Ministry of Public Works (Chile)
The Ministry of Public Works 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 March 11, 2018, the Minister of Public Works is Mr Juan Andrés Fontaine Talavera and his Under-secretary is Mr Lucas Palacios.History
The office was first created by law of June 21, 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 June 21, 1887 - May 20, 1910
- Ministry of Industry, Public Works and Railroads May 20, 1910 - December 19, 1924
- Ministry of Public Works and Roads December 19, 1924 - March 21, 1925
- Ministry of Public Works, Commerce and Communication Roads March 21, 1925 - October 3, 1927
- Ministry of Foment October 3, 1927 - October 21, 1942
- Ministry of Public Works and Communication Roads October 21, 1942 – 1953
- Ministry of Public Works 1953 - December 13, 1967
- Ministry of Public Works and Transport December 13, 1967 - July 8, 1974
- Ministry of Public Works July 8, 1974 – present
Titulars
Ministers of Industry and Public Works
Ministers of Industry, Public Works and Railroads
Ministers of Public Works and Roads
Ministers of Public Works, Commerce and Communication Roads
Ministers of Foment
