It’s the first time the Philippines is serving as president of the World Health Assembly (WHA), but this role may have come at a bad time for the secretary of the Department of Health (DOH).

Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa is on official travel from May 14 until Thursday, May 29, for the 78th WHA held in Switzerland.

Critics, however, have pointed out that the one in charge of public health in the country is out while a number of local government units (LGUs) are on alert as some diseases, such as mpox and glanders, are causing anxiety in their localities.

Senator Joel Villanueva even noted in a statement on Tuesday, May 27, that Herbosa has reportedly traveled abroad 19 times since his appointment in 2023.

“If we are talking about statistics just like in basketball, that’s one travel every two months. The numbers speak for themselves,” Villanueva said.

When asked about these developments and confirmation on case counts, DOH spokesman Albert Domingo told reporters on Viber: “All questions on LGU announcements regarding disease counts should be directed to them, as the mandate is theirs per RA (Republic Act) 11332.”

There was also no national advisory regarding mpox as the department deferred to LGUs “for their own declarations, if any.”

RA 11332 gives LGUs authority over their own areas to determine needed action concerning disease surveillance and response.

However, many still look to the DOH for direction and guidance.

Glanders, mpox

Several areas in the Philippines have reported a rise in infectious diseases.

A rare and bacterial disease called glanders is causing concern in Siquijor. It mainly affects animals, such as horses and donkeys, but humans may also be “accidental hosts” of the bacteria.

Six cases have so far been recorded in Siquijor — a first time for the island-province.

Meanwhile, several areas in Mindanao have become hotspots for mpox cases and have several suspected cases under monitoring.

Zamboanga Sibugay reported its first case last May 24 — a three-year-old girl. South Cotabato, meanwhile, has 10 mpox patients as of May 22. The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao also logged two confirmed mpox cases.

Iloilo recorded its first cases on Wednesday.

Rise in COVID cases

Neighboring countries began reporting a rise in COVID-19 cases in mid-May. The World Health Organization noted that Thailand, India, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, and Singapore are among those that saw a spike in COVID-19 cases.

“Sa pamamagitan ng koordinasyon at pakikipagtulungan natin bilang miyembro ng ASEAN, nababantayan po ng Department of Health ang naireport na pagtaas na mga kaso ng COVID-19 sa ilang bansa sa Asya (Through coordinating and cooperating with fellow ASEAN members, the Department of Health is able to monitor the reported rise in COVID-19 cases in several Asian countries),” Herbosa said in a video statement.

The DOH said that there is still no cause for alarm as the Philippines saw an 87% decline in cases — only 1,774 were reported as of May 3 in 2025 versus the 14,074 during the same period a year ago.

But could these numbers also mean that there was a decline in COVID testing and vaccinations in the country?

The 2025 budget of the DOH has no specific line item for COVID-19. However, the department did allocate P44.79 billion for vaccine and drug procurement and P500 million for its quick response fund or the DOH’s emergency funds for calamities and epidemics.

The University of the Philippines–Philippine Genome Center was also given P51.17 million in this year’s budget. The center helps monitor infectious diseases in the country through genomic biosurveillance.

The department has yet to address reporters’ queries about whether specific funding was given to COVID-19 surveillance in 2025.

Herbosa is flying home on Thursday.

What’s the plan, Mr. Secretary? That is, if President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. does not accept his courtesy resignation. – Rappler.com