# Ministry of Public Works (Chile)

The Ministry of Public Works (Spanish: Ministerio de Obras Públicas) is the cabinet-level administrative office in charge of "planning, directing, controlling and building the public infrastructure, as well as the conservation and management of them" within Chile. It is also responsible for the "management, distribution, use and conservation" of all the water resources within the country. They answer directly to the President of Chile. Since 10 March 2023, the Minister of Public Works is Jessica López.

## History

The office was first created by law of 21 June 1887, under President José Manuel Balmaceda as the Ministry of Industry and Public Works. Since then it has undergone several reorganizations during its history, reflected in its different names:
* Ministry of Industry and Public Works 21 June 1887 - 20 May 1910
* Ministry of Industry, Public Works and Railroads 20 May 1910 - 19 December 1924
* Ministry of Public Works and Roads 19 December 1924 - 21 March 1925
* Ministry of Public Works, Commerce and Communication Roads 21 March 1925 - 3 October 1927
* Ministry of Foment 3 October 1927 - 21 October 1942
* Ministry of Public Works and Communication Roads 21 October 1942 – 1953
* Ministry of Public Works 1953 - 13 December 1967
* Ministry of Public Works and Transport 13 December 1967 - 8 July 1974
* Ministry of Public Works 8 July 1974 – present

