Let’s take a look at the first 20 things that the new Philippine administration under President Rodrigo Duterte has done in its first eight days of office.

  1. Duterte’s first order to all public agencies was to reduce the amount of time it took for the public to apply for and get their government-issued documents. Even no less than the Office of the President streamlined its operations. The Offices of the Cabinet Secretary and Executive Assistant now have more supervision powers over departments and bureaus. Read more 2. Free entrance at the National Museum for everyone starting on July 1. 3. Philippine National Police Chief Ronald dela Rosa subjected top police officials to a surprise drug test. Eleven of them tested positive for illegal drug use. 4. Malacañang declared July 6 a non-working holiday in observance of the Muslim tradition of Eid Al Fitr. 5. Duterte instructed the Department of Education to improve drug literacy. The current curriculum will be revised with drug education lessons starting with Grade 4 students. 6. Duterte named five high-ranking police generals allegedly involved in drugs. He also revealed the Triad Group of druglords in the country. More names of policemen and public officials will be disclosed soon. Read more 7. The Department of Tourism (DOT) is in talks with the Miss Universe organizers for the Philippines to host next year’s Miss Universe pageant, which they plan to use as the base for a massive tourism campaign for Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. 8. The Department of Agrarian Reform opened its main gates to rallyists after nearly two decades. The Hacienda Luisita case will be resolved in 30 days. 9. Duterte attended the opening and even performed the ceremonial toss during the Gilas Pilipinas-France game for the Olympic qualifiers. 10. Duterte finally offered Vice President Robredo a position as head of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council. How did he offer the job? Via a phone call at a press conference in Malacanang Palace. Read more
Leni Robredo meets Rodrigo Duterte Leni Robredo meets Rodrigo Duterte at Malacanang Palace on July 4, 2016. Photo by Leni Robredo/Facebook
11. The president instructed the Aviation Security Group (ASG) not to arrest, detain, or file charges against passengers who were found possessing ammunition in airports. Philippine airports will also have cleaner toilets, with expenses shouldered by airline companies, CCTV cameras and free wifi. 12. The Board of Investments revealed that there has been a surge of investments in Mindanao, which it credited to business confidence to the new administration. How much? Almost 900 billion pesos. 13. The Freedom of Information Act will become effective through an executive order. 14. Thousands of drug users and drug dealers across the country have surrendered under the new anti-drug campaign of the Philippine National Police. “Oplan Tokhang” is so successful that police now have a new problem: sufficient drug-rehabilitation facilities. Even local government units are overwhelmed on how to go about this particular issue. Read more on mass surrender of drug dependents 15. The Presidential Communications Office will be revamping the People’s Television Network (PTV4). Duterte will have his own TV and radio program every week. Social media and a newspaper will also be used to inform the public about government programs. PTV4 will also have a TV segment for Muslim and Indigenous Peoples' and the youth. The program is planned to launch in August. 16. The Department of Public Works and Highways will be doing intensive infrastructure projects and construction, not only in Luzon, but also in Visayas and Mindanao. 17. The Department of Justice is looking to create an Alcatraz-like penitentiary for hard-core criminals. There is a plan to build the prison somewhere in Palawan where there are no mobile signals. 18. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has suspended the license of four mining companies due to violations of government regulations. 19. Public hotline numbers 911, for emergency response, and 8888, for public complaints and concerns, will be available in August across the Philippines. 20. Duterte foregoes a trip on the presidential plane and opts for an economy seat in a commercial flight to head home to Davao to spend the weekend with his family and attend the Hari Raya festival. This post first appeared on Faith Ruth Villanueva's Facebook page   Also read: Change in Philippine government undeniable, says woman behind viral Duterte post Ten powerful quotes from Duterte's inaugural speech Famous quotes from famous people that guide Duterte Duterte orders officials to cut red tape or face consequences Erosion of government trust 'serious problem', says Duterte Duterte inauguration: Minute-by-minute 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