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Mark Villar to step down as DPWH Secretary on Wednesday

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark Villar during groundbreaking ceremonies in Intramuros, Manila, Tuesday, July 17, 2018. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/news/07/15/20180717-china-bridges-groundbreaking-jc-13.jpg"/><figcaption>Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark Villar during groundbreaking ceremonies in Intramuros, Manila, Tuesday, July 17, 2018. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA - Public Works Secretary Mark Villar is resigning from his post this week, he announced Monday, the same day a faction of the ruling PDP-Laban party disclosed that he is running in next year&#x27;s elections.</p><p>Villar did not cite the reason for his resignation when he made the announcement during his agency&#x27;s flag-raising ceremony earlier in the day.</p><p>&quot;This is my last day after 5 years. I have officially filed my resignation effective Wednesday, so I will be stepping down on Wednesday as Secretary,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;Sinabi ko na kay Presidente na ito ang pinakamalaking karangalan sa buhay na maging bahagi ng DPWH,&quot; he added.</p><p>(I told the President that to be part of DPWH is the biggest honor in my life.)</p><p>Villar was named by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, head of one of the PDP-Laban factions, as among four members of President Rodrigo Duterte&#x27;s Cabinet who will run in the 2022 elections. </p><p>&quot;Secretary Panelo, Villar tuloy po ang pagtakbo (will continue their bid), then si Greco will run, Secretary Roque will also run. There are also other candidates we&#x27;re considering to run under PDP,&quot; Cusi told ANC&#x27;s Headstart.</p><p>Aside from Villar, Cusi was referring to Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo, anti-corruption commission chief Greco Belgica, and Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/04/21/panelo-roque-villar-belgica-to-run-in-2022-polls-pdp-laban">Panelo, Roque, Villar, Belgica to run in 2022 polls: PDP-Laban</a></li></ul><p>As early as mid-August, they have been among officials being eyed by PDP-Laban Cusi-wing to be part of its senatorial slate.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/17/21/pdp-laban-eyes-5-cabinet-men-allies-for-senate-race">PDP-Laban eyes 6 Cabinet members, other personalities for 2022 senatorial slate</a></li></ul><p>Political aspirants have started filing their certificates of candidacy for next year&#x27;s elections last Friday. The Commission on Elections will close the filing on Friday, Oct. 8.</p><p>In his speech at his last flag-raising ceremony as DPWH chief, Villar gave tribute to the department and its workers, saying he &quot;was the luckiest man&quot; to work with them after he was appointed to the position by Duterte in 2016.</p><p>&quot;In the previous 5 years, I feel very rich because of all the friendships I made in this department. Kaya mayaman na mayaman na ako dahil sa inyong lahat,&quot; said the son of the second richest Filipino, former Senator Manny Villar.</p><p>(I feel very, very rich because of all of you.)</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/09/09/21/henry-sy-heirs-top-forbes-list-of-richest-filipinos">Sy family is Philippines’ richest, billionaires’ fortunes rebound despite pandemic</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/04/06/21/forbes-manny-villar-still-philippines-richest-in-2021">Forbes: Manny Villar still Philippines&#x27; richest in 2021</a></li></ul><p>As of posting, there is no announcement yet on who will replace Villar at the DPWH.</p><p>If he succeeds in getting a Senate seat next year, the 43-year-old official will be the third member of his family to be part of the chamber. His mother is incumbent Senator Cynthia Villar.</p><p>The Villar family owns a group of real estate and commercial companies. Earlier this month, Forbes said Manny Villar&#x27;s wealth is estimated at $6.7 billion.</p><p>Villar, whose wife is incumbent Justice Undersecretary Emmeline Aglipay-Villar, served as a congressional representative of Las Piñas from 2010.</p><p>After getting reelected for a third term in 2016, he resigned to join Duterte&#x27;s Cabinet, during which he implemented along with other key members the administration&#x27;s &quot;Build Build Build&quot; infrastructure program.</p><p>Duterte criticized alleged anomalies in the DPWH but cleared Villar of any involvement.</p><p>Some lawmakers and officials of the department allegedly ask for &quot;kickbacks&quot; from contractors that win projects from the agency.</p><div><strong>- with reports from John Gabriel Agcaoili and Joyce Balancio, ABS-CBN News</strong></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1788687" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

DPWH Secretary Mark Villar is resigning from his post this week, he announced Monday, the same day a faction of the ruling PDP-Laban party disclosed that he is running in next year's elections.