## Titulars
### Ministers of Industry and Public Works

| Name | Entered Office | Exited Office | Notes | Appointed by |
| Pedro Montt Montt | 28 June 1887 | 13 April 1888 | | José Manuel Balmaceda |
| Vicente Dávila Larraín | 13 April 1888 | 2 November 1888 | | José Manuel Balmaceda |
| Prudencio Lazcano Echaurren | 2 November 1888 | 21 January 1889 | | José Manuel Balmaceda |
| Enrique Salvador Sanfuentes Andonaegui | 21 January 1889 | 1 May 1889 | | José Manuel Balmaceda |
| Jorge Riesco Errázuriz | 1 May 1889 | 23 October 1889 | | José Manuel Balmaceda |
| Ramón Barros Luco | 23 October 1889 | 7 November 1889 | | José Manuel Balmaceda |
| José Miguel Valdés Carrera | 7 November 1889 | 7 August 1890 | | José Manuel Balmaceda |
| Macario Vial Guzmán | 7 August 1890 | 15 October 1890 | | José Manuel Balmaceda |
| Eulogio Allendes Álvarez de Toledo | 15 October 1890 | 6 December 1890 | | José Manuel Balmaceda |
| Guillermo Mackenna Serrano | 6 December 1890 | 29 March 1891 | | José Manuel Balmaceda |
| Nicanor Ugalde Godoy | 29 March 1891 | 29 August 1891 | | José Manuel Balmaceda |
| Agustín Edwards Ross | 7 September 1891 | 14 March 1892 | Appointed by | Revolutionary Junta of Iquique |
| Agustín Edwards Ross | 7 September 1891 | 14 March 1892 | | Reappointed by | Jorge Montt Álvarez |
| Jorge Riesco Errázuriz | 14 March 1892 | 11 June 1892 | | | Jorge Montt Álvarez |
| Vicente Dávila Larraín | 11 June 1892 | 1894 | | | Jorge Montt Álvarez |
| Manuel Antonio Prieto | 1894 | 1894 | | | Jorge Montt Álvarez |
| Elías Fernández Albano | 1894 | 1895 | | | Jorge Montt Álvarez |
| Juan Miguel Dávila | 1895 | 1895 | | | Jorge Montt Álvarez |
| Elías Fernández Albano | 1895 | 18 September 1896 | | | Jorge Montt Álvarez |
| Francisco Baeza | 18 September 1896 | 1896 | | Federico Errázuriz Echaurren |
| Francisco de Borja Valdés Cuevas | 1896 | 1897 | | Federico Errázuriz Echaurren |
| Belisario Prats Bello | 1897 | 1897 | | Federico Errázuriz Echaurren |
| Domingo Toro Herrera | 1897 | 1897 | | Federico Errázuriz Echaurren |
| Emilio Orrego Luco | 1897 | 1897 | | Federico Errázuriz Echaurren |
| Julio Bañados Espinoza | 1897 | 1898 | | Federico Errázuriz Echaurren |
| Emilio Bello Codesido | 1898 | 1898 | | Federico Errázuriz Echaurren |
| Arturo Alessandri Palma | 1898 | 1899 | | Federico Errázuriz Echaurren |
| Daniel Rioseco | 1899 | 2 September 1899 | | Federico Errázuriz Echaurren |
| Gregorio Pinochet Espinoza | 2 September 1899 | died 28 October 1899 | Died in office | Federico Errázuriz Echaurren |
| Florencio Valdés Cuevas | 30 October 1899 | 1900 | | Federico Errázuriz Echaurren |
| Abraham Gacitúa Brieva | 1900 | 1900 | | Federico Errázuriz Echaurren |
| Rafael Orrego González | 1900 | 1900 | | Federico Errázuriz Echaurren |
| Manuel Covarrubias | 1900 | 1901 | | Federico Errázuriz Echaurren |
| José Ramón Nieto | 1901 | 1901 | | Federico Errázuriz Echaurren |
| Joaquín Fernández Blanco | 1901 | 18 September 1901 | Appointed by | Federico Errázuriz Echaurren |
| Joaquín Fernández Blanco | 1901 | 18 September 1901 | Reappointed by | Aníbal Zañartu |
| Ismael Tocornal Tocornal | 18 September 1901 | 1901 | | Germán Riesco Errázuriz |
| Rafael Orrego González | 1901 | 1902 | | Germán Riesco Errázuriz |
| José Joaquín Villarino Cabezón | 5 May 1902 | 1902 | | Germán Riesco Errázuriz |
| Agustín Gana Urzúa | 1902 | 1903 | | Germán Riesco Errázuriz |
| Francisco Rivas Vicuña | 1903 | 1903 | | Germán Riesco Errázuriz |
| Maximiliano Espinoza Pica | 1903 | 1903 | | Germán Riesco Errázuriz |
| Manuel Espinoza Jara | 1903 | 12 May 1904 | | Germán Riesco Errázuriz |
| Carlos Gregorio Abalos Varela | 12 May 1904 | 1 June 1904 | | Germán Riesco Errázuriz |
| Francisco de Borja Valdés Cuevas | 1 June 1904 | 1904 | | Germán Riesco Errázuriz |
| Anfión Muñoz Muñoz | 1904 | 1904 | | Germán Riesco Errázuriz |
| Eduardo Charme Fernández | 1904 | 1905 | | Germán Riesco Errázuriz |
| Enrique Villegas Encalada | 1905 | 1905 | | Germán Riesco Errázuriz |
| José Ramón Gutiérrez | 1905 | 1906 | | Germán Riesco Errázuriz |
| Ramón Antonio Vergara Donoso | 1906 | 1906 | | Germán Riesco Errázuriz |
| Abraham Ovalle Ovalle | 1906 | 18 September 1906 | | Germán Riesco Errázuriz |
| Eduardo Charme Fernández | 18 September 1906 | 29 October 1906 | | Pedro Montt Montt |
| Carlos Gregorio Abalos Varela | 29 October 1906 | 7 November 1906 | | Pedro Montt Montt |
| Anselmo Hevia Riquelme | 7 November 1906 | 1907 | | Pedro Montt Montt |
| Gonzalo Urrejola Unzueta | 1907 | 1907 | | Pedro Montt Montt |
| Joaquín Figueroa Larraín | 1907 | 29 August 1908 | | Pedro Montt Montt |
| Guillermo Echavarría | 29 August 1908 | 22 January 1909 | | Pedro Montt Montt |
| Manuel Espinoza Jara | 22 January 1909 | 15 June 1909 | | Pedro Montt Montt |
| Pedro García de la Huerta | 15 June 1909 | 15 September 1909 | | Pedro Montt Montt |
| Eduardo Délano | 15 September 1909 | 25 June 1910 | | Pedro Montt Montt |

