Juan Carlos García Pérez de Arce, a former Minister of Public Works. The Ministry of Public Works  (Spanish: Ministerio de Obras Públicas ) 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 10 March 2023, the Minister of Public Works is Jessica López .
History 
The office was first created by law of 21 June 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  21 June 1887 - 20 May 1910Ministry of Industry, Public Works and Railroads  20 May 1910 - 19 December 1924Ministry of Public Works and Roads  19 December 1924 - 21 March 1925Ministry of Public Works, Commerce and Communication Roads  21 March 1925 - 3 October 1927Ministry of Foment  3 October 1927 -  21 October 1942Ministry of Public Works and Communication Roads  21 October 1942 – 1953Ministry of Public Works  1953 - 13 December 1967Ministry of Public Works and Transport  13 December 1967 - 8 July 1974Ministry of Public Works  8 July 1974 – present
Titulars 
Ministers of Industry and Public Works 
Picture
 
Name
 
Entered Office
 
Exited Office
 
Notes
 
Appointed by
  
Pedro Montt Montt 28 June 1887
 
13 April 1888
 
 
José Manuel Balmaceda 
 
Vicente Dávila Larraín 
13 April 1888
 
2 November 1888
 
  
 
Prudencio Lazcano Echaurren 2 November 1888
 
21 January 1889
 
  
Enrique Salvador Sanfuentes Andonaegui 
21 January 1889
 
1 May 1889
 
  
 
Jorge Riesco Errázuriz 
1 May 1889
 
23 October 1889
 
  
Ramón Barros Luco 23 October 1889
 
7 November 1889
 
  
 
José Miguel Valdés Carrera 7 November 1889
 
7 August 1890
 
  
 
Macario Vial Guzmán 
7 August 1890
 
15 October 1890
 
  
 
 Eulogio Allendes Álvarez de Toledo 
15 October 1890
 
6 December 1890
 
  
 
Guillermo Mackenna Serrano 
6 December 1890
 
29 March 1891
 
  
 
Nicanor Ugalde Godoy 
29 March 1891
 
29 August 1891
 
  
Agustín Edwards Ross 7 September 1891
 
14 March 1892
 
Appointed by 
Revolutionary Junta of Iquique 
 
 
Reappointed by 
Jorge Montt Álvarez 
 
 
Jorge Riesco Errázuriz 
14 March 1892
 
11 June 1892
 
  
Vicente Dávila Larraín 
11 June 1892
 
1894
 
  
 
Manuel Antonio Prieto 
1894
 
1894
 
  
Elías Fernández Albano 1894
 
1895
 
  
 
Juan Miguel Dávila 
1895
 
1895
 
  
Elías Fernández Albano 1895
 
18 September 1896
 
  
 
Francisco Baeza 
18 September 1896
 
1896
 
 
Federico Errázuriz Echaurren 
 
Francisco de Borja Valdés Cuevas 
1896
 
1897
 
  
 
Belisario Prats Bello 
1897
 
1897
 
  
 
Domingo Toro Herrera 
1897
 
1897
 
  
 
Emilio Orrego Luco 
1897
 
1897
 
  
 
Julio Bañados Espinoza 
1897
 
1898
 
  
Emilio Bello Codesido 1898
 
1898
 
  
Arturo Alessandri Palma 1898
 
1899
 
  
 
Daniel Rioseco 
1899
 
2 September 1899
 
  
 
Gregorio Pinochet Espinoza 
2 September 1899
 
died 28 October 1899
 
Died in office 
 
 
Florencio Valdés Cuevas 
30 October 1899
 
1900
 
  
 
Abraham Gacitúa Brieva 
1900
 
1900
 
  
 
Rafael Orrego González 
1900
 
1900
 
  
 
Manuel Covarrubias 
1900
 
1901
 
  
 
José Ramón Nieto 
1901
 
1901
 
  
Joaquín Fernández Blanco 
1901
 
18 September 1901
 
Appointed by 
 
Reappointed by 
Aníbal Zañartu 
 
Ismael Tocornal Tocornal 
18 September 1901
 
1901
 
 
Germán Riesco Errázuriz 
 
 
Rafael Orrego González 
1901
 
1902
 
  
José Joaquín Villarino Cabezón 
5 May 1902
 
1902
 
  
 
Agustín Gana Urzúa 
1902
 
1903
 
  
 
Francisco Rivas Vicuña 
1903
 
1903
 
  
 
Maximiliano Espinoza Pica 
1903
 
1903
 
  
 
Manuel Espinoza Jara 
1903
 
12 May 1904
 
  
 
Carlos Gregorio Abalos Varela 
12 May 1904
 
1 June 1904
 
  
Francisco de Borja Valdés Cuevas 
1 June 1904
 
1904
 
  
 
Anfión Muñoz Muñoz 1904
 
1904
 
  
Eduardo Charme Fernández 1904
 
1905
 
  
Enrique Villegas Encalada 1905
 
1905
 
  
 
