Presidency of Rodrigo Duterte June 30, 2016 – present
Cabinet	See list
Party	PDP–Laban
Election	2016
Seat	Malacañang Palace, Manila
← B. Aquino III presidency
Seal of the president

This article is part of a series about Rodrigo Duterte
16th President of the Philippines Tenure 2016 presidential campaign election transition inauguration first 100 days administration and cabinet major acts executive orders international trips polls protests timeline impeachment efforts speeches August 7, 2016 State of the Nation Address 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 Philippines v. China Philippine ICC withdrawal Policies K–12 implementation process War on Drugs proposed shift to federalism Bangsamoro Organic Law National Identity System Freedom of Information Military modernization Anti-insurgency program Anti-Terrorism Act DuterteNomics Build! Build! Build! TRAIN Law Free tertiary education National Academy of Sports Smoking ban Malasakit Center PUV modernization 9-1-1 and 8888 Balik Probinsya 4Ps Marawi rehabilitation Housing department Migrant workers department Philippine Space Agency Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission COVID-19 pandemic Government response Taskforce Ad Hoc Committee Bayanihan 1 Bayanihan 2 quarantines vaccination programme Early political career Member of the House of Representatives from Davao City's 1st district Mayor of Davao City Vice mayor of Davao City Personal and public image Family Citizen National Guard Coalition For Change Diehard Duterte Supporters Duterte fist Duterte Youth Mula sa Masa, Para sa Masa Katipunan ng Demokratikong Pilipino Partido Federal ng Pilipinas PDP-Laban
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The presidency of Rodrigo Duterte began at noon on June 30, 2016, following his inauguration as the 16th president of the Philippines, succeeding Benigno Aquino III. His term is expected to end exactly six years later.

Duterte is the first president from Mindanao^[1] and the oldest person to be elected president of the Philippines.^[1] He is also the first Philippine president to have worked in the three branches of the government.^[1] Duterte was the mayor of Davao City at the time of his 2016 presidential election victory, garnering over 16 million votes or about 39% of total votes, beating his closest rival by over 6.6 million votes.^[2]

Duterte started a nationwide campaign to rid the country of crime, corruption, and illegal drugs.^[3][4] He implemented an intensified war on drugs which saw about 6,600 persons linked to the illegal drug trade killed as of July 2019,^[5] garnering international criticism. His administration withdrew the Philippines from the International Criminal Court following the court's launch of a preliminary examination into crimes against humanity allegedly committed by Duterte and other top officials.

Duterte prioritized infrastructure spending, initiating the Build! Build! Build! infrastructure program.^[6] He initiated liberal economic reforms by amending the Foreign Investment Act of 1991 and the Public Service Act to attract foreign investors, and reformed the country's tax system by signing the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law^[7] and the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises Act while raising sin taxes on non-essential goods. He took measures to eliminate corruption, red tape, and money laundering by establishing the freedom of information under the Executive branch, signing the Ease of Doing Business Act, creating the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission, and strengthening the Anti-Money Laundering Act. In agricultural policy, he liberalized rice imports by signing the Rice Tariffication Law to ensure food security, granted free irrigation to small farmers, signed the Sagip Saka Act, and created a trust fund for coconut farmers.

Duterte implemented an intensified campaign against terrorism and communist insurgency. He signed the controversial Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, and oversaw the five-month long Battle of Marawi, declaring martial law throughout Mindanao^[8] and extending it for two years to ensure order in the island.^[9] He initially pursued peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines and appointed several left-leaning individuals to government positions, but cancelled all negotiations in February 2017 following attacks and kidnapping of soldiers by New Peoples Army rebels, officially declaring the CPP-NPA as a terrorist group.^[10] He ordered the creation of a task force to end local communist armed conflict and the Task Force Balik-Loob for the reintegration of former communist rebels. He signed into law the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), establishing the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region,^[11] and signed proclamations granting amnesty to members of the Moro National Liberation Front, and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

Duterte signed free college education in all state universities and colleges through the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act,^[12] provided medical scholarships through the Doktor Para sa Bayan Act, institutionalized the alternative learning system, established transnational higher education in the country, and signed the Free Internet Access in Public Places Act. He signed the automatic enrollment of all Filipinos under the government's health insurance program through the Universal Health Care Act, signed the Philippine Mental Health Law, signed a law establishing Malasakit Centers in public hospitals, ordered the full implementation of the Reproductive Health Law, banned smoking in public places nationwide, and set a price cap on select medicines. He oversaw the COVID-19 pandemic in the country, implementing strict lockdown measures causing in 2020 a 9.5% contraction in the country's GDP, which eventually recovered to 5.6% in 2021 following gradual reopening of the economy and implementing a nationwide vaccination drive.

Duterte signed laws creating the Philippine Space Agency and the departments of housing and urban development, and migrant workers. He institutionalized a national identification system and the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, raised the age of sexual consent to 16, criminalized child marriage, simplified the adoption process, and launched the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program.

Duterte has pursued an "independent foreign policy", pursuing improved relations with China and Russia, and lessening the country's dependence on its traditional ally — the United States.^[13] He has adopted a cautious, pragmatic, and conciliatory stance towards China compared to his predecessor,^[14] and has set aside the previous government policy of using the Philippines v. China ruling to assert the Philippines' claims over the South China Sea and its islands.

Duterte's domestic approval rating has been relatively high throughout his presidency despite criticism and international opposition to his anti-narcotics drive.^[15][16]

Duterte's presidential transition began on May 30, 2016, when the Congress of the Philippines proclaimed his candidacy the winner of the 2016 Philippine presidential election held on May 9, 2016.^[17][18][19] Duterte's transition team was in charge of preparing the new presidential residence, cabinet appointments and cordial meetings between them and the outgoing administration. At the time the transition team was organized, Duterte was leading by a significant margin at the unofficial count by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) and the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV).^[20] Duterte met with various personalities during his transition period, notably, Eduardo V. Manalo, the executive minister of Iglesia ni Cristo religious group.^[21]

The transition lasted until the day of Duterte's inauguration on June 30, 2016.

