THE SOCIAL Security System (SSS) announced yesterday that it has allocated P1.61 billion for the calamity assistance program (CAP) for more than a million of its active members and pensioners who were affected by the typhoon Mangkhut (local name: Ompong) last month.

MOTORISTS AND commuters should expect even heavier traffic in the coming days with road closures in several parts of congested Metro Manila for infrastructure projects that started over the weekend, the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said.

A COMPREHENSIVE Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) is now being finalized by the Office of Civil Defense-Cordillera Administrative Region (OCD-CAR), which will be used for the rehabilitation and recovery plan for areas devastated by typhoon Ompong (international name: Mangkhut) in mid-Sept.

THE NEW Leyte Embankment Project, which has also been dubbed as the Leyte “Great Wall”, is expected to be completed by 2019, a year ahead of the original schedule, according to the Department of Works and Highways (DPWH).

An architect’s perspective of Tagum City’s Freedom Park after it undergoes improvement work through a P14.6-million fund under the Department of Budget and Management’s ‘Green, Green, Green’ Program for developing more public open spaces.

DAVAO CITY Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio has turned down the demand of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT)-Davao City Chapter for a P406 million annual subsidy from the local government, covering 11,959 teaching and non-teaching personnel of the Department of Education (DepEd).

News stories from across the nation. Visit www.bworldonline.com (section: The Nation) to read more national and regional news from the Philippines.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS Secretary Alan Peter S. Cayetano announced yesterday that he already has a copy of a “rough draft” of the framework for the planned joint oil exploration with China in the contested West Philippine Sea.

PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESPERSON Harry L. Roque, Jr. said on Friday that he is considering resigning after he was “taken aback” by the confirmation of a hospital visit by President Rodrigo R. Duterte last Wednesday, which he said he did not know about.

PRESIDENT RODRIGO R. Duterte announced last Thursday that he is set to appoint retiring Army Commanding General Rolando Joselito “Rolly” D. Bautista as secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

THE Makati Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 148 has issued an order for Senator Antonio F. Trillanes IV to present his witnesses and evidence on or before Tuesday, after a court hearing was held regarding the validity of his amnesty for his involvement in two coup d’etat attempts.

THE MINORITY bloc in the House of Representatives led by the opposition Liberal Party (LP) has formally challenged the minority leadership before the Supreme Court (SC), filing a case on Friday, Oct. 5.