José Ramón Gutiérrez 
1905
 
1906
 
  
 
Ramón Antonio Vergara Donoso 
1906
 
1906
 
  
 
Abraham Ovalle Ovalle 
1906
 
18 September 1906
 
  
Eduardo Charme Fernández 18 September 1906
 
29 October 1906
 
 
Pedro Montt Montt 
 
 
Carlos Gregorio Abalos Varela 
29 October 1906
 
7 November 1906
 
  
 
Anselmo Hevia Riquelme 
7 November 1906
 
1907
 
  
 
Gonzalo Urrejola Unzueta 
1907
 
1907
 
  
Joaquín Figueroa Larraín 1907
 
29 August 1908
 
  
 
Guillermo Echavarría 
29 August 1908
 
22 January 1909
 
  
 
Manuel Espinoza Jara 
22 January 1909
 
15 June 1909
 
  
 
Pedro García de la Huerta 
15 June 1909
 
15 September 1909
 
  
 
Eduardo Délano 
15 September 1909
 
25 June 1910
 
  
Picture
 
Name
 
Entered Office
 
Exited Office
 
Notes
 
Appointed by
  
 
Fidel Muñoz Rodríguez 25 June 1910
 
10 November 1910
 
Appointed by 
Pedro Montt 
 
Reappointed by 
Elías Fernández Albano 
 
Reappointed by 
Emiliano Figueroa 
 
Beltrán Mathieu Andrews 10 November 1910
 
23 December 1910
 
  
Ismael Valdés Vergara 
23 December 1910
 
1911
 
 
Ramón Barros Luco 
 
 
Javier Gandarillas Matta 
1911
 
1911
 
  
 
Enrique Zañartu Prieto 
1911
 
1912
 
  
 
Abraham Ovalle Ovalle 
1912
 
1912
 
  
 
Belfor Fernández 
1912
 
1912
 
  
 
Oscar Viel Cavero 
1912
 
1913
 
  
 
Enrique Zañartu Prieto 
1913
 
1914
 
  
 
Absalón Valencia 
1914
 
1914
 
  
 
Julio Garcés 
1914
 
1914
 
  
Cornelio Saavedra Montt 
1914
 
1915
 
  
 
Fernando Freire 
1915
 
1915
 
  
 
Pedro Felipe Iñiguez 
1915
 
23 December 1915
 
  
 
Roberto Guzmán Montt 
23 December 1915
 
1916
 
 
Juan Luis Sanfuentes 
 
Angel Guarello Costa 
1916
 
1916
 
  
 
Justiniano Sotomayor Guzmán 
1916
 
1916
 
  
 
Ramón León Luco 
1916
 
1917
 
  
 
Alberto González Errázuriz 
1917
 
1917
 
  
 
Malaquías Concha Ortiz 1917
 
1918
 
  
 
Francisco Landa Zárate 
1918
 
1918
 
  
 
Ramón Briones 1918
 
1918
 
  
 
Francisco Landa Zárate 
1918
 
1918
 
  
Vicente Adrián Villalobos 
1918
 
1919
 
  
 
Manuel O'Ryan Carrasco 
1919
 
1919
 
  
 
Malaquías Concha Ortiz 1919
 
1919
 
  
Oscar Dávila Izquierdo 
1919
 
1920
 
  
 
Malaquías Concha Ortiz 1920
 
1920
 
  
Armando Jaramillo Valderrama 
1920
 
23 December 1920
 
  
 
Zenón Torrealba Ilabaca 
23 December 1920
 
1921
 
 
Arturo Alessandri 
 
 
Artemio Gutiérrez 
1921
 
1921
 
  
Armando Jaramillo Valderrama 
1921
 
1922
 
  
 
Pedro Fajardo 
1922
 
1922
 
  
 
Miguel Letelier Espínola 
1922
 
1922
 
  
 
Absalón Valencia 
1922
 
1923
 
  
Róbinson Paredes Pacheco 
1923
 
1923
 
  
Vicente Adrián Villalobos 
1923
 
1923
 
  
 
Juan Vargas Márquez 
1923
 
1923
 
  
 
Francisco Mardones Otaíza 
1923
 
1924
 
  
Vicente Adrián Villalobos 
1924
 
1924
 
  
Róbinson Paredes Pacheco 
1924
 
1924
 
  
 
Guillermo Bañados 
1924
 
1924
 
  
Angel Guarello Costa 
1924
 
1924
 
  
Ministers of Public Works and Roads 
Picture
 
Name
 
Entered Office
 
Exited Office
 
Notes
 
Appointed by
  
Oscar Dávila Izquierdo 
17 October 1924
 
19 December 1924
 
 
September Junta 
 
 
Luis Molina Gómez 
19 December 1924
 
23 January 1925
 
  
 