The inauguration of Rodrigo Duterte as the sixteenth president of the Philippines took place on June 30, 2016, at the Rizal Ceremonial Hall of the Malacañang Palace in Manila. The oath of office was administered by Bienvenido L. Reyes, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines.^[22] It was the fourth Philippine presidential inauguration to be held in Malacañang, and the first since the Fifth Philippine Republic was started.

Duterte appointed the following to the Supreme Court of the Philippines:

1. Teresita Leonardo-De Castro - August 28, 2018^[23]
2. Lucas Bersamin - November 28, 2018^[24]
3. Diosdado Peralta - October 23, 2019^[25]
4. Alexander Gesmundo - April 5, 2021^[26]

1. Samuel Martires - March 6, 2017 (as Associate Justice), July 26, 2018 (as Ombudsman).^[27]
2. Noel G. Tijam - March 8, 2017^[28]
3. Andres Reyes Jr. - July 12, 2017^[29]
4. Alexander Gesmundo - August 14, 2017 (as Associate Justice)^[30]
5. Jose C. Reyes - August 10, 2018^[31]
6. Ramon Paul Hernando - October 10, 2018^[32]
7. Rosmari D. Carandang - November 28, 2018^[33]
8. Amy C. Lazaro-Javier - March 7, 2019^[34]
9. Henri Jean Paul Inting - May 27, 2019^[35]
10. Rodil V. Zalameda - August 5, 2019^[36]
11. Edgardo L. de Los Santos - December 3, 2019^[37]
12. Mario V. Lopez - December 3, 2019^[37]
13. Samuel H. Gaerlan - January 8, 2020^[38]
14. Priscilla Baltazar-Padilla - July 16, 2020^[39]
15. Ricardo Rosario - October 8, 2020^[40]
16. Jhosep Lopez - January 26, 2021^[41]
17. Japar Dimaampao - July 2, 2021^[42]
18. Midas Marquez - September 27, 2021^[43]
19. Antonio Kho Jr. - February 23, 2022 (his last SC appointee)^[44]

Notes

• Inaugural Address, (June 30, 2016)
• First State of the Nation Address, (July 25, 2016)
• Second State of the Nation Address, (July 24, 2017)
• Third State of the Nation Address, (July 23, 2018)
• Fourth State of the Nation Address, (July 22, 2019)
• Fifth State of the Nation Address, (July 27, 2020)
• Sixth State of the Nation Address, (July 26, 2021)

Shortly after his inauguration, Duterte held his first Cabinet meeting to lay out his plans for the Cabinet, which included the establishment of a 24-hour complaint office covering the entire country and advancing the country's disaster risk reduction management, lamenting its current status after recalling his personal encounter with the previous administration's failure to address the lack of basic needs of the victims of Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) in 2013.^[175] He laid out his plan to decongest the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila, the country's main gateway, by transferring the operations of domestic flights to Clark International Airport in Angeles, Pampanga and constructing a road network between Angeles and Manila while his government reviews the possibility of constructing a new airport at the Naval Station Sangley Point in Cavite.^[176] He also advised the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines not to provide him and his Cabinet officials with special priority treatment different from ordinary citizens.^[177] Duterte criticised healthcare in the Philippines, saying that the country could learn from healthcare in Cuba and ordered his Health Secretary, Paulyn Ubial, to travel to Cuba.^[178] Occurring twelve days prior to the announcement of the outcome of the Philippines' arbitration case against China over the territorial disputes in the South China Sea, Duterte said that he and his Foreign Secretary, Perfecto Yasay, Jr., will study the implications of the ruling in order to better plan any further steps taken by the government to address the issue.^{[179][180][181]} Duterte also expressed his willingness to stop the online gambling industry.^[182] After the Cabinet meeting, Duterte met with representatives from militant groups to discuss the "People's Agenda for Change" plan.^[183]

On July 1, 2016, a day after the inauguration, President Duterte attended the change-of-command ceremonies for the new Philippine National Police chief Ronald de la Rosa^[184] and the new Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief-of-staff Ricardo Visaya.^[185] During the AFP's change-of-command rites, Duterte personally and briefly met his Vice President Leni Robredo for the first time.^[186]

Robredo later paid a courtesy call on Duterte in the Malacañang Palace on July 4, 2016.^[187] Three days later, Duterte appointed Robredo to a Cabinet position (as the head of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council).^[188] Despite opposition, Duterte announced on May 23, 2016, that he would allow the burial of Ferdinand Marcos' remains in the Libingan ng mga Bayani.^[189]

Duterte issued his first executive order on July 4, entitled "Reengineering the Office of the President Towards Greater Responsiveness to the Attainment of Development Goals". In the executive order, 12 agencies under the Office of the President who focused on anti-poverty programs will be placed under the supervision of Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco, Jr.^[190] Duterte said he will end insurgency and war conflicts in the Mindanao, before his term ends, through peace negotiations between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and other Moro groups.^[191] Duterte noted that the intervention of foreign countries, including the United States, caused the worsened war situation in the Middle East countries including Iraq and Libya.^[192]

On July 12, 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) tribunal agreed unanimously with the Philippines in the international case, Philippines v. China, which former president Benigno Aquino III initiated in January 2013. In its award, it concluded that there is no evidence that China had historically exercised exclusive control over the waters or resources, hence there was "no legal basis for China to claim historic rights" over the area within the nine-dash line.^[193][194] The tribunal also judged that the PRC had caused "severe harm to the coral reef environment",^[195] and that it had violated the Philippines' sovereign rights in its Exclusive Economic Zone by interfering with Philippine fishing and petroleum exploration by, for example, restricting the traditional fishing rights of Filipino fishermen at Scarborough Shoal.^[196] The PRC rejected the ruling, calling it "ill-founded", but they would still be committed to resolving disputes with its neighbours.^[196][197] On the same day, Duterte has named Finance Undersecretary Gil Beltran as the "Anti-Red Tape Czar".^[198]

Duterte has offered former President Fidel V. Ramos to become the Philippines' special envoy to China on the planned bilateral talks between two countries, in connection with the ongoing South China Sea (West Philippine Sea) dispute.^[199]

On July 18, 2016, Duterte, together with Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Butch Ramirez and Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Jose Cojuangco Jr., led the send-off ceremonies for the Philippine delegation in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil at the Rizal Hall of Malacañang.^[200] Two days before his first State of the Nation Address, on July 23, Duterte signed the Freedom of Information Order that covered all offices under the executive branch.^[201]

