MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday announced the retirement of Undersecretary (Usec) Eric Tayag after 35 years of service in the department.

In a statement, the DOH said that Assistant Secretary Ariel Valencia will succeed Tayag as he steps down from his role as head of the DOH Public Health Services Cluster in charge of epidemiology, disease prevention and control, and health promotion on April 15.

Meanwhile, Usec. Emmie Perez-Chiong will take over as the new Chief Information Officer responsible for digital health and health information systems.

The DOH also announced that Officer-in-charge Assistant Secretary Albert Francis Domingo will now serve as the department’s spokesperson.

“On behalf of the entire Department and the health sector, I thank Usec. Eric Tayag for his time and talent all these decades in the service of the Philippine health sector,” DOH Secretary Teodoro J. Herbosa said of Tayag’s retirement.

“I am witness to his well-deserved progression from a young infectious disease doctor and epidemiologist, to health Undersecretary, Chief Information Officer, and DOH Spokesperson,” Herbosa was quoted as saying in the statement.

The DOH chief also expressed confidence that Tayag’s “heart and passion” for service will continue as he exits from the department.