Francisco Mardones Otaíza 
29 January 1925
 
27 August 1925
 
Appointed by 
January Junta 
 
 
Reappointed by 
Arturo Alessandri 
 
 
Gustavo Lira Manso 
27 August 1925
 
2 October 1925
 
  
Picture
 
Name
 
Entered Office
 
Exited Office
 
Notes
 
Appointed by
  
 
Alejandro García Castelblanco 
2 October 1925
 
23 December 1925
 
 
Arturo Alessandri 
 
Angel Guarello Costa 
23 December 1925
 
20 November 1926
 
 
Emiliano Figueroa 
 
 
Julio Velasco 
20 November 1926
 
23 May 1927
 
  
 
Emiliano Ortiz Vega 
23 May 1927
 
6 September 1927
 
 
Carlos Ibáñez del Campo 
 
 
Enrique Balmaceda Toro 6 September 1927
 
29 September 1927
 
Interim 
 
Ministers of Foment 
Picture
 
Name
 
Entered Office
 
Exited Office
 
Notes
 
Appointed by
  
 
Adolfo Ibáñez Boggiano 29 September 1927
 
22 February 1929
 
 
Carlos Ibáñez del Campo 
 
 
Conrado Ríos Gallardo 22 February 1929
 
24 February 1929
 
Interim 
 
 
Luis Schmidt Quezada 
24 February 1929
 
23 August 1929
 
  
 
Emiliano Bustos 
23 August 1929
 
23 July 1930
 
  
 
Edecio Torreblanca 
23 July 1930
 
29 August 1930
 
  
 
Luis Matte Larraín 
29 August 1930
 
27 November 1930
 
  
 
Edecio Torreblanca 
27 November 1930
 
13 July 1931
 
  
 
Francisco Cereceda Cisternas 
13 July 1931
 
21 July 1931
 
  
 
Alejandro García Castelblanco 
23 July 1931
 
26 July 1931
 
  
 
Luis Gutiérrez Allende 
26 July 1931
 
27 July 1931
 
 
Pedro Opazo 
 
 
Francisco Cereceda Cisternas 
27 July 1931
 
21 August 1931
 
Appointed by 
Juan Esteban Montero 
 
 
Reappointed by 
Manuel Trucco 
 
 
Luis Alamos Barros 
21 August 1931
 
3 September 1931
 
  
 
Enrique Matta Figueroa 
3 September 1931
 
15 November 1931
 
Appointed by 
 
 
Reappointed by 
Juan Esteban Montero 
 
 
Hernán Echeverría Cazotte 
15 November 1931
 
7 April 1932
 
  
 
Marco Antonio de la Cuadra 
7 April 1932
 
4 June 1932
 
  
 
Víctor Navarrete Senn 
5 June 1932
 
13 September 1932
 
Appointed by 
Government Junta of Chile (1932) 
 
 
Reappointed by 
Carlos Dávila 
 
 
Gustavo Lira Manso 
14 September 1932
 
2 October 1932
 
 
Bartolomé Blanche 
 
 
Miguel Chamorro Araya 
3 October 1932
 
24 December 1932
 
 
Abraham Oyanedel 
 
 
Alfredo Piwonka Jilabert 
24 December 1932
 
9 May 1933
 
 
Arturo Alessandri 
 
 
Domingo Santa María Sánchez 
9 May 1933
 
31 October 1933
 
  
 
Matías Silva Sepúlveda 
31 October 1933
 
12 September 1936
 
  
 
Luis Alamos Barros 
12 September 1936
 
26 May 1937
 
  
 
Ricardo Bascuñán Stonner 
26 May 1937
 
24 December 1938
 
  
 
Arturo Bianchi Gundián 
24 December 1938
 
25 December 1939
 
 
Pedro Aguirre Cerda 
 
 
Oscar Schnacke Vergara 
25 December 1939
 
16 December 1941
 
Appointed by 
 
 
Reappointed by 
Jerónimo Méndez 
 
 
Rolando Meriño Reyes 16 December 1941
 
2 April 1942
 
  
 
Oscar Schnacke Vergara 
2 April 1942
 
1942
 
 
Juan Antonio Ríos 
 
See also 
Sources 
República de Chile (1942). "VI. Poder Ejecutivo - Nómina de Gobernantes, Presidentes y Ministros desde la Independencia.". Manual del Senado. 1810-1942 (PDF)  (in Spanish). Santiago de Chile: Imprenta Universitaria. {{cite book}}:  CS1 maint: publisher location (link)(in Spanish) Valencia Avaria, Luis (1986). Anales de la República: textos constitucionales de Chile y registro de los ciudadanos que han integrado los poderes ejecutivo y legislativo desde 1810  (in Spanish) (2ª edición ed.). Santiago de Chile: Editorial Andrés Bello. {{cite book}}:  CS1 maint: publisher location (link)(in Spanish) 
External links