On July 25, 2016, Duterte delivered his first State of the Nation Address.^[202]

On July 27, 2016, Duterte met with United States Secretary of State John Kerry, the first foreign minister Duterte met with as president and the highest ranking diplomat he met with since his inauguration, to discuss cooperation between the Philippines and the United States under the Duterte administration following the Permanent Court of Arbitration's ruling in favor of the Philippines against China's claim over the territorial disputes in the South China Sea.^[203][204] Later that day, the first National Security Council meeting under the Duterte presidency was held. It was attended by former presidents and NSC members Fidel Ramos, Joseph Estrada, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, and Benigno Aquino III, together with Vice President Leni Robredo, Senate President Koko Pimentel, House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, and other cabinet secretaries.^[205]

On August 7, 2016, Duterte, who was at the wake of four soldiers killed in an encounter with communist rebels in Camp Panacan, Davao City, delivered a speech wherein he named local government officials, court judges and police officers who are all involved in illegal drug trade.^[206][207]

On September 2, a bomb exploded in Davao City in Mindanao. The bombing was linked to the Maute group, although Abu Sayyaf reportedly claimed responsibility for the bombing but later denied it.^{[208][209][210][211]} The incident prompted Duterte to declare a "state of lawlessness" in the country, which would remain in effect for over a year.^[212] In early September, Duterte made his first foreign trip as head of state, attending the ASEAN Summit in Laos.^[213] Before leaving for his first international summit, Duterte quickly made international headlines after slamming then-US president Barack Obama for his criticism on human rights issues brought about by the Philippines’ controversial drug war.^[214] He has apologized for these remarks.

Duterte critic Leila de Lima faced a series of investigations on the New Bilibid Prison drug trafficking scandal, with De Lima refusing to attend, calling it a “sham inquiry” and a mere ploy to discredit her. In the Senate's probe on extrajudicial killings related to the drug war, De Lima presented Edgar Matobato, a self-confessed hitman and member of the so-called Davao Death Squad. Matobato testifies that Duterte ordered the group to execute people back when he was Davao City mayor.^[215] However, this was later refuted and disproven.^[216][217] and it was labeled as 'hearsay' and 'lies' by Duterte.^[218][219]

By the end of September, Duterte lamented that he was being portrayed as a “cousin” of Nazi leader Adolf Hitler, but later drew parallels between his drug war and the annihilation of 3 million Jews during the Holocaust.^[220] He later apologized for his remarks, saying "There was never an intention on my part to derogate the memory of 6 million Jews murdered by the Germans".^[221]

On October 13, the President signed an administrative order creating a presidential task force to probe media killings,^[222] which comes several months after he was criticized for remarks he made as president-elect, when he justified the killing of corrupt members of the media.^[223][224] On October 18, Duterte visited China to strengthen diplomatic ties between the two countries amid tensions in disputed South China Sea.^[225] During a trade and investment forum in Beijing, Duterte announced the Philippines’ separation from the United States and his decision to move closer to China,^[226] which was later clarified^[227] by Duterte and his cabinet that he was not cutting ties with the US.^[228]

On November 5, Albuera, Leyte mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr, who was linked to the drug trade, was killed inside his jail cell in a reported shootout with personnel from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).^[229] On November 8, the Supreme Court issued its verdict which paved the way for the burial of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (Heroes’ Cemetery). On November 18, Ferdinand Marcos was buried with full military honors at the Heroes’ Cemetery,^[230] sparking national outrage, especially among those who suffered human rights abuses under the Marcos regime.^[231]

On December 4, five months after the President offered Vice President Leni Robredo a Cabinet post through a phone call, the Vice President resigned from the Cabinet. Robredo announced her resignation from her post as housing chair after she received a text message from Cabinet Secretary Jun Evasco Jr, “to desist from attending all Cabinet meetings starting December 5.”^[232] On December 6, the National Bureau of Investigation said that the death of Albuera Mayor Espinosa was a "rubout" and recommended criminal charges against the 24 CIDG operatives involved, which included police superintendent Marvin Marcos.^[233] On December 7, a bill for the reimposition of the death penalty hurdled the House committee level.^[234]

On December 17, Duterte endorsed senator Manny Pacquiao as his possible successor when his term ends in 2022.^[235] On December 18, Duterte admitted that he was taking the addictive opioid drug Fentanyl, a powerful painkiller often prescribed for cancer pain and other chronic ailments, beyond the recommended dose because of a spinal injury he had from a previous motorcycle accident.^[236] Additionally, Duterte suffers from Buerger's disease and Barrett's esophagus, but has denied insider reports that he has throat cancer.^[237] On Christmas Eve, an explosion outside a church in Midsayap, Cotabato injured at least 13 people.^[238] Duterte linked the bombing, as well as the September blast in Davao City, to the international terror group Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).^[239]

Duterte claimed that the Philippines was at risk of becoming a narco-state.^[240] Following his inauguration, Duterte started a nationwide anti-drug campaign, urging the Filipinos, including the New People's Army to join the fight against illegal drugs.^[241][242] On July 7, Duterte presented a chart identifying three Chinese nationals who serve as drug lords in the Philippines.^[243][244]

In Duterte's first 100 days in office, a rough estimate of 3,600 killings were attributed to his intensified campaign against illegal drugs, which included more than 1,300 suspects killed in gunbattles with police,^[245] and about half of them killed by unknown assailants.^[246] There were more than 23,500 raids and 22,500 arrests conducted by the police on suspected drug dealers and addicts, and more than 1.6 million houses of drug suspects visited by police to invite them to surrender and disengage from the drug trade. Approximately 732,000 addicts and dealers have surrendered to authorities, overwhelming the administration and prompting them to build more rehabilitation centers.^[245] The growing number of extrajudicial executions since the campaign started garnered worldwide attention and prompted the United States, the European Union, the United Nations, human rights watchdogs, and opposition groups to probe into the killings which were believed to be state-sanctioned.^{[245][246][247][248][249]} The Duterte administration demanded critics to provide evidence.^[250]

On October 10, 2017, amid public outrage over alleged police abuse in the continuing crackdown, Duterte barred the Philippine National Police (PNP) from joining anti-drug raids and designated the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) as the "sole agency" in charge of the war on drugs.^[251] The PNP was allowed back to join the campaign on December 5, 2017, with the PDEA still being the lead agency.^[252]

