Manila, Feb. 4 -- The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday welcomed the appointment of orthopedic surgeon Dr. Edwin Mercado as the new President and Chief Executive Officer (PCEO) of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).

Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, who also chairs the PhilHealth Board of Directors, said he looks forward to working with Mercado.

"The DOH thanks President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. for appointing Dr. Edwin Mercado as the new PCEO of the PhilHealth-- We thank outgoing PCEO Emmanuel R. Ledesma, Jr. for his service, and look forward to working with new PCEO Dr. Edwin Mercado very soon," he said in a statement.

Mercado graduated from and trained at the UP College of Medicine - Philippine General Hosp...