(UPDATE 3 – 4:44 p.m.) MANILA, Philippines — Francisco T. Duque III, who was the Health chief during the administration of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, was appointed as the new secretary of the Department of Health, replacing Paulyn Jean B. Rosell-Ubial, whose ad-interim appointment was thumbed down by the Commission on Appointments earlier this month.
President Rodrigo Duterte signed Duque’s appointment papers on Thursday, Oct. 26, more than seven months after Duque was elected chairman of the Government Service Insurance System last Feb. 28. The President appointed Duque as a member of the GSIS board of trustees on Feb. 15 this year.
The 60-year-old Duque, who was born in Dagupan City to former Pangasinan governor Francisco Duque Jr. and Dr. Florencia Tiamson, finished his Bachelor of Science degree major in Zoology in 1978 and post-graduate course in medicine in 1982 at the University of Santo Tomas. He obtained his Master of Science major in Pathology degree from Georgetown University in Washington D.C. in 1987.
He became chief of the DOH from June 2005 to January 2010, before he became chair of the Philippine Civil Service Commission from 2010 to 2015.
While he was DOH secretary during the Arroyo administration, Duque was also chairman of the board of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp; chairman of the board of the National Nutrition Council; and chairman of the National Population Commission.
Duque also became presidential oversight chairman of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office from 2006 to 2009; presidential oversight chair of the Philippine Sports Commission from 2005 to 2009; and president and CEO of Philippine Health Insurance Corp. with a rank of Cabinet secretary from Oct 11, 2004 to June 9, 2005.