On March 17, 2019, the Philippines withdrew from the International Criminal Court (ICC) after the tribunal's chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda in February launched a preliminary examination into crimes against humanity allegedly committed by Duterte and other top officials of the war on drugs.^[253][254] On September 16, 2021, the ICC authorized a formal investigation into the war on drugs,^[255] focusing on crimes committed when Duterte took office in 2016 until March 2019.^[256] Following a deferral request via a letter to ICC prosecutor Karim Khan by the Philippine government on November that local authorities are conducting thorough investigations of all reported deaths during anti-narcotic operations in the country, the ICC suspended its investigation in December 2021 to assess the scope and effect of the deferral request.^[257]

The war on drugs remains overwhelmingly popular among majority of Filipinos, with a poll by the Social Weather Stations in September 2019 returning a rating of "excellent" for Duterte's three-year campaign, with 82% satisfied due to a perception of less drugs and crime in the country.^[258]

Duterte has said that Moro dignity is what the MILF and MNLF are struggling for, and that they are not terrorists. He acknowledged that the Moros were subjected to wrongdoing, historical and in territory.^[259]

Duterte was endorsed in the election by Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) leader Nur Misuari^[260] due to his background in Mindanao.^[261][262] Other Muslims also supported Duterte and denounced Roxas, the Aquino-supported pick.^[263]

During the Mindanao Hariraya (Eid al-Fitr) 2016 convention in Davao City on July 8, 2016, Duterte vowed to address the Moro conflict and bring peace in Mindanao, assuring the Filipino Muslim community that "something will change" before the end of his term. He said that the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) both support his proposal for federalism in the Philippines, which he says is the only solution to the Bangsamoro peace process. Duterte said that if the proposal for the country's shift to federalism fails or is not desired by the Filipino people, he will vow to pass the Bangsamoro Basic Law, which would establish the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region. He also added that the Basic Law should benefit both MILF and MNLF, saying he is willing to negotiate with both secessionists to initiate a "reconfiguration" of territory.^[264][265]

A crowd of Muslims were attending the speech by Duterte where he accused America of bringing terrorism to themselves, saying that terrorism is not the result of the Middle East.^[266] He railed against the actions undertaken in the Middle East by the USA.^[267] Duterte blamed the war on Mindanao on colonialist Christianity being brought to the Philippines in 1521 by Ferdinand Magellan, saying there was peace before that and that they were made to fight their "Malay brothers" by Christians.^[268]

The Bud Dajo Massacre inflicted upon the Moros was mentioned by President Duterte to criticize the United States and its President Barack Obama.^[269] The massacre was cited a second time by Duterte in criticizing America while calling for the exit of American troops.^[270]

On November 6, 2016, Duterte signed an executive order to expand the Bangsamoro Transition Commission to 21 members from 15, in which 11 will be decided by the MILF and 10 will be nominated by the government. The commission was formed in December 2013 and is tasked to draft the Bangsamoro Basic Law in accordance with the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro^[271]

Duterte signed the Bangsamoro Organic Law on July 26, 2018,^[272][273] which abolished the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and provided for the basic structure of government for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, following the agreements set forth in the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro peace agreement signed between the Government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in 2014.^[274]

On February 5, 2021, Duterte signed four proclamations granting amnesty to members of the Moro National Liberation Front, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, as well as to members of the communist movement and the Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa ng Pilipinas/Revolutionary Proletarian Army/Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPMP-RPA-ABB).^[275]

The Maute group, an ISIS-inspired terrorist group, had reportedly been able to establish a stronghold in Lanao del Sur since early 2016. The group had been blamed for the 2016 Davao City bombing and two attacks in Butig, Lanao del Sur, a town located south of Marawi, in 2016.^[276] Before the Duterte administration, the Philippine government had downplayed the threat of ISIS in the Philippines.^[277] Even after the February 2016 Butig clash with the Maute group, then-President Benigno Aquino III discounted the possibility of the Islamic State's presence in the country. He said that those behind the attack were just mercenaries wanting to be recognized by the Middle East-based terror group.^[278]

In November 2016, Duterte confirmed the Maute group's affiliation with the Islamic State.^[276] Amidst fierce fighting in Butig on November 30, 2016, Duterte, in a command briefing in Lanao del Sur, warned the Maute group: "Ayaw ko makipag-away sa inyo. Ayaw ko makipag-patayan, (I do not want to fight with you. I don't want us killing each other) but please, do not force my hand. I cannot be forever traveling here every month para lang makipag-usap (just to talk), at pagtalikod ko patayan na naman (and when I turn around, there's killing again). I do not want to mention anything, but please do not force my hand into it."^[279][280] On December 2, 2016, as the military regained control of Butig, the retreating Maute fighters reportedly left a note threatening to behead Duterte.^[281]

On May 23, 2017, clashes erupted between Philippine security forces and ISIL-affiliated militants Maute and Abu Sayyaf Salafi jihadist groups in Marawi during an offensive to capture Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon, prompting Duterte to sign Proclamation No. 216 declaring a 60-day martial law in the entire of Mindanao.^{[282][283][284][285]}

Maute group militants attacked Camp Ranao and occupied several buildings in the city, including Marawi City Hall, Mindanao State University, a hospital, and the city jail.^[286] They also occupied the main street and set fire to Saint Mary's Cathedral, Ninoy Aquino School, and Dansalan College, which is run by the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP).^[283][287] The militants also took a priest and several churchgoers hostage.^[288]

The Armed Forces of the Philippines stated that some of the terrorists were foreigners who had been in the country for a long time, offering support to the Maute group in Marawi. Their main objective was to raise an ISIS flag at the Lanao del Sur Provincial Capitol and declare a wilayat or provincial ISIS territory in Lanao del Sur.^[289][290]

On June 28, 2017, Duterte issued an administrative order creating an inter-agency task force to facilitate the rehabilitation, recovery and reconstruction efforts in the conflict-torn city.^[291]

