Senator Mark Villar has issued a public statement reaffirming his commitment to transparency and good governance, amid recent scrutiny surrounding infrastructure projects during his tenure as Secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

“I welcome and fully support any investigation into these issues,” Villar said. “I have nothing to hide and believe firmly in accountability and due process.”

Villar categorically denied any conflict of interest, stating that he holds no direct or indirect ownership in companies involved in DPWH projects. He also emphasized that official records will show none of his relatives received contracts from 2016 to 2021, the period during which he led the department.

“My focus then was singular: to implement deep-seated reforms and rebuild public trust,” he said.

During his time at DPWH, Villar spearheaded several transparency initiatives, including the digitization of department data, the creation of community monitoring groups in remote areas, and the launch of a 24/7 complaints hotline. He also introduced drone technology for project monitoring and encouraged civil society organizations to inspect sites firsthand.

“These reforms were designed to foster a culture of complete transparency—from right-of-way acquisition to geotagging,” Villar noted.

Looking ahead, the senator expressed full support for the Independent Commission for Infrastructure’s investigation and announced plans to file a bill mandating universal drone monitoring for all major government projects.

“I have full faith that my service record bears witness to this focus and commitment,” he said.