Mark Villar
Mark Aguilar Villar (, 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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 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. These projects were also part of the Build! Build! Build! program of the Duterte administration. The department faced controversy when Senator Panfilo Lacson flagged worth of DPWH infrastructure projects that had already been financed by the government for implementation in 2020 but were funded again for 2021. Duterte defended Villar for not being involved in the issue, saying that he is already rich. Villar formed a task force  that led to relieving 14 personnel due to corruption. Villar resigned as Secretary of Public Works and Highways effective October 6, 2021. On the same day, he filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) to run for senator in 2022. His candidacy is endorsed by President Duterte. He was named to the senatorial slate of UniTeam Alliance, having been endorsed by the tandem of Bongbong Marcos and Sara Duterte. Personal life. Villar is married to a fellow lawmaker, Emmeline Yan Aglipay, daughter of Edgar Aglipay and incumbent Department of Justice Undersecretary whom he met during the 15th Congress. They have a  daughter, Emma Therese. On July 15, 2020, Villar tested positive for COVID-19. He was able to recover from the disease.