Mark Villar

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In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is Aguilar and the surname or paternal family name is Villar.
Mark Villar
Mark A. Villar dpwh portrait.png
Official portrait as DPWH Secretary
IATF-EID Isolation Czar
In office
March 16, 2020 – October 6, 2021
PresidentRodrigo Duterte
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byVacant
Secretary of Public Works and Highways
In office
August 1, 2016 – October 6, 2021
PresidentRodrigo Duterte
Preceded byRafael Yabut (acting)
Succeeded byRoger Mercado (acting)
Member of the
Philippine House of Representatives
from Las Piñas' lone district
In office
June 30, 2010 – August 1, 2016
Preceded byCynthia Villar
Succeeded byCamille Villar[a]
Personal details
Born
Mark Aguilar Villar

(1978-08-14) August 14, 1978 (age 43)[2]
Las Piñas, Philippines
NationalityFilipino
Political partyNacionalista
Hugpong ng Pagbabago
Spouse(s)Emmeline Yan Aglipay
Children1
Parent(s)Manny Villar
Cynthia Villar
ResidenceLas Piñas, Metro Manila
EducationUniversity of Pennsylvania
University of Chicago
OccupationBusinessman
ProfessionPolitician

Mark Aguilar Villar (Tagalog pronunciation: [ˈviʎar], born August 14, 1978) is a Filipino politician and businessman who most recently served as the Secretary of Public Works and Highways from 2016 to 2021. He is the son of former senate president and 2010 presidential candidate Manny Villar and incumbent senator Cynthia Villar. He served as the Representative of Las Piñas in the Philippine House of Representatives and has also previously held executive positions in his family's real estate businesses. A member of the Nacionalista Party, Villar was appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte to join his Cabinet on May 17, 2016, and assumed office upon his resignation from Congress on August 1, 2016, replacing Rafael Yabut.[3][4]

Early life[]

Villar was born on August 14, 1978 to businesspersons Manny Villar and Cynthia Villar. He is the second of three children, with an older brother, Manuel Paolo, and younger sister, Camille Lydia. He attended the International School Manila in Makati, Metro Manila before moving to the United States to pursue higher education.[5] He earned his bachelor's degree in Economics, Political Science and Philosophy from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He also finished his master's degree in Business Administration from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.[3]

On his return to the Philippines, he worked for 10 years in the family's real estate business. He was President of Crown Asia Corporation before becoming managing director of Vista Land & Lifescapes.[5]

Political career[]

Villar was first elected to public office in 2010 as congressman of the lone district of Las Piñas, succeeding his mother, Cynthia Villar, a three-term representative who later became senator. During his term, he served as Chairman of the House Committee on Trade and Industry, as well as Vice Chairman of the House Committees on Overseas Workers Affairs, Labor and Employment, and Science and Technology.[3]

As a member of the 15th and 16th Congress, he authored several bills on education, health and livelihood, including the Negosyo Act promoting micro finance and the Lemon Law protecting buyers of motor vehicles. He was also one of the proponents of the Co-Loading Act which opened domestic transport and shipping to foreign vessels.[3]

Villar ran for a third term during the 2016 elections and won. A special election was supposed to be held to replace Villar who joined the Cabinet of President Rodrigo Duterte as Secretary of Public Works and Highways on August 1, 2016.[6] Pending the special election to be held in Las Piñas to fill in Villar's seat in the lower house, House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez has designated his wife, Emmeline Aglipay-Villar, as interim representative.[4] Aglipay-Villar later became an undersecretary of the Department of Justice and was part of the team that reviewed the water concession agreements of Maynilad Water Services and Manila Water.[7] However, the special election was never held up to the end of the 17th Congress.

