CA bypasses Herbosa’s appointment as DOH chief

The Commission on Appointments (CA) on Tuesday bypassed the ad interim appointment of Teodoro “Ted” Herbosa as secretary of the Department of Health (DOH).

During the deliberations of the CA committee on health, Camarines Sur 2nd District Representative Luis Raymund “Lray” Villafuerte Jr. moved to suspend the confirmation of Herbosa’s appointment due to “lack of material time.”

Panel chairperson Senator Bong Go approved the motion.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri confirmed that Herbosa’s appointment was technically bypassed, considering that Congress is set to adjourn sessions on September 29. The bicameral commission cannot tackle any appointments within the session break.

“Yes he was bypassed due to lack of material time. But he will be taken up again when we get back on November,” Zubiri said.

With this development, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. may have to reappoint Herbosa.

Article VII, Section 16 of the Constitution states that the President “shall have the power to make appointments during the recess of the Congress, whether voluntary or compulsory, but such appointments shall be effective only until disapproved by the Commission on Appointments or until the next adjournment of the Congress.”

In an interview, Go explained that the CA panel suspended the deliberations as many lawmakers have yet to question Herbosa, but the Senate has a scheduled session at 3 p.m., while the House of Representatives has a leadership meeting.

“Wala naman pong opposition or any written opposition, wala naman po,” Go said.

(There’s no opposition or any written opposition.)

Asked if Herbosa will be reappointed by the President, Go said, “‘Pag natapos ang regular session namin. ‘Di ko lang po alam kung kelan muli isaslang. ‘Di pa nakapag-decide. Magko-convene muli ang CA.”

(When our regular session ends. I just don't know when he’ll undergo deliberations again. We haven’t decided yet. The CA will reconvene.)

It was in June when Marcos appointed Herbosa as the new Health secretary.

Prior to that, he served as a special adviser to the National Task Force Against COVID-19 at the height of the pandemic, and a Health undersecretary during the administration of the late President Benigno Aquino III.

During the CA deliberations, Herbosa said that among his priorities during his tenure are: ending tuberculosis in the Philippines; reaching 95% fully immunized children nationwide annually; and decreasing malnutrition by as much as 50%. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News