A Zamboangueño doctor formally took oath as Assistant Health Secretary last week at the Department of Health (DOH) central office.
The new assistant health secretary is Dr. Romeo Ong who is from Zamboanga City.
He was sworn into office by health secretary Francisco Duque III.
Ong is Assistant Secretary of Health, Office of the Chief of Staff. The Chief of Staff is Undersecretary Leopoldo J. Vega the treatment czar for Coronavirus Disease 2019, (Covid-19).
The office is in charge of the One Hospital Command who monitors the situation of hospitals in the country.
Ong is well versed when it comes to hospitals because he already managed a hospital before.
He was the former Zamboanga City Medical Center (ZCMC) Chief of Hospital. ZCMC is serving the entire region 9 to include Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.
The doctor retired from government service and now went back as Assistant Secretary of Health.
Ong who is an Ear, Nose, and Throat specialist first served ZCMC as chief of hospital for ZCMC December 1, 2003 where he served the hospital for 14 years. He spend a total of 39 years in government service.
(R.G. Antonet A. Go)