The Battle of Marawi became the longest urban battle in the modern history of the Philippines,^[292] lasting for five months until October 17, 2017, the day after the deaths of militant leaders Omar Maute and Isnilon Hapilon. Duterte declared Marawi as "liberated from terrorist influence".^[293] This was followed by another October 23 pronouncement of Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana that the five-month battle against the terrorists in Marawi had finally ended.^[294]

The Philippine Congress granted Duterte's requests to extend martial law in Mindanao from July 22, 2017, to December 31, 2017,^[295] from January 1 to December 31, 2018,^[296] and from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2019, citing necessity to quell hostile activities perpetrated by terrorist groups.^[297] Martial law in Mindanao was lifted on December 31, 2019, after Duterte decided not to extend it.^[298][299]

On January 29, 2019, following the 2019 Jolo Cathedral bombings that killed 20 people, the military conducted airstrikes in Sulu against the Abu Sayyaf Group after Duterte's order to "pulverize" the terrorist group.^[300]

On March 18, 2020, Duterte signed an administrative order including former violent extremists as beneficiaries of the government's Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP).^[301]

In July 2020, Duterte signed the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 which aims to give more surveillance powers to government forces in order to curb terror threats and acts.^[302] The law has become the target of criticisms as critics claim the legislation relaxes safeguards on human rights and is prone to abuse, but authors and sponsors of the bill said it is at par with the laws of other countries and will not be used against law-abiding citizens.^[303]

Following the 2020 Jolo bombings in August 2020 which killed 15 people, Duterte visited the blast site and kissed the ground to honor the lives lost,^[304][305] and vowed to crush the militants.^[306]

Earlier in his term, Duterte reached out to communist rebels to talk peace.^[307] In July 2016, Duterte directed his peace process advisor for the communist rebellion in the Philippines, Silvestre Bello III, to lead a government panel in resuming peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), the New People's Army (NPA), and the National Democratic Front (NDF) in Oslo, Norway, expressing hope that a peace treaty between the rebellions would be reached within a year.^[308] The first talks began on August 22–26, 2016, in which the parties agreed upon "the affirmation of previously signed agreements, the reconstitution of the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees which 'protects the rights of negotiators, consultants, staffers, security and other personnel involved in peace negotiations',^[309] and the accelerated progress for negotiations."^[310] Duterte also appointed several left-leaning individuals to top government positions.^{[311][312][307]}

Due to continued rebel attacks on soldiers despite the peace talks, Duterte's relation with the communists deteriorated.^[307][313] Several officials with leftist affiliations who were initially appointed by Duterte have either resigned, been fired, or rejected by the Commission on Appointments.^[307][313] Following attacks and kidnapping of soldiers by NPA members despite the imposed ceasefire by the government and rebel groups, Duterte in February 2017 cancelled all negotiations with the CPP–NPA–NDF, signing a proclamation declaring them as a terrorist organization,^[10] and ordered the arrest of all NDF negotiators.^[314] Military offensive against the group resumed after Duterte's cancellation of ceasefire.^[315] On March 21, 2019, Duterte officially announced the permanent termination of the peace negotiations with the CPP-NPA-NDF, and said the communist rebels' call for land reform is already being done under his administration.^[316][317]

On April 3, 2018, Duterte on signed an administrative order creating the Task Force Balik-Loob (TFBL), the coordinating body tasked to centralize all government efforts, which include the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) of the DILG, and the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) program of the OPAPP,^[318] for the reintegration of former communist rebels.^[319]

On December 4, Duterte signed an executive order creating a task force to end local communist armed conflict and institutionalizing a "whole-of-nation approach", as agreed upon by the world leaders of the ASEAN in their previous joint communiques, in combating extremism and terrorism.^[320]

In July 2017, Duterte threatened the bombing of Lumad community schools alleging that they shelter communist rebels and teach students rebellion and subversion against the government.^[321] On October 2019, the Department of Education shut down 55 Salugpungan schools in the Davao Region, following the schools' suspension for four months, for discovering several irregularities against the schools which include not using government-approved curriculum, and for allegedly teaching communist ideologies.^{[322][323][324]}

From 2016 to 2019, the NTF-ELCAC had identified a total of 822 barangays that have been cleared of NPA influence.^[325] On March 6, 2021, the NTF-ELCAC said each of the 822 barangays are set to receive ₱20 million worth of projects each, aimed at uplifting the lives of its inhabitants and as a "reward" for ridding their localities of NPA rebels.^[326][327]

On November 29, 2021, the NTF-ELCAC disclosed that a total of 20,579 communist rebels surrendered, which included 5,262 NPA fighters, 3,414 members of Militia ng Bayan, 7,626 mass supporters, and 2,224 underground mass organization members since the start of the Duterte administration, and said that the government has spent over half a billion pesos in various programs aimed at aiding former rebels in living peaceful and productive lives.^[328]

On June 23, 2021, the Anti-Terrorism Council designated the National Democratic Front (NDF) as a terrorist organization, citing it as an "integral and inseparable part" of the CPP-NPA.^[329][330]

Following Duterte's order of a crackdown against loiterers (tambays), whom he described as "potential trouble for the public", the Philippine National Police on June 13, 2018, launched Oplan Tambay or "Rid the Streets of Drunkards and Youths", an anti-criminality campaign meant to enforce city and municipal ordinances, such as those against drinking, gambling in streets, urinating in public, roaming half-naked, making too much noise,^[331][332] and minors violating the curfew.^[333] On June 21, records showed that 7,291 youth in Metro Manila were arrested by the police just 9 days after the "Oplan RODY" campaign was launched.^[334] Concerns arose about the campaign following the death of 22-year-old Genesis "Tisoy" Argoncillo while in detention, who was arrested and jailed for allegedly causing alarm and scandal.^[335] Two inmates who allegedly mauled Argoncillo have been charged for murder.^[336] On June 25, Senator Bam Aquino and the Makabayan Bloc filed resolutions pushing for an investigation into what they call anti-poor arrests of thousands of loiterers.^[337] Duterte denied that he ordered the arrests of tambays.^[332] Philippine National Police Director General Oscar Albayalde denounced critics for allegedly conditioning the minds of the public that rights are being violated in the intensified campaign,^[334] and stressed that those arrested had violated local ordinances, which included smoking in public, being half-naked, and karaoke singing past 10 p.m.^[332][338]

