Mercado takes over as DPWH secretary

• Newly appointed Department of Public Works and Highways acting secretary Roger Mercado formally assumed his post on October 14

• Mercado replaces Mark Villar, who resigned on October 6 to run as senator in the 2022 elections

• Mercado vowed to sustain momentum to deliver more high-impact projects that will benefit the Filipino people including those living in remote communities”

Newly appointed acting secretary Roger Mercado vows to “sustain the current momentum” in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to deliver more high-impact projects as he formally assumes his post on October 14.

Former Public Works Secretary Mark Villar on October 14 handed over the stewardship of the agency to Mercado during a turnover ceremony at the DPWH Central Office in Port Area, Manila.

READ: DPWH, MMDA have new chiefs

Mercado was appointed on October 12, replacing Villar, who stepped down on October 6 to run for the Senate in the 2022 elections. Mercado took his oath on October 13.

“It is an honor to work with the professional men and women of DPWH and to be able to continue oversee the completion of department’s flagship infrastructure programs and projects,” Mercado said in a statement.

“I vow to sustain the current momentum in the department so we can deliver more high-impact projects that will benefit the Filipino people including those living in remote communities,” he added.

Prior to his appointment as the 44^th head of DPWH, Mercado was the representative of Southern Leyte in the 18^th Congress. He was vice chairperson of the Lower House Committee on Public Works and a deputy majority leader for the Committee on Rules.

He also served as a congressman during the 8^th, 9^th, 10^th, 13^th, 14^th, 15^th, and 17^th Congresses, and was also governor of Southern Leyte from 2013 to 2016.

He hails from Maasin City, Southern Leyte and was known for his tourism, environmental protection, and agriculture programs in Southern Leyte.