FOR CONFIRMATION. Health Secretary Teodoro J. Herbosa (inset) answers questions from members of the Commission on Appointment led by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and Senator Christopher Lawrence Go (both seated, top photo), chair  of the Committee on Health and Demography during the deliberation of Herbosa’s ad interim appointment on Tuesday (Sept. 26, 2023). The deliberation will continue when Congress resumes session in November. (PNA photo by Avito Dalan) 

MANILA – A senator on Wednesday expressed confidence that the ad interim appointment of Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa will be confirmed by the Commission on Appointments (CA) when Congress resumes its sessions in November.

In a statement, Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero, who is also a CA member, cited Herbosa’s experience and competence to lead the Department of Health (DOH) as the country recovers from the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

This was after the CA failed to further discuss Herbosa’s nomination on Tuesday due to lack of time and the large volume of questions from the CA members.

“The Department of Health needs someone like Secretary Herbosa to carry out its programs as the nation recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic,” Escudero said. “I am confident that he will be confirmed when the hearing resumes soon.”

With the Senate on a break from Sept. 30 to Nov. 5, Herbosa must be reappointed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to retain his post.

Herbosa first assumed the role in June, nearly a year after Marcos took office.

He was health undersecretary from 2010 to 2015 and served as special adviser to the National Task Force Against Covid-19 under the previous administration.

Senator Christopher Lawrence Go, who chairs the CA Committee on Health and who presided over the appointment deliberation, said no one opposed Herbosa’s appointment.

“Once na-reappoint na po siya, pwede na pong ipagpatuloy yung kanyang pagdinig (sa CA) dahil suspendido lang naman po yung hearing kanina. Andami pong member ng CA, about 24 po yan. So, kailangan marinig din natin (Once he is reappointed, we can continue the deliberation because the hearing was just suspended. The CA has quite a lot of members, that is about 24. So, we also need to hear them),” he told Senate reporters after Herbosa’s deliberation.

Go assured that he is ready to resume the deliberation any time, even before the adjournment. (PNA)