Budget and Management Secretary Wendel Avisado (File photo)
MANILA – Budget and Management Secretary Wendel Avisado will be on a 10-day medical leave starting Aug. 2 after recently contracting the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
In a statement Saturday night, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said Avisado was hospitalized for eight days and quarantined for more than one month after contracting the virus.
It, however, did not elaborate on when Avisado's hospitalization occurred.
Avisado's leave, it said, was also “upon the advice of his doctor to undertake a series of examinations as it has been 14 years since undergoing a quadruple open heart bypass."
In lieu of Avisado's absence, DBM Undersecretary Tina Rose Marie L. Canda was tapped as the agency’s officer-in-charge.
“Rest assured that the DBM remains steadfast and committed to its mandate of promoting the efficient and effective management of the national budget to support its budget priorities especially in the midst of the pandemic,” the statement added.
In a statement Saturday night, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said Avisado was hospitalized for eight days and quarantined for more than one month after contracting the virus.
It, however, did not elaborate on when Avisado's hospitalization occurred.
Avisado's leave, it said, was also “upon the advice of his doctor to undertake a series of examinations as it has been 14 years since undergoing a quadruple open heart bypass."
In lieu of Avisado's absence, DBM Undersecretary Tina Rose Marie L. Canda was tapped as the agency’s officer-in-charge.
“Rest assured that the DBM remains steadfast and committed to its mandate of promoting the efficient and effective management of the national budget to support its budget priorities especially in the midst of the pandemic,” the statement added.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said he received a copy of a press statement from the DBM announcing Avisado’s medical leave.
“As of now, those are rumors because I received a copy of the press release of the DBM and I have no basis to question the accuracy of that press release. He is on medical leave,” he said in a Palace press briefing on Monday.
He noted that Avisado was able to submit the executive department’s 2022 National Expenditure Plan, which will contain, among others funding for the government’s Covid-19 response.
“Bagamat (Even if) Secretary Avisado is on sick leave, nasumite po niya ang pinal na (he submitted the final) proposed budget natin at pini-print na po yung ating (and is printing our) National Expenditure Plan for submission to Congress,” he added. (With reports from Azer N. Parrocha/PNA)
“As of now, those are rumors because I received a copy of the press release of the DBM and I have no basis to question the accuracy of that press release. He is on medical leave,” he said in a Palace press briefing on Monday.
He noted that Avisado was able to submit the executive department’s 2022 National Expenditure Plan, which will contain, among others funding for the government’s Covid-19 response.
“Bagamat (Even if) Secretary Avisado is on sick leave, nasumite po niya ang pinal na (he submitted the final) proposed budget natin at pini-print na po yung ating (and is printing our) National Expenditure Plan for submission to Congress,” he added. (With reports from Azer N. Parrocha/PNA)
