Aquino satisfied with Garin’s performance

President Benigno S. Aquino III chats with acting Health Secretary Janette Garin during the Association of the Philippine Physicians in America–Philippine Medical Association (APPA-PMA) Joint Congress 2015 Opening Ceremony at the Rigodon Ballroom of the Manila Hotel in One Rizal Park, Manila on Thursday (Jan. 8, 2015). (Photo by Robert Viñas/Malacañang Photo Bureau/PNA)

ROMBLON, Romblon — President Benigno S. Aquino III on Friday expressed satisfaction with the performance of Acting Secretary Janette Garin of the Department of Health (DOH).

In an interview with the media here, the President remained cagey whether he will permanently appoint Garin as health secretary following the resignation of Secretary Enrique Ona but he expressed his contentment with her performance.

“I am very satisfied with Secretary Garin. We will be putting in another undersecretary to help her,” President Aquino said, adding that the appointment is subject to confirmation by the Commission on Appointments.

The President said he has his hands full at the moment and will decide on the matter after the visit of Pope Francis on January 15 to 19.

“We will deal with a lot of the ministerial stuff after the Pope’s visit. The urgent matters will be attended to now, but those that can wait a little (can wait), so as not to disrupt the people who are working on the Pope’s visit,” he said.

Garin was present during the interview with the President as she was among the Cabinet members who accompanied him during his visit to Romblon.

President Aquino named Garin acting secretary of the DOH last October after he asked Ona to go on a one-month leave to give him ample time to answer several questionable projects under his agency, including the purchase of anti-pneumonia vaccines.

President Aquino said he is willing to talk to Ona after the latter completes his report.

“Of course, I’ll talk to him.

But I am still awaiting the completion of all the investigations that he has done so that our conversation will have a conclusion,” he said.