Health Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire on Tuesday said her appointment at the Department of Health as its temporary chief is not affected by the Memorandum Circular No. 3 issued by the Malacañang last July.

In a press briefing, Vergeire clarified that only non-CESO (Career Executive Service Officer) occupying a CES position is affected by the said circular.

"I am not part or I am not affected by the memorandum circular because I am a career executive," she told reporters.

Under the memorandum circular, all OICs of departments, agencies, bureaus, and offices, non-CES officials occupying CES positions, and contractual or casual employees covered shall continue to perform their duties and discharge their functions until 31 December 2022.

Vergeire said she will continue to lead the Health department as President Ferdinand Marcos has yet to name his pick for the key government agency that is responsible for the country's pandemic response.

"It specifically stated this grant of authority shall take effect immediately and until a Secretary of Health has been duly appointed or unless this grant of authority is sooner revoked," she said.

To recall, Marcos tapped Vergeire as DoH OIC on 14 July.

The president previously said he would only appoint a Health secretary once the country's Covid-19 pandemic situation has normalized.