On July 11, 2018, Duterte signed into law the Anti-Hazing Act of 2018 prohibiting all forms of hazing in fraternities, sororities, and organizations in schools.^[339][340]

On April 17, 2019, Duterte signed into law the Safe Spaces Act imposing heftier penalties for gender-based sexual harassment including wolf-whistling and catcalling in public spaces.^[341][342]

In October 2021, the Philippine National Police reported that the total number of crimes in the country dropped by almost 50 percent over the past 63 months since July 2016, with police data showing that from 2.67 million crimes reported from 2010 to 2015, it went down by 49.6 percent to 1.36 million from 2016 to September that year.^[343]

During the 2016 election, Duterte campaigned to restore the death penalty in the Philippines.^{[344][345][346]} Duterte, who won the election in May 2016, supports restoration of the death penalty by hanging.^[347] It has been reported that he wants capital punishment for criminals involved in illegal drugs, gun-for-hire syndicates and those who commit "heinous crimes" such as rape, robbery or car theft where the victim is murdered.^[347] Duterte has theatrically vowed "to litter Manila Bay with the bodies of criminals".^[348] In December 2016, the bill to resume capital punishment for certain "heinous offenses" swiftly passed out of Committee in the House of Representatives; it passed the full House of Representatives in February 2017.^[349] On March 7, despite fierce criticism, especially from the Catholic Church, the House of Representatives approved on 3rd and final reading the controversial bill.^[350] However, the law reinstating the death penalty stalled in the Senate in April 2017, where it did not appear to have enough votes to pass.^[351][352]

During his presidency, Duterte made corruption eradication one of his key priorities.^[353] Barely a month after his inauguration as president, Duterte issued his second Executive Order or the Freedom of Information order,^[354] allowing Filipinos to obtain documents and records from public offices to promote transparency in the government.^[355][353] In October 2017, Duterte issued an executive order creating the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) tasked to eliminate all forms of corruption and red tape in the executive department.^[356][357]

Duterte took several initiatives to streamline government processes, after complaining about the slow government transactions causing inconvenience to the people.^[358] In May 2018, he signed the Ease of Doing Business Act,^[359][360] which enhanced the Anti-Red Tape Law of 2007,^[353] and aims to reduce processing time, cut bureaucratic red tape, and eliminate corrupt practices.^[361] The law also created the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA), which is under the Office of the President, as key implementer of the said law.^[361] On January 28, 2021, the ARTA and other government agencies launched the Central Business Portal, an online one-stop shop for business registration, which aims to lower the current 33 days required in registering a business to less than a day and replace the manual process of 13 steps to only one.^[362]

Duterte ordered government agencies to remove all processes which are "redundant or burdensome" to the public,^[363] and created the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Streamlining of Government Processes tasked to recommend to the President or the ARTA policies and programs that would cut red tape in the Executive branch and local government units.^[364] On December 23, 2020, Duterte signed a law authorizing the President to expedite the processing and issuance of national and local permits, licenses, and certifications, by suspending its requirements, in times of national emergency.^[365]

In October 2016, Duterte issued an executive order institutionalizing the 8888 Citizens' Complaint Hotline, allowing the public to report complaints on poor government front-line services and corrupt practices in all government agencies.^[366] On November 2020, the government started allowing citizens to send their complaints to the hotline via text message free of charge.^[367]

Duterte took measures to address money laundering, issuing in November 2018 an executive order adopting a national strategy on anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism in the country.^[368][369] In January 2021, Duterte signed a law strengthening the Anti-Money Laundering Act.^[370]

In July 2017, Duterte ordered the finance department to accept cigarette manufacturer Mighty Corporation's offer of ₱25-billion to pay its tax liabilities, which was described as the country's "biggest tax settlement on record".^[371]

Duterte had a policy to destroy smuggled luxury vehicles to discourage smugglers.^[372] In March 2018, Duterte led the destruction of ₱27 million worth of smuggled cars in Port Irene, Cagayan.^[373]

Amid the corruption allegations within the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), Duterte in August 2020, issued a memorandum directing the Department of Justice (DOJ) to create a task force that will investigate the widespread corruption and irregularities within the PhilHealth.^[374] On October 27, Duterte ordered the Department of Justice and a newly created mega-task-force to investigate allegations of corruption in the entire government.^[375][376]

Duterte advocates federalism as a better system of governance for the Philippines, arguing that regions outside Metro Manila receive unfairly small budgets from the Internal Revenue Allotment. For example, of the ₱5 billion Davao sends monthly to Metro Manila, only 2 or 3 billion ever returns. He also highlights that money remitted to national government is misused by corrupt politicians in the Philippine Congress.^[377] In July 2016, Duterte said to Muslim leaders that if the majority of Filipinos are against the proposal of federalism, he will push for the Bangsamoro Basic Law, in which only Bangsamoro would become autonomous. He would also revise the law in such a way that the Moro National Liberation Front would receive the same deal as the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.^[378] Duterte expressed his willingness to end his term early once federalism is passed.^[379] On December 7, Duterte signed an executive order creating a 25-member Consultative Committee tasked to review the 1987 Constitution within six months.^[380]

On July 26, 2018, Duterte signed into law the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) establishing the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.^[272][273]

On November 5, 2018, Duterte formed an inter-agency task force to raise public awareness on the proposed new system of government, after poll results showed it is the least of Filipinos' concerns.^[381]

On December 10, 2021, months before leaving office, Duterte, at a democracy summit hosted by US President Joe Biden, admitted that he failed in his push to establish a federal system of government in the country, and cited the lack of congressional support for his campaign promise.^[382][383]

"My government also sought to broaden democratic participation through federalism but my constitutional project did not get Congress support. So be it. I respect the separation of powers [that is] vital for democracy."