### Ministers of Industry, Public Works and Railroads

| Name | Entered Office | Exited Office | Notes | Appointed by |
| Fidel Muñoz Rodríguez | 25 June 1910 | 10 November 1910 | Appointed by | Pedro Montt |
| Fidel Muñoz Rodríguez | 25 June 1910 | 10 November 1910 | Reappointed by | Elías Fernández Albano |
| Fidel Muñoz Rodríguez | 25 June 1910 | 10 November 1910 | Reappointed by | Emiliano Figueroa |
| Beltrán Mathieu Andrews | 10 November 1910 | 23 December 1910 | | Emiliano Figueroa |
| Ismael Valdés Vergara | 23 December 1910 | 1911 | | Ramón Barros Luco |
| Javier Gandarillas Matta | 1911 | 1911 | | Ramón Barros Luco |
| Enrique Zañartu Prieto | 1911 | 1912 | | Ramón Barros Luco |
| Abraham Ovalle Ovalle | 1912 | 1912 | | Ramón Barros Luco |
| Belfor Fernández | 1912 | 1912 | | Ramón Barros Luco |
| Oscar Viel Cavero | 1912 | 1913 | | Ramón Barros Luco |
| Enrique Zañartu Prieto | 1913 | 1914 | | Ramón Barros Luco |
| Absalón Valencia | 1914 | 1914 | | Ramón Barros Luco |
| Julio Garcés | 1914 | 1914 | | Ramón Barros Luco |
| Cornelio Saavedra Montt | 1914 | 1915 | | Ramón Barros Luco |
| Fernando Freire | 1915 | 1915 | | Ramón Barros Luco |
| Pedro Felipe Iñiguez | 1915 | 23 December 1915 | | Ramón Barros Luco |
| Roberto Guzmán Montt | 23 December 1915 | 1916 | | Juan Luis Sanfuentes |
| Angel Guarello Costa | 1916 | 1916 | | Juan Luis Sanfuentes |
| Justiniano Sotomayor Guzmán | 1916 | 1916 | | Juan Luis Sanfuentes |
| Ramón León Luco | 1916 | 1917 | | Juan Luis Sanfuentes |
| Alberto González Errázuriz | 1917 | 1917 | | Juan Luis Sanfuentes |
| Malaquías Concha Ortiz | 1917 | 1918 | | Juan Luis Sanfuentes |
| Francisco Landa Zárate | 1918 | 1918 | | Juan Luis Sanfuentes |
| Ramón Briones | 1918 | 1918 | | Juan Luis Sanfuentes |
| Francisco Landa Zárate | 1918 | 1918 | | Juan Luis Sanfuentes |
| Vicente Adrián Villalobos | 1918 | 1919 | | Juan Luis Sanfuentes |
| Manuel O'Ryan Carrasco | 1919 | 1919 | | Juan Luis Sanfuentes |
| Malaquías Concha Ortiz | 1919 | 1919 | | Juan Luis Sanfuentes |
| Oscar Dávila Izquierdo | 1919 | 1920 | | Juan Luis Sanfuentes |
| Malaquías Concha Ortiz | 1920 | 1920 | | Juan Luis Sanfuentes |
| Armando Jaramillo Valderrama | 1920 | 23 December 1920 | | Juan Luis Sanfuentes |
| Zenón Torrealba Ilabaca | 23 December 1920 | 1921 | | Arturo Alessandri |
| Artemio Gutiérrez | 1921 | 1921 | | Arturo Alessandri |
| Armando Jaramillo Valderrama | 1921 | 1922 | | Arturo Alessandri |
| Pedro Fajardo | 1922 | 1922 | | Arturo Alessandri |
| Miguel Letelier Espínola | 1922 | 1922 | | Arturo Alessandri |
| Absalón Valencia | 1922 | 1923 | | Arturo Alessandri |
| Róbinson Paredes Pacheco | 1923 | 1923 | | Arturo Alessandri |
| Vicente Adrián Villalobos | 1923 | 1923 | | Arturo Alessandri |
| Juan Vargas Márquez | 1923 | 1923 | | Arturo Alessandri |
| Francisco Mardones Otaíza | 1923 | 1924 | | Arturo Alessandri |
| Vicente Adrián Villalobos | 1924 | 1924 | | Arturo Alessandri |
| Róbinson Paredes Pacheco | 1924 | 1924 | | Arturo Alessandri |
| Guillermo Bañados | 1924 | 1924 | | Arturo Alessandri |
| Angel Guarello Costa | 1924 | 1924 | | Arturo Alessandri |

### Ministers of Public Works and Roads

| Name | Entered Office | Exited Office | Notes | Appointed by |
| Oscar Dávila Izquierdo | 17 October 1924 | 19 December 1924 | | September Junta |
| Luis Molina Gómez | 19 December 1924 | 23 January 1925 | | September Junta |
| Francisco Mardones Otaíza | 29 January 1925 | 27 August 1925 | Appointed by | January Junta |
| Francisco Mardones Otaíza | 29 January 1925 | 27 August 1925 | Reappointed by | Arturo Alessandri |
| Gustavo Lira Manso | 27 August 1925 | 2 October 1925 | | Arturo Alessandri |

