MANILA (UPDATE) — Dr. Eric Tayag has been named as a new undersecretary of the Department of Health, he confirmed on Tuesday.

Before his new post, Tayag was the head of the agency’s Knowledge Management and Information Technology Service.

He was also a long-time DOH spokesperson and is known for dancing to promote the agency’s campaigns.

The Palace has yet to release Tayag’s appointment papers as of writing.

In a press briefing Tuesday, DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire confirmed Tayag's new position in the agency.

"We received the transmittal of his appointment yesterday. He has not taken his oath yet. We are still scheduling [it]. So, he has not assumed the position yet," she said.

Tayag's duties as health undersecretary are still being discussed.

"Pinag-uusapan pa ngayon ng aming mga officials kung saan namin siya appropriately, based on his capacity, mai-assign para mas makatulong sa ating kagawaran," Vergeire said.

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CASCOLAN'S DUTIES

Meanwhile, Vergeire disclosed that newly appointed Health Undersecretary Camilo Cascolan had assumed office Monday.

The former Philippine National Police chief is tasked to lead the Field Implementation and Coordination Team in the Visayas.

"I specifically instructed him to look into first, the vaccination coverage in the areas," Vergeire said. "Second, [the] logistics management. To [conduct an] inventory on all of our commodities especially COVID-19 vaccines."

• Cascolan says to oversee DOH operations in the Visayas

Vergeire asked Cascolan to develop a mechanism to fast-track the inventory of commodities, which could be implemented in other regions.

"We also gave him the instruction na dapat maayos niya 'yung network ng ating mga ospital, from primary care to higher level care dun sa [Regions] 6, 7 and 8," she said.

FROM THE ARCHIVES:

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