Duterte trail in 2 weeks: Free wifi and 19 more things you’ll love

  LAOS - Two weeks after taking up office, the administration of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has worked to bring several changes to benefit Filipinos in the country and abroad. Here’s our list of 20 of the best things the public will surely love. 1. 911 hotline in the works. The government has signed a deal with PLDT, Smart and Globe to establish a national 911 emergency hotline. 2. Social pension for senior citizens. Indigent senior citizens aged 60 years and above without SSS and GSIS pension may now apply for the Social Pension Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development. 3. Free wifi at airports, train stations. The Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) signed a deal with Smart Telecommunications to provide free wifi of up to 1 GB in all four passenger terminals of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) as well as airports in Bacolod, Caticlan, Cebu, Clark, Davao, Dumaguete, General Santos, Iloilo, Kalibo, Laguindingan, Laoag and Zamboanga. Also to be included are LRT1, LRT2 and MRT. For seaports, free wifi will be initially made available in Batangas and Mindoro. Two MRT stations – Ortigas and Guadalupe – are already offering free wifi access to commuters. 4. Improved Manila traffic. Expect improved traffic conditions in Metro Manila within the next 100 days. DOTC Secretary Arthur Tugade has proposed ways to address traffic in the metropolis, including alternative locations to purchase train tickets, and better waiting rooms for commuters. DOTC will also propose to Congress to give Duterte emergency powers to solve traffic gridlock in Metro Manila. 5. Bicol Railway System reboot. The DOTC revealed plans to rebuild and rehabilitate the Bicol Railway System (Bicol Express) to boost the region’s agriculture and fisheries sectors. 6. Death penalty talks. Duterte met with lawmakers to discuss state issues, including the revival of the death penalty. 7. End to labor-only contracting. The practice of “labor-only contracting” or “endo” (end of contract) will be stopped by 2017, with the Department of Labor and Employment targeting a strict enforcement of the Labor Code starting this year. 8. 5-hour Customs service. The Bureau of Customs (BOC) intends to reduce releasing time for normal shipments from five days to five hours. The BOC said they would coordinate with the Federation of Philippine Industries (FPI) on processing imports. 9. Lower income tax proposed. Department of Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez has put together income tax reform proposals that back the reduction of the tax rate from 32 percent to 25 percent. The proposal would be submitted to Congress in September. 10. Faster cheque clearing. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said that the number of days in the clearing of cheques would be reduced to one day from the current three starting in January, 2017. 11. Public taxis and jeepneys at NAIA. Since July 18, public transportation, such as taxi and jeepneys were allowed to ferry passengers from NAIA terminals to avoid long lines at taxi bays. Jeepneys are now allowed to pick up passengers from NAIA T3 at a designated spot near the former Circulo del Mondo Rotunda. 12. End to bullet scam issue. Duterte has ordered that passengers found with a bullet or bullet amulet in their luggage would be allowed to board their flights without any interrogation or charges after surrendering the bullet to airport officials. To improve security at NAIA, high-resolution CCTV cameras are being installed in strategic areas to eliminate security blind spots. 13. Quick tax clearance issuance. The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has made it easier and faster to secure tax clearance certificates as well as certificates authorizing registration. From nine, only three documents were now required: a notarized application form with two pieces of loose documentary stamp tax; a delinquency verification issued by the concerned BIR office; as well as a print-out of the certification fee paid through the BIR’s electronic filing and payment system. BIR offices were also ordered to issue the delinquency verification within 24 hours after the taxpayer filed the application. The delinquency verification will have a one-month validity period. 14. Philippines to host Miss Universe. Duterte has given the go-signal for the Philippines to host the next Miss Universe pageant. The Department of Tourism plans to use the event as a tool to promote the country’s tourism hotspots from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Funds for the event are expected from commercial sponsors and private companies.
15. Revival of abaca industry. The Department of Agriculture wants to spend P5 billion over the next five years to support and revive the domestic abaca industry. It would start with a P100-million package in the town of Sogod, Southern Leyte. The department is also keen on increasing white-corn production to meet the demand of corn-eating provinces in the Visayas and Mindanao. 16. Maximum 30-day processing of permits. Duterte has ordered his Cabinet officials to ensure a maximum 30-day processing time of permits in their respective agencies. 17. Drug lab shutdown. A “mega” drug lab was shut down in Pampanga on July 12, a day after authorities shut down a 50-metre “floating drug lab” off Subic shores. Some P4-billion worth of illegal drugs were seized and eight people arrested in the two raids. Philippine National Police Director General Ronald dela Rosa and officials of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency also led the destruction of dangerous drugs worth P1.77 billion in Cavite. 18. Mass surrender. Close to 4,000 suspected drug dealers and drug users packed an auditorium in Tagum City on July 9 and voluntarily surrendered themselves to the police. It is considered the single biggest surrender so far. Some 8,808 individuals involved in illegal drugs have voluntarily surrendered to police as of July 14, according to the National Capital Region Police Office.  19. Deadline set for P609m drainage project. The Department of Public Works and Highways has directed contractor LR Tiqui Builder, Inc. to finish the P609-million drainage project in Maysilo Circle, Mandaluyong City by September 30 or face consequences. 20. Presidential house renamed. The presidential residence "Bahay Pangarap" has been renamed "Bahay ng Pagbabago". No major changes were made, except for a few minor repairs and new curtains. A simple house blessing ceremony was done, with Duterte seen wearing grey fluffy indoor slippers.   Click here to see the full list of 50 things the Duterte administration has done in two weeks. Also read: 20 things Duterte administration did in 8 days 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 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