### Ministers of Public Works, Commerce and Communication Roads

| Name | Entered Office | Exited Office | Notes | Appointed by |
| Alejandro García Castelblanco | 2 October 1925 | 23 December 1925 | | Arturo Alessandri |
| Angel Guarello Costa | 23 December 1925 | 20 November 1926 | | Emiliano Figueroa |
| Julio Velasco | 20 November 1926 | 23 May 1927 | | Emiliano Figueroa |
| Emiliano Ortiz Vega | 23 May 1927 | 6 September 1927 | | Carlos Ibáñez del Campo |
| Enrique Balmaceda Toro | 6 September 1927 | 29 September 1927 | Interim | Carlos Ibáñez del Campo |

### Ministers of Foment

| Name | Entered Office | Exited Office | Notes | Appointed by |
| Adolfo Ibáñez Boggiano | 29 September 1927 | 22 February 1929 | | Carlos Ibáñez del Campo |
| Conrado Ríos Gallardo | 22 February 1929 | 24 February 1929 | Interim | Carlos Ibáñez del Campo |
| Luis Schmidt Quezada | 24 February 1929 | 23 August 1929 | | Carlos Ibáñez del Campo |
| Emiliano Bustos | 23 August 1929 | 23 July 1930 | | Carlos Ibáñez del Campo |
| Edecio Torreblanca | 23 July 1930 | 29 August 1930 | | Carlos Ibáñez del Campo |
| Luis Matte Larraín | 29 August 1930 | 27 November 1930 | | Carlos Ibáñez del Campo |
| Edecio Torreblanca | 27 November 1930 | 13 July 1931 | | Carlos Ibáñez del Campo |
| Francisco Cereceda Cisternas | 13 July 1931 | 21 July 1931 | | Carlos Ibáñez del Campo |
| Alejandro García Castelblanco | 23 July 1931 | 26 July 1931 | | Carlos Ibáñez del Campo |
| Luis Gutiérrez Allende | 26 July 1931 | 27 July 1931 | | Pedro Opazo |
| Francisco Cereceda Cisternas | 27 July 1931 | 21 August 1931 | Appointed by | Juan Esteban Montero |
| Francisco Cereceda Cisternas | 27 July 1931 | 21 August 1931 | Reappointed by | Manuel Trucco |
| Luis Alamos Barros | 21 August 1931 | 3 September 1931 | | Manuel Trucco |
| Enrique Matta Figueroa | 3 September 1931 | 15 November 1931 | Appointed by | Manuel Trucco |
| Enrique Matta Figueroa | 3 September 1931 | 15 November 1931 | Reappointed by | Juan Esteban Montero |
| Hernán Echeverría Cazotte | 15 November 1931 | 7 April 1932 | | Juan Esteban Montero |
| Marco Antonio de la Cuadra | 7 April 1932 | 4 June 1932 | | Juan Esteban Montero |
| Víctor Navarrete Senn | 5 June 1932 | 13 September 1932 | Appointed by | Government Junta of Chile (1932) |
| Víctor Navarrete Senn | 5 June 1932 | 13 September 1932 | Reappointed by | Carlos Dávila |
| Gustavo Lira Manso | 14 September 1932 | 2 October 1932 | | Bartolomé Blanche |
| Miguel Chamorro Araya | 3 October 1932 | 24 December 1932 | | Abraham Oyanedel |
| Alfredo Piwonka Jilabert | 24 December 1932 | 9 May 1933 | | Arturo Alessandri |
| Domingo Santa María Sánchez | 9 May 1933 | 31 October 1933 | | Arturo Alessandri |
| Matías Silva Sepúlveda | 31 October 1933 | 12 September 1936 | | Arturo Alessandri |
| Luis Alamos Barros | 12 September 1936 | 26 May 1937 | | Arturo Alessandri |
| Ricardo Bascuñán Stonner | 26 May 1937 | 24 December 1938 | | Arturo Alessandri |
| Arturo Bianchi Gundián | 24 December 1938 | 25 December 1939 | | Pedro Aguirre Cerda |
| Oscar Schnacke Vergara | 25 December 1939 | 16 December 1941 | Appointed by | Pedro Aguirre Cerda |
| Oscar Schnacke Vergara | 25 December 1939 | 16 December 1941 | Reappointed by | Jerónimo Méndez |
| Rolando Meriño Reyes | 16 December 1941 | 2 April 1942 | | Jerónimo Méndez |
| Oscar Schnacke Vergara | 2 April 1942 | 1942 | | Juan Antonio Ríos |