Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa that Vergeire’s tenure had immediately ended. Neither the DOH nor Malacañang provided reasons for her removal.
Requests for comments from the Career Executive Service Board and Civil Service Commission went unanswered. Vergeire holds the rank of Career Executive Service Officer (CESO) II, which grants her job security. Separation is only allowed for just cause, after due process, resignation, or removal from the rolls.
Unlike Vergeire, two other career officials quietly left the DOH after reaching mandatory retirement age. Undersecretary Achilles Gerard Bravo and Dr. Kenneth Ronquillo, both CESO-ranked, retired in January and April but served in a holdover capacity until June.
Vergeire’s Tenure Not Near Retirement
Vergeire, who will turn 57 in November, still has eight years before reaching the retirement age of 65. She joined the DOH in 2007 following 11 years at the Marikina City Health Office.
The 55 health organizations expressed profound gratitude for Vergeire’s steady, science-based leadership, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Her calm and credible presence guided millions through uncertain times, and her consistent engagement with healthcare workers earned respect across sectors,” they noted.
They praised her openness to dialogue, commitment to evidence-based policies, and dedication to Universal Health Care goals. “She was not only the face of the pandemic response but also a model of integrity and good governance in public service,” the groups added.
Signatories of the Joint Statement
The statement was endorsed by a broad alliance of healthcare professional groups and medical societies, including the Philippine Medical Association, Philippine College of Physicians, Philippine Obstetrics and Gynecology Society, Philippine Heart Association, Philippine Psychiatric Association, Philippine Society of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines, and more.
These organizations collectively represent a wide spectrum of healthcare workers committed to advancing public health and maintaining institutional excellence.
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