Public Works Secretary Mark Villar. RODEL ROTONI/FILE PHOTO
Las Pi帽as Rep. Mark Villar has resigned from his district to take on his post as Public Works Secretary.
In a text message to reporters, Majority Floor Leader Ilocos Norte Rep. Rudy Fari帽as said Speaker Pantaleon 鈥淏ebot鈥� Alvarez has designated Villar鈥檚 wife Diwa Rep. Emmeline Aglipay-Villar as caretaker of the district.
鈥淎ccording to the Speaker, Rep. Mark Villar has resigned and that the Speaker will designate Rep. Em Aglipay-Villar as caretaker of the district vacated,鈥� Fari帽as said.
President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed Villar as Secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)聽despite the family鈥檚 real estate business led by Villar鈥檚 father, former Senator and businessman Manny Villar.
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Mark聽Villar is a member of the Nacionalista Party, which has aligned itself with Duterte鈥檚 majority coalition for change led by the administration鈥檚 party the Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan.
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In a statement, Villar expressed his gratitude for becoming a member of the Cabinet under the Duterte administration.
He vowed to crack down on graft-ridden projects and promised to lead quality public works programs.
鈥淚 have the highest respect and admiration for the President. It is an honor to be part of his official family. Change is indeed coming,鈥� Villar said.
鈥淭his administration would not tolerate substandard, delayed, and corruption-ridden projects,鈥� he added.
Villar said he would implement a three-strike policy in the procurement and impose administrative sanctions on employees implementing defective public works projects.
鈥淥ur President wants to create communities that are both liveable and safe. In DPWH, we promise quality infrastructure delivered on-time, and accessible to the public,鈥� he said.
Villar鈥檚 wife Diwa Rep. Aglipay was designated as caretaker of the district despite the law mandating a special elections in case of a vacancy in a congressional district.
According to Republic Act 6645 or 鈥淎n Act Prescribing the Manner of Filling a Vacancy in the Congress of the Philippines,鈥澛燼 special elections may be held in case of vacancy in Congress at least a year before the next regular elections.