— Duterte, December 10, 2021^[382][383]

On June 1, 2021, Duterte issued an executive order directing the devolution of some functions of the executive branch to local governments.^[384]

Following spikes in rice prices in 2018 which drove inflation higher, Duterte urged Congress to replace the rice import limits with a system of tariffs.^[385] In February 2019, Duterte signed the Rice Tariffication Law, which removed quantitative restrictions on rice imports and replaced them with a 35 percent import tariff.^[386][387] The law allowed private traders to import rice, ending the rice importation monopoly of the National Food Authority.^[388][389] The law also established the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), which would use the revenue from import tariffs to support domestic rice farmers improve their productivity.^[386][387] On December 10, 2021, Duterte signed the "Cash Assistance for Filipino Farmers Act", authorizing the Department of Agriculture to directly provide annual cash assistance until 2024 to small farmers tilling 2 hectares (4.9 acres) and below of rice land by utilizing any funds exceeding ₱10 billion of the annual tariff revenues from rice importation pursuant to Rice Tariffication Law.^[390]

On February 2, 2018, Duterte signed the Free Irrigation Service Act, granting free irrigation to farmers owning not more than 8 hectares (20 acres) of land.^[391]

In 2019, the African swine fever reached the Philippines and caused an outbreak, prompting the government to tighten animal quarantine and ban imported pork from several countries.^[392] More than 3 million hogs were culled from 2020 to 2021, causing a huge supply deficit in pork and a rise in domestic pork price. Duterte issued an executive order temporarily lowering tariffs on imported pork meat for one year.^[393] The order reduced tariff rates for imported pork meat to 5% to 20% from the current 30% to 40%.^[394] Hog population significantly increased after the administration initiated a massive repopulation program to boost domestic pork supply.^[395] On May 10, 2021, Duterte issued a proclamation declaring a one-year nationwide state of calamity due to the continued spread of the disease despite government interventions.^[396]

On February 22, 2019, Duterte signed the Agricultural Free Patent Reform Act, seeking to ease the Commonwealth-era restrictions on agricultural free patents issued to farmers, and allowing agricultural land titles to be immediately available for trade.^[397][398]

On April 17, 2019, Duterte signed the Sagip Saka Act, establishing the "Farmers and Fisherfolk Enterprise Development Program", which promotes the establishment of enterprises and partnerships between farmers, fisherfolk and the private sector, in order to boost farmers' and fishermen's income. The law also created the Farmers and Fisherfolk Enterprise Development Council tasked to oversee the implementation of the program,^[399][400] and strengthened direct purchase of agricultural goods from farmers, eliminating the need for middlemen.^[401]

In an effort to prevent shortage of farmers by encouraging the youth to venture into agriculture, Duterte,^[402] in 2020, signed an administrative order awarding qualified fresh graduates of agricultural degrees at most 3 hectares (7.4 acres) of land.^[403][404]

On December 23, 2020, Duterte has signed a law amending the Organic Agriculture Act of 2010, making certification of organic produce by farmers and fishermen more accessible and affordable. The law establishes the Participatory Guarantee System, a quality assurance system developed and practiced by people engaged in organic agriculture.^[405][406]

On February 26, 2021, Duterte signed the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund Act, creating a trust fund for the country's coconut farmers.^[407]

As of July 2021, a total of 2,025 kilometres (1,258 mi) farm-to-market roads, and 94.99 kilometres (59.02 mi) farm-to-mill roads have been completed by the Duterte administration under the Build! Build! Build! program.^[408]

Since 2017,^[409][410] Duterte called on Congress to pass a bill creating the Department of Disaster Resilience, a department dedicated to disaster response and rehabilitation efforts. The bill has been approved by the House of Representatives, but has faced opposition by some senators, who see the bill as bloating the already "bloated" bureaucracy.^[411]

After typhoons Rolly and Ulysses ravaged the country, Duterte issued an executive order on November 2020 creating the Build Back Better Task Force, a permanent inter-agency body assigned to streamline and hasten post-disaster rehabilitation and recovery efforts of typhoon-affected areas.^[412]

In September 2021, Duterte signed the BFP Modernization Act, mandating the implementation of a 10-year program to modernize the Bureau of Fire Protection. The law also expanded the bureau's mandate by including disaster risk response, and emergency management.^[413]

Early in his term, Duterte's expletive-laden outbursts triggered the biggest exodus from stocks in a year and made the peso Asia's worst performer in September 2016. The Philippine currency was at a seven-year low and rounding out its worst month since May 2010. In the same month, the Philippine peso completed its biggest monthly decline since October 2000 amid the biggest outflow from the nation's stocks in a year.^[416] According to the Philippines' Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, the peso's slump this year is "mainly due to a deteriorating trade outlook because of rising imports of capital goods, which is normal for a country that is growing very fast".^[417] Currency strategists have, however, "predicted a rebound once investors see beyond Duterte's words".^[418]

The Duterte administration sought to attract more investors by easing restrictions on international retailers.^[419] On February 20, 2019, Duterte signed a law updating the 38-year-old Corporation Code of the Philippines allowing a single person to form a corporation.^[420] On March 2, 2022, Duterte signed into law Republic Act No. 11647, amending the Foreign Investment Act of 1991 and effectively relaxing several restrictions on foreign investments.^[421] On March 21, Duterte signed Republic Act No. 11659, amending the 85-year old Public Service Act, allowing full foreign ownership of public services, which include airports, expressways, railways, telecommunications, and shipping industries, in the country.^[422][423]

Following the devastation of Typhoon Ompong to agriculture in September 2018, the inflation rate of the country soared to 6.7%, its highest in 9 years.^[424][425] On September 21, 2018, Duterte signed Administrative Order No. 13, removing non-tariff barriers in the importation of agricultural products, to address soaring inflation rates.^[426][427] Inflation decreased in November 2018, at 5.8 to 6.6 percent.^[428] BSP decreased its inflation forecast for 2019, after the passage of the rice tariffication bill.^[429] Inflation further decreased from 6.7 percent in October 2018 to 0.8 percent in October 2019, the lowest inflation rate recorded since May 2016.^[430]

The Duterte administration made initiatives to support micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).^[431] In January 2017, the Department of Trade and Industry launched the Pondo sa Pagbabago at Pag-asenso Program (P3), a microfinancing program to assist MSMEs and provide them an alternative to resorting to loan sharks and the usurious "5-6" lending scheme.^[432][433] The P3, which charged only 2 to 2.5 percent interest per month compared to the 20% interest rate in the "5-6" lending scheme, allowed MSMEs to borrow an amount of ₱5,000 to ₱100,000.^[432][434] The administration also increased nationwide the number of Negosyo Centers, which provide efficient services for MSMEs.^[435] As of August 2021, 996 of these centers have been established since 2016, out of a total of 1,212.^[436]

