PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. announced on Wednesday he will task newly appointed Health Undersecretary and former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Camilo P. Cascolan to start the groundwork for the “rightsizing” of staff in the Department of Health (DOH).
Marcos made the clarification after several groups questioned his selection of Cascolan for a senior DOH post despite his not being a health professional.
He said Cascolan will handle the “special concerns” in DOH, including the planned rightsizing of the manpower of the agency.
“It’s not health issues that he has to look at, that’s why he doesn’t have to be a doctor,” Marcos said after his speech at the National Information and Communications Technology Summit 2022 at the Manila Hotel.
Cascolan can also conduct investigations on the reports of illegal activities in DOH, including the alleged syndicates reportedly interfering with the procurement process of DOH.
“That’s part of his work. If there will be such incidents, he will have to report it to us and we will have to do something about it. But, generally, it is an administrative audit, if you want to call it that,” Marcos said.
Creative industry promotion
IN a related development, Marcos also clarified the responsibility of film director Paul Soriano as Presidential Adviser on Creative Communications.
He stressed Soriano’s role will be to advise him on how to promote the country’s creative industry.
“As to the [position of] Paul Soriano, people have misunderstood [it]. He’s not there to be part of the PR [public relation] machine. He’s there to find ways to promote the creative industry, that is where he came from,” Marcos said.
Malacañang earlier said Soriano’s responsibility will be to assist departments and agencies, including government-owned and -controlled corporations, on matters that will enhance their information dissemination programs and initiatives.
Like in the case of Cascolan, Soriano’s appointment also drew flak from critics who noted his father is a cousin of First Lady Maria Louise Araneta Marcos.
Cascolan role at DOH: Eye on syndicates, rightsizing
Source: News Paper Radio
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