Leopoldo Vega

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In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is Jumalon and the surname or paternal family name is Vega.

Leopoldo Vega
Undersecretary for Special Concerns of the Department of Health
Assumed office
June 5, 2020
PresidentRodrigo Duterte
Preceded byJade F. del Mundo
Treatment Czar of the National Task Force Against COVID-19
Assumed office
July 13, 2020
PresidentRodrigo Duterte
Preceded byPosition created
Personal details
Born
Leopoldo Jumalon Vega

(1955-11-04) November 4, 1955 (age 68)
Davao City, Philippines
SpouseAmelia Avelino
Children2
EducationAteneo de Manila University (BA, MBA)
University of the East (MD)
OccupationGovernment official
ProfessionMedical doctor, surgeon and hospital administrator

Leopoldo "Bong" Jumalon Vega (born November 4, 1955) is a Filipino physician, surgeon and former hospital administrator serving as an undersecretary of the Department of Health since 2020.[1] Prior to joining the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, he served as medical center chief of the state-run Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City for twelve years.[2] On July 13, 2020, Vega was appointed to the National Task Force Against Coronavirus under the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases as COVID-19 Treatment Czar.[3]

Early life and education

Vega was born and raised in Davao City, the son of Garcilaso Vega, a lawyer, and Beatrice Jumalon.

Davao Medical Center in 1985. In 1986, Vega passed the Philippine Board of Surgery Examinations.[4]

Vega also attended a Health Management program at the

Ateneo Graduate School of Business in 2009. He was also trained on cardiothoracic surgery at the Philippine Heart Center and completed the Hospital Management Program of the Singapore Management University in 2016.[2]

Career

Vega first practiced medicine at the government-owned

Davao Medical Center in 1981.[4] He moved to private practice in 1985 and served in the cooperative hospital of the Philippines' first medical cooperative, the Medical Mission Group Health and Hospital Services Cooperative (MMGHHSC), as its program coordinator. He began his 21-year career as an associate professor at the Davao Medical School Foundation in 1987 and served as part of the Davao City local government's organizing committee for community-based health programs for four years beginning in 1988.[2] Between 1991 and 1997, Vega served as chairman of the MMGHHSC cooperative where he earlier served as program coordinator for the Cooperative Health Fund.[5] As chair of the Davao-based cooperative, the MMGHHSC grew to 51 chapters nationwide. He returned to this position in 1999, which he held until 2003, and also served in the board of the Cooperative Bank of Davao City until 2001 and as program coordinator of the MMGHHSC Federation from 2001 to 2003 and the Air Transport Cooperative in 2001.[2]

In 2003, Vega was hired as the first medical chief of the Davao Medical School Foundation where he has been teaching medicine since 1987.

2014–15 MERS-CoV outbreak.[2] During his tenure as SPMC chief, the government hospital saw significant expansion with the completion of the Heart Institute in 2007, the Cancer Institute in 2012 and the Institute for Women's Health in 2018.[6]

During the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Davao Region in 2020, Vega was at the forefront of the response to the health crisis in Davao City running Mindanao's first and only subnational COVID-19 diagnostic laboratory at SPMC. He is credited for working alongside the Davao local government in putting up isolation centers and preparing the hospital for the eventual surge in cases by March 2020.[5] On June 5, 2020, Vega left his 39-year career as a hospital administrator and doctor specializing in cardiothoracic surgery to join government service after he was appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte as Undersecretary for Special Concerns of the Department of Health.[2] A month later, he was appointed by President Duterte to the national coronavirus task force as COVID-19 treatment czar.[3]

As health undersecretary and task force treatment chief, Vega heads the One Hospital Command Center (OHCC) located at the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Gymnasium in Makati which oversees and coordinates the critical care capacity of all hospitals and treatment and monitoring facilities in Metro Manila amid the health crisis.[8] He also spearheaded the creation of other regional OHCC systems in Central Luzon, Calabarzon and Davao Region for closer monitoring of local quarantine sites.[9]

During his tenure at the Department of Health, he held the prestigious position of Chief of Staff,[10] where he capably led two significant clusters within the department: (1) Office of the Chief of Staff: Under this cluster, he provided astute oversight to the Legal Service, Internal Audit Service, and Health Emergency Management Bureau, and (2) Administration and Financial Management Team:[11] Within this purview, he skillfully managed the Administrative Service and Finance Management Service.

His effective leadership in these roles played a pivotal role in ensuring the smooth operation and efficient management of these essential clusters of the Department of Health. Assisting him during his tenure was EnP. Raemond Angelo Karagdag, Executive Assistant IV. Together, they worked diligently to advance the department's mission and objectives.

Personal life

Vega is married to Amelia Avelino. They have two adult children.[4] His daughter Beatrice was appointed to the Duterte administration as assistant secretary of the Office of the President in 2018, and before the end of the term of the administration, she was appointed as NAPOLCOM Commissioners.[12][13]

Awards

Vega is a recipient of the 2008 Ten Outstanding Filipino Physicians award conferred by Junior Chamber International Philippines.[4] He also received the Leaders and Achievers of Davao (LEAD) Award in the field of health.[14]

References

  1. ^ "PRRD appoints Dr. Leopoldo Vega DOH undersecretary". Manila Bulletin. June 5, 2020. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Arguillas, C.O. (June 8, 2020). "Health Undersecretary Vega: 39 years mostly in government service; chaired country's 1st health cooperative". MindaNews. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Gov't names more anti-coronavirus czars as cases rise". CNN Philippines. July 13, 2021. Archived from the original on July 13, 2020. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Roque, M. (June 13, 2020). "Dr. Leopoldo Vega, taking bigger strides". Mindanao Times. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  5. ^ a b Francisco, C.Q. (January 27, 2021). "Vega hailed as 'visionary'". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  6. ^ a b Johnson, H. (January 29, 2019). "This work is a blessing: Dr Leopoldo Vega". The CEO Magazine. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  7. ^ Lacorte, G. (January 17, 2011). "Gov't hospital in Davao City capable of treating meningococcemia – official". MindaNews. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  8. ^ Mendoza, R. (July 22, 2020). "'One Hospital Command' launched to unify Covid response". The Manila Times. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  9. ^ Kabagani, L.J. (December 31, 2020). "One Hospital Command boosts Covid-19 recovery rate". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  10. ^ https://www.ph.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/11_000001_00777.html
  11. ^ https://opinion.inquirer.net/147311/department-of-health-we-will-never-neglect-plight-of-health-care-workers
  12. ^ https://malaya.com.ph/news_news/duterte-names-3-new-napolcom-commissioners/
  13. ^ Reyes, M.P.P. (August 15, 2020). "The ties that bind: The Duterte-Duque connection". Vera Files. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  14. ^ Castillo, B.L.S. (July 29, 2017). "Lead Davao to award more leaders". SunStar Davao. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
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