BAGUIO CITY, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Baguio Bureau) – It’s been over a year since Bongbong Marcos was elected the 17th president of the Philippines. His election came on the heels of the Covid-19, with his campaign promise of leading his country to full recovery from the negative socio-economic effects of the pandemic.

Today, a Health Secretary is still missing from his Cabinet.

If Marcos is looking for a forward-looking, risk-taking Health Secretary with lots of political will, he may have finally found it in Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, once the country’s Covid contact-tracing Czar under President Rodrigo Duterte.

Now, just as the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared that Covid-19 is no longer a global emergency, and countries significantly easing their Covid restrictions, the Philippines is reporting a rise in Covid-19 cases.

But leave it to Magalong to step up and take up the cudgels for the country’s continued vigilance against the return of Covid. He has issued an Executive Order reinstating the mandatory wearing of face masks in his city, particularly in establishments and crowded venues. He is leaving no stone unturned.

And President Marcos is impressed. Our fly-in-the-wall contact at the presidential palace tells us that Magalong is now the frontrunner to be the new Health Secretary.

This is a developing story.