Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., along with Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gachalian, Department of Health Secretary Dr. Teodoro Herbosa, and other government officials, discuss the country's proposed reforms to the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) cash grants during a sectoral meeting in Malacañang Palace on Tuesday, June 10, 2024. 
Ryan Baldemor, PPA pool

Article (news)

MARCOS- MEETING

Katrina Domingo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176776660626920240611-marcos-dswd-sectoral-meeting-PPA01_cropped_processed_by_imagy.jpg" style="width:960px;display:block;height:auto" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Department of Health Secretary Dr. Teodoro Herbosa during a sectoral meeting in Malacañang Palace on Tuesday, June 10, 2024. Ryan Baldemor, PPA pool</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA <strong>(UPDATE) </strong>— Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa on Wednesday belied reports about a looming Cabinet revamp, noting that his agency has been focused on implementing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s health programs.</p><p>“There is no truth to that,” Herbosa told Palace reporters when asked about rumors that he is set to be replaced as the head of the Department of Health (DOH).</p><p>“We at the Cabinet all serve at the pleasure of the President so it is the prerogative of the President if he wants to replace me,” he said.</p><p>Several reports claimed that Marcos Jr. has been looking for Herbosa’s replacement after several complaints were filed against the DOH chief before the Office of the Ombudsman.</p><p>Among these complaints is a graft case involving the DOH’s radio program that may be a source of a conflict of interest, allegations about the unlawful release of P44.6-million worth of psychiatric drugs to the Rotary Club of Quezon City, and the questionable approval of a P1.29-billion cash advance for vaccines and essential medicines that supposedly remains unliquidated.</p><p>The Commission on Audit has also flagged millions-worth of unused medical equipment and nearly-expiring medicine lodged in the DOH.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>HERBOSA REBUFFS COA FINDINGS </strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Herbosa on Wednesday rebuffed the COA&#x27;s findings that the supposed lack of a “well-structured plan” in the DOH led to the procurement of P405-million worth of idle or unutilized medical equipment.</p><p>In a report released in December 2025, the COA cited the “absence of a well-structured plan, lack of site readiness, delayed procurement actions and inadequate coordination and monitoring” as well as “lack of training of the assigned personnel to operate the equipment” as some of the reasons why millions-worth of medical equipment procured in 2024 were either idle or unused.</p><p>“I don’t understand when you say there’s lack of a structured plan. In government, before you can even request for the budget, you have to have a detailed province-wide, investment plan for health,” Herbosa said in a press conference in Malacañang.</p><p>“Mayroong process iyan so I don’t know what the auditor means when he said walang, lack of a plan,” he added, underscoring that the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) checks all the DOH’s proposals before it is included in the National Expenditure Program.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>OTHER FACTORS</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Herbosa also noted that various agencies are involved in the implementation of the DOH’s health facilities enhancement program.</p><p>“Depending who is implementing it, there can be some delays, and then, there are different contractors, iba-iba iyan,” he said.</p><p>“Mayroong mabagal, mayroong nagwo-walkaway, mayroong delay in one part, delay in the construction. Of course, kung na-delay iyong construction, hindi mo mai-install iyong equipment kasi hindi pa tapos iyong facility,” he said.</p><p>“Those are actual problems in government governance. Talagang hindi iyan masi-zero, that will always happen,” he said.</p><p>Part of the P405-million worth of health equipment that were marked as idle are most likely being utilized already, Herbosa said, noting that the COA’s report covered data from 2024.</p><p>“I will get back to you and I will look at that P405 million that they’re claiming, and I will tell you how much of that has already been installed or completed in 2025,” he said.</p><p>Aside from the issue of unutilized medical equipment, the COA had also questioned the DOH over millions-worth of nearly-expired medicine.</p><p>The COA had recommended for the DOH to review its rules on inventory management and monitoring, and improve its procurement and contract specifications.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RESHUFFLE?</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Earlier this week, Malacañang said that there is no formal announcement yet if the President will appoint new Cabinet members.</p><p>Marcos Jr. first reshuffled his Cabinet in mid-2025 after half of the administration’s senatorial slate lost in the 2025 midterm election.</p><p>The President also appointed several new Cabinet members after former Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and former Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman were accused of involvement in corruption schemes surrounding public infrastructure projects.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Dj_cMGMUsNg?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Uk06aYPWhwo?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa on Wednesday belied reports about a looming Cabinet revamp, noting that his agency has been focused on implementing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s health programs.</p>

Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa on Wednesday belied reports about a looming Cabinet revamp, noting that his agency has been focused on implementing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s health programs.

Herbosa denies reports of looming exit as DOH Secretary

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Herbosa denies reports of looming exit as DOH Secretary

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 07, 2026 02:19 PM PHT

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Updated Jan 07, 2026 03:55 PM PHT

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Department of Health

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Teodoro Herbosa

Marcos Cabinet revamp

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