THANKS but no thanks.

This was the response of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, a son of Dagupan City, to reports that he is being considered as one of the top choices for the administration’s senatorial line up in the coming May elections.

“I really have no desire to run for the Senate,” Duque told local media Saturday during the press conference for the five-day medical mission conducted by the Philippine-American Medical Association of Georgia in Dagupan which started Monday at the Region 1 Medical Center.

Duque added, “I feel that I will probably be more effective as secretary of health”.

He said he wants to implement more reforms in the health sector rather than participate in legislation of laws.

“In terms of legislation, I feel that we already have all the needed laws that will help in the development for the entire Philippine health sector,” he said, citing the Philippine Generics Law, the devolution under the Local Government Code and the national Health Insurance Program Law.

What is needed now, according to Duque, is “really more of execution rather than legislation.”

He said the country already has enough laws, and laments that some of which remain unfunded and therefore, could not be implemented.

He added he would rather accomplish his mandate as secretary of health and pursue his health reform objectives, especially for the poor.

Asked what he would do if President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will press him to run being one of the few who has performed creditably, he said he would pray so much and seek the guidance of everyone including his family, friends and supporters.

He said this consultation will be to find out where he would be more effective.

Duque comes from a family of politicians in Pangasinan. His late father, Francisco Duque Jr., was a former governor and health secretary during the administration of President  Diosdado Macapagal, and his brother Gonzalo is a former vice governor.—EVA

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