Villar expects caretaker to look after Las Piñas after he takes on DPWH post

Las Piñas Rep. Mark Villar is expecting a caretaker-lawmaker to look after the city's lone congressional district when he leaves the post he won in the recent elections to take on the job of secretary of public works and highways.

Villar has accepted the job offered him by incoming president Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte after the incoming ruling party PDP-Laban and his Nacionalista Party formalized a coalition partnership.

“Pag naging official na ang aking appointment sa Congress, the speaker will appoint a caretaker sa position ko. And then eventually Congress ang magde-decide kung kailan ang special election,” Villar told News To Go anchor Kara David.

Villar won what could have been a third consecutive term in the House of Representatives when he was offered the DPWH post.

He will take over the department from outgoing Secretary Rogelio Singson, who has been credited for clamping down on corruption and for key infrastructure across the country.

“Suwerte ako dahil napakaganda ng performace ni Sec. Singson. I just want to build on the accomplishments. Marami siyang programa na nasimulan sa DPWH,” Villar said.

“I like to build on his success and I'd like to continue to change the perception of the DPWH into a more professional and clean organization,” he added.

Villar is the son of incumbent Senator Cynthia and former Senate President Manny, who continues to lead the NP as its president.

He said the DPWH under Singson already has in the pipeline master plans on the convergence programs on tourism and agriculture, and the Mindanao logistics network.

“We have a lot of convergence programs, yung tourism convergence. We have agriculture convergence programs, the Mindanao logistics network. These are all master plans and ready for implementation,” Villar said.

On Monday, Villar shrugged off criticisms that his family's real estate business will have undue advantage when he sits as DPWH secretary.

Villar emphasized that he will need the coordination of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) to implement projects approved by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA).

“There are a lot of good projects approved by JICA and NEDA. These are projects that I want to hit the ground running. Kailangan lang po mas magandang coordination with the DOTC, with MMDA, and I'm confident over the next year we'll be able to see a lot of projects starting,” Villar said.

He added he would further expand the transparency of DPWH and make their projects known to the public for them to rate its performance themselves.

Villar said infrastructure will play a key role in the Duterte administration and appealed to the public to give him a chance in performing his duties in the biggest challenge of his career.

“Infrastructure is very critical for the next six years of the country. I realize that it's a big job and I hope that everyone just gives me a chance that I can make a difference here in the DPWH and make a positive change,” Villar said. —Joseph Tristan Roxas/NB, GMA News