THE DEPARTMENT of Transportation (DoTr) said the groundbreaking for the Japan-funded Metro Manila Subway project has been moved to January due to conflicts in schedule with Japanese representatives.

THE BUREAU of Immigration (BI) arrested 21 Chinese nationals last Dec. 18 in Baclaran, Pasay City for illegally working in retail stores in the country.

THE DAVAO Oriental provincial government collected over P255 million in revenues as of Oct. this year, 26% higher than the P203 million full-year income in 2017, based on a report from the Provincial Treasurer’s Office.

CONTRACTUAL workers of the Davao City government, currently receiving an average of P7,400 a month, are getting a salary increase in 2019 with the approval of next year’s P8.8 billion budget.

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THE PRESIDENTIAL Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) is preparing to ask President Rodrigo R. Duterte to grant the agency prosecutorial powers and expand its jurisdiction.

DEFENSE Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana’s expressed intent to review the country’s Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) with the United States could strengthen and reassure the alliance between the two nations, analysts said.

THE DEPARTMENT of Justice (DoJ), as a member of the national task force formed by President Rodrigo R. Duterte for localized peace processes, will help in the speedy investigation and trial of people involved in the communist armed conflict, Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra said.

THE PRESIDENTIAL Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) is set to sign an agreement with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for a program on media safety and raising the standards of the journalism practice in the country.

THE POLICE rescued more than 1,030 members of indigenous people (IP) groups and 619 minors who were begging for alms in the streets in the days leading up to Christmas.

THE DEPARTMENT of Tourism-Central Visayas (DoT-7) again called on resorts in Panglao, Bohol to comply with environmental rules as the government implements a crackdown on violators.

THE REGIONAL Police Office (RPO) in Davao is bringing cases against the communist New People’s Army (NPA) before the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) for alleged human rights violations against indigenous people (IP) in the region, particularly in the town of Talaingod in Davao del Norte.