MANILA, Philippines -- President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has promoted Assistant Secretary Christian Lel Saquilabon to undersecretary in the Department of Health.
The President signed Saquilabon appointment letter on Aug. 4.
"Pursuant to the provisions of existing laws, you are hereby appointed undersecretary, co-terminus with the appointing authority, vice Emmie Liza P. Chiong," the letter read.
Saquilabon, who has a law degree, has been the chief of the Health Regulation and Facility Development Cluster since 2025. Saquilabon and Annette Tan, Director IV of the Health Facilities and Services Regulatory Bureau, visited the Soccsksargen General Hospital on July 9, 2025, to address facility-related concerns and assess service delivery processes.
Soccsksargen, an administrative region in south-central Mindanao, is an acronym for South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, and General Santos City.
Following the walkthrough, they acknowledged SGH’s readiness for reclassification from Level I to a Level II hospital.
Saquilabon said that having personally seen the hospital’s state and knowing its vision for growth, he strongly advocated for its reclassification.