During his time as secretary, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) completed a total of 29,264 km (18,184 mi) of roads, 5,950 bridges, 11,340 flood control projects, 222 evacuation centers, 133 Tatag ng Imprastraktura Para sa Kapayapaan at Seguridad (Tikas) projects, and 150,149 classrooms, while generating 6.5 million jobs.[8] These projects were also part of the Build! Build! Build! program of the Duterte administration. The department faced controversy when Senator Panfilo Lacson flagged ₱469 billion worth of DPWH infrastructure projects that had already been financed by the government for implementation in 2020 but were funded again for 2021.[9] Duterte defended Villar for not being involved in the issue, saying that he is already rich.[10] Villar formed a task force that led to relieving 14 personnel due to corruption.[11]

Villar resigned as Secretary of Public Works and Highways effective October 6, 2021.[12] On the same day, he filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) to run for senator in 2022.[13] His candidacy is endorsed by President Duterte.[14] He was named to the senatorial slate of the Bongbong Marcos–Sara Duterte tandem.[15]

Personal life[]

Villar is married to a fellow lawmaker, Department of Justice Undersecretary Emmeline Yan Aglipay. They have a daughter, Emma Therese.[16]

On July 15, 2020, Villar tested positive for COVID-19.[17] He was able to recover from the disease.[18]

Notes[]

  1. ^ Villar's wife, DIWA Partylist Representative Emmeline Aglipay-Villar, was appointed as "caretaker" representative Las Piñas on August 2, 2016,[1] following his resignation to become the Secretary of Public Works and Highways. He was eventually succeeded by his sister Camille, who was elected in 2019.

References[]

  1. ^ Arcangel, Xianne (August 2, 2016). "Mark Villar's wife appointed 'caretaker' rep of Las Piñas". GMA News Online. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
  2. ^ "Villar, Mark A." Politiko. Archived from the original on December 19, 2016. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
  3. ^ a b c d "Villar son accepts public works portfolio". ABS-CBN News. May 17, 2016. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
  4. ^ a b Cayabyab, M.J. (August 2, 2016). "Villar resigns as Las Piñas rep, takes on DPWH post". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved August 3, 2016.
  5. ^ a b Vasquez, D.C. (June 14, 2014). "Born into it". The Standard. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
  6. ^ Depasupil, W. (May 20, 2016). "Comelec to conduct Las Piñas special polls". The Manila Times. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
  7. ^ Navallo, Mike (December 12, 2019). "Justice chief denies conflict of interest in water concession review". ABS-CBN News.
  8. ^ Villar, Mark A. (September 13, 2021). "The ambitious 'Build, Build, Build' delivers". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on September 13, 2021. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  9. ^ Ramos, Marlon (September 10, 2020). "Lacson flags P469 billion in repeat funding for DPWH projects". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
  10. ^ Esguerra, Darryl John (October 19, 2020). "Duterte again hits corruption in DPWH projects, but clears 'moneyed' Mark Villar". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
  11. ^ "Villar Creates Task Force vs Graft and Corruption". Department of Public Works and Highways. October 20, 2020. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
  12. ^ Rey, Aika (October 4, 2021). "DPWH Secretary Mark Villar resigns". Rappler. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
  13. ^ Fernandez, Daniza (October 6, 2021). "Mark Villar files candidacy for senator". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
  14. ^ Punzalan, Jamaine (October 8, 2021). "Robin, Marcoleta, Langit, 5 Cabinet men eye Senate seat with Duterte backing". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
  15. ^ Mercado, Neil Arwin (December 9, 2021). "Ex-DPWH chief Mark Villar joins Bongbong-Sara senatorial slate". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
  16. ^ Pizarro, S. (June 3, 2016). "Cong. Mark Villar focuses on family". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
  17. ^ "DPWH chief and isolation czar Mark Villar tests positive from COVID-19". CNN Philippines. July 15, 2020. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
  18. ^ Fernandez, Yvette (August 14, 2020). "Mark Villar Celebrates His Birthday After Recovering from COVID-19". Esquire Magazine.
House of Representatives of the Philippines
Preceded by Representative, Lone District of Las Piñas
2010–2016 		Vacant
Title next held by
Camille Villar
Political offices
Preceded by Secretary of Public Works and Highways
2016–2021 		Succeeded by
Roger Mercado
Acting
New title IATF-EID Isolation Czar
2020–2021 		Vacant
Retrieved from ""