SENATOR Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Monday, Aug. 10, welcomed Malacañang’s appointment of a new Health Secretary, saying the Palace’s action helps resolve the leadership issues that have recently hounded the Department of Health (DOH) and threatened to disrupt the implementation of Universal Health Care (UHC). “We welcome the new appointment, and we wish the newly appointed Health Secretary, Dr. Edwin Mercado, all the best as he takes on his new role as the administration’s chief implementer of its health programs,” he said. Escudero also welcomed the designation of Dr. Beverly Lorraine C. Ho as the new president and CEO of PhilHealth, saying her appointment complements the leadership transition at the DOH. “Ang pagtalaga kay Dr. Ho sa PhilHealth ay nagbibigay ng karagdagang lakas sa ating UHC reforms. PhilHealth currently covers nearly 70 million registered members and more than 38 million dependents, or over 108 million Filipinos.