Garin may get CA nod

MANILA, Philippines - Newly appointed Health Secretary Janette Garin will likely breeze through the Commission on Appointments (CA) for her confirmation, a senior opposition lawmaker said yesterday.

Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano III, House contingent head for the minority bloc in the CA, welcomed the appointment of Garin, who replaced Enrique Ona last week.

He said given Garin’s “solid credentials as a medical and healthcare professional and as an elected and appointed government policymaker are more than enough to allow her to pass scrutiny and sail smoothly through the confirmation proceedings of the CA.”

“President Aquino made the right choice in naming Undersecretary Janette Garin as the new DOH chief. She has a proven track record not only as a physician but also as public servant being a former congresswoman of the first district of Iloilo,” Albano said.

He recalled that Garin, as policymaker, had been known as the champion of various health issues, such as fighting fraud in the Philippine Health Insurance Corp., amending the Physician’s Act, as well as advocating women’s issues like the passage of the controversial Reproductive Health Care and Population Development, among others.

He said the presence of Garin in the Cabinet will be a big boost, especially in the healthcare programs of the administration.

“We are confident that Secretary Garin will be able to fulfill her mission in making accessible, efficient and effective healthcare to the Filipino people, especially the poor,” Albano said.