Newly appointed Health Secretary Edwin Mercado announced on Tuesday, August 11, that his primary focus is ensuring the Department of Health (DOH) is completely equipped to execute the mandates of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
“The President’s directives are clear, and our immediate priority is to ensure that we are fully aligned and ready to carry out his instructions,” Mercado said in an official statement.
Mercado revealed plans to convene immediately with Dr. Beverly Lorraine Ho, the newly named President and Chief Executive Officer of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), to harmonize their agency objectives.
“I will first meet with Dr. Bev to discuss our shared priorities. We will provide further updates once we have settled into our new roles,” he noted.
Appointed by President Marcos on August 10, Mercado steps into the lead role following the resignation of Dr. Jose “Brix” Pujalte Jr., who briefly held the portfolio starting in July after the departure of former Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa.
Prior to his appointment at the DOH, Mercado led PhilHealth as its president and CEO. Ho, a veteran public health expert who launched her early career at the state insurer, now steps up to fill the leadership vacancy left by Mercado.
“She is a seasoned public health expert that started her career in PhilHealth, and we are excited to have her back – this time at its helm,” Mercado stated, welcoming her leadership.
Expressing gratitude to the Chief Executive, Mercado added:
“I am grateful to the President for his continued trust in me.”
He also acknowledged the contributions of the outgoing health chief:
“I would like to sincerely thank Dr. Jose ‘Brix’ Pujalte for his dedicated service and wish him continued success in his future pursuits,” Mercado said.