HEALTH Secretary Francisco Duque III said Friday, June 24, 2022, that he is proud to end his stint in the Department of Health (DOH) by proving doubters wrong and showing them that he is capable of leading the government's response to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.

In a television interview, Duque said he is proudest at the fact that he was able to belie the claims of his critics and bashers that he is incompetent as head of the Covid-19 response.

"At first, many were criticizing us. I, myself, have many bashers claiming I am error prone, slow moving, incompetent. But how can you argue with the results now?" said Duque.

"What I'm proud of is the results we see and enjoy today. It looks like, in hindsight, those everybody thought were wrong moves turned out to be correct policies," he furthered.

The health chief said one concrete proof of their competence is the result of the latest Nikkei Covid-19 Recovery Index, wherein the Philippines climbed to the 33rd spot after placing last one year ago in the metrics involving 121 countries.

The international list ranked the Philippines ahead of over 80 other countries, including Switzerland (38), Israel (44), Japan (53), UK (58), Canada (60), Australia (71), Hong Kong, China (71), New Zealand (75), Singapore (79), and the US (89).

"The Nikkei Covid-19 Recovery Index has cited the Philippines as one of two countries that have substantially improved in Covid-19 response," said Duque.

He said that locally, he was glad to prove doubters wrong in criticizing the DOH's risk-based Covid-19 testing policy.

This, as many were pushing for the government to conduct mass testing activities at the height of the pandemic.

"The Inter-Agency Task Force opted to stick to risk-based targeted testing, which has much higher value in terms of reducing transmission and of cutting chains of transmission," said Duque.

On June 30, Duque is set to step down as secretary of the DOH.

President-elect Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has yet to name his nominee as the next DOH secretary. (HDT/SunStar Philippines)