Villar positive for ‘corona’

He became the third member of President Rodrigo Duterte’s Cabinet to have contracted the new coronavirus after Education Secretary Leonor Briones and Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año

Secretary Mark Villar of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has tested positive for COVID-19.

Villar announced the result of his test through his social media account.

“I regret to announce that today, 15 July, I received my test result and it is positive for COVID-19,” Villar posted on Facebook.

He became the third member of President Rodrigo Duterte’s Cabinet to have contracted the new coronavirus after Education Secretary Leonor Briones and Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año.

Villar’s last known public appearance was on Friday to attend the Cavitex-C5 link expressway to witness the contract signing and ground breaking of two new segments of the P15-billion project.

The Cavitex Infrastructure Corporation (CIC), concessionaire of the Manila-Cavite Expressway (Cavitex) and the Philippine Reclamation Authority will lead the construction of the two new segments.

I regret to announce that today, 15 July, I received my test result and it is positive for COVID-19.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque, who was with Villar at the groundbreaking, expressed concern over the incident but said that it is part of the risks government officials have to take in fulfilling their duties.

“It’s an assumed risk especially in the DPWH because there are many construction workers who turned out positive of the virus,” Roque said.

“(I) was with him last Friday. Fortunately, (I) had a drive through swab yesterday (Thursday) and (just) awaiting result today,” he added.

Prior to his announcement, Villar took part in the Palace media briefing via online on Monday, 13 July.