After more than five years with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Mark Villar is stepping down as its secretary.
The 43-year-old Villar announced that he would be tendering his resignation as department head – a position he held since 2016 – during the DPWH simultaneous virtual flag ceremony on Monday, Oct. 4.
“Medyo alam niyo na din. Ito na yung huling flag raising ko as DPWH secretary (You already have an idea. This is my last flag raising as DPWH secretary,” Villar said as he addressed some 50 officials and employees of the agency present at the ceremony.
“I filed my resignation effective Wednesday. I’ll be stepping down as your secretary Wednesday (Oct. 6)," he added.
Villar did not mention anything about his plans, although it had been reported that he was among the cabinet secretaries of President Duterte who would be running for senator in the 2022 national elections.
Villar is expected to file his Certificate of Candidacy (COC) for senator before the October 8 deadline.
He served as representative in the lone district of Las Piñas from 2010 to 2016 and although he won a third term as congressman, he left the House of Representatives after he joined the Duterte cabinet in August 2016.
He handled the Duterte administration’s infrastructure program called “Build! Build! Build!”
Villar said it was the most ambitious infrastructure program in the country that many doubted, but the department was able to achieve and accomplish their goals since he took over.
“I have a lot of memories with the people I met (at DPWH). The credit should always go to those here in this department, the millions of workers who worked for DPWH,” said Villar.
“Salamat at tinaggap niyo ako bilang kapamilya dito sa inyong organization. Tinulungan niyo ako sa napaka-hirap na “Build! Build! Build!” program. Sinabi ko din kay Presidente na ito na ang pinaka-malaking karangalan sa buhay ko (Thank you that you accepted me as a family here in your organization. You helped me in this very difficult “Build! Build! Build!” program. I told the President that this is the highest honor in my life)," said Villar.