After several reforms such as Ease of Doing Business Law^[437][438] were introduced, the Philippines' ease of doing business ranking improved from 124th to 95th, and the country's overall ease of doing business score rose to 62.8, according to the World Bank's 2020 Doing Business Report.^[439]

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic reached the country and caused the economy to enter a recession following government lockdowns and restrictions to contain the virus. Gross domestic product (GDP) shrunk by 9.5% in 2020, prompting the administration to further loosen restrictions to revive the economy.^[440] GDP grew by 5.6% in 2021 after the administration initiated a nationwide vaccination drive and eased pandemic-related restrictions,^[441][442] while the country's debt-to-GDP ratio soared from 39.6% in pre-pandemic 2020 to 60.4% as of end-June 2021 due to loans incurred by the government to address the pandemic.^[443]

On March 21, 2022, Duterte signed an executive order adopting a 10-point policy agenda to hasten economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.^[444][445]

To reduce poverty, encourage economic growth, and reduce congestion in Metro Manila, the Duterte administration launched its comprehensive infrastructure program, Build, Build, Build,^[447] on April 18, 2017.^[448] The program, which forms part of the administration's socioeconomic policy,^[447] aimed to usher in the country's "Golden Age of Infrastructure" by increasing the share of spending on public infrastructure in the country's gross domestic product (GDP) from 5.4 percent in 2017 to 7.4 percent in 2022.^[449][450] The administration, in 2017, shifted its infrastructure funding policy from public-private partnerships (PPPs) of previous administrations to government revenues and official development assistance (ODA), particularly from Japan and China,^[451] but has since October 2019 engaged with the private sector for additional funding.^[452][453]

The administration revised its list of Infrastructure Flagship Projects (IFPs) under the Build, Build, Build program from 75 to 100 in November 2019,^[454][455] then to 104, and finally, to 112 in 2020,^[456] expanding its scope to include health, information and communications technology, and water infrastructure projects to support the country's economic growth and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Some major projects include^[455] the Subic-Clark Railway,^[457] the North–South Commuter Railway from New Clark City to Calamba, Laguna,^[457] the Metro Manila Subway,^[458] the expansion of Clark International Airport^[457] the Mindanao Railway (Tagum-Davao-Digos Segment),^[459] and the Luzon Spine Expressway Network^[460][461] By April 2022, 12 IFPs have been completed by the administration, while 88 IFPs, which were on their "advanced stage", have been passed on to the succeeding administration for completion.^[456]

From June 2016 to July 2021, a total of 29,264 kilometres (18,184 mi) of roads, 5,950 bridges, 11,340 flood control projects, 222 evacuation centers, and 150,149 elementary and secondary classrooms, and 653 COVID-19 facilities under the Build, Build, Build program had been completed.^[462][463]

In an effort to make the country's tax system fairer, simpler, and more efficient, the Duterte administration initiated the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program (CTRP).^[464] On December 19, 2017, Duterte signed into law Package 1 of the CRTP, the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law (TRAIN Law), which overhauls the country's 20-year-old tax regime by adjusting personal income tax rates to "to shift the tax burden from the lower 99 percent of the community to the wealthiest 1 percent". The law excludes those earning an annual taxable income of ₱250,000 and below from paying the personal income tax and raised the tax exemption for 13th month pay and other bonuses to ₱90,000. The law also imposes higher consumption tax, particularly excise taxes on vehicles, sugar-sweetened beverages, petroleum products, tobacco and non-essential goods.^[465] Duterte said that revenues collected from the TRAIN law will help fund the administration's massive infrastructure program.^[7][466]

On February 14, 2019, Duterte signed the Tax Amnesty Law of 2019, allowing errant taxpayers affordably settle their tax liabilities while raising revenue for the government's infrastructure and social projects. Under the law, from the previous 20 percent, only six percent of the net estate tax for properties owned by those who died on or before December 31, 2017, will be collected by the government.^[467]

To fund the Universal Health Care Act and to reduce incidence of deaths and diseases associated with smoking and alcohol consumption, Duterte signed laws raising sin taxes on tobacco and vapor products in July 2019,^[468] and alcohol beverages and electronic cigarettes in January 2020.^[469]

On March 26, 2021, Duterte signed into law the second package of the CTRP, the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) Act, which cuts corporate income tax rate to 25 percent from the current 30 percent, to attract more investments and maintain fiscal stability.^[470]

On September 24, 2021, Duterte signed a law taxing Philippine offshore gaming operators, imposing a 5% tax on gross gaming receipts of offshore gaming licensees and a 25% tax on gross income for nonresident aliens working for service providers of offshore gaming operators.^[471]

On March 29, 2019, Duterte signed a law amending the National Internal Revenue Code, effectively excluding small-scale miners from paying income and excise taxes for gold that they sell to the central bank.^[472][473]

On September 2, 2021, Duterte ratified the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement, an ASEAN-led free trade agreement involving 10 ASEAN members and Australia, China, Japan, Korea, and New Zealand. The agreement was sent to the Senate for its concurrence, but its ratification has since been delayed after the Senate adjourned sessions for the election break.^[474]

The Duterte administration sought initiatives to make the learning environment of Filipino students more conducive.^[475] Stressing that the long-term effects of education would outweigh any budgetary problems, Duterte on August 3, 2017, signed a landmark law granting free tuition on all state universities and colleges, after his economic managers earlier expressed opposition to the bill.^[476] On February 22, 2019, the Tulong-Trabaho Act was signed mandating free access to technical-vocational education in an effort to address unemployment and job mismatch in the country.^[477] On December 23, 2020, Duterte signed the Doktor Para sa Bayan Act, providing for medical scholarships for deserving students in state universities and colleges or partner private higher education institutions.^[478]

On March 11, 2022, Duterte signed a law granting inclusive education for learners with disabilities.^[479] Duterte also approved on January 5, 2021, a law institutionalizing the alternative learning system (ALS), which provides a parallel learning system for non-formal sources of knowledge and skills,^[480] and provides free education to those out of school.^[481] On October 30, 2018, Duterte signed a law declaring Filipino Sign Language (FSL) as the national sign language of the Filipino deaf. The law also required that FSL be taught as a separate subject in the curriculum for deaf learners.^[482]

On June 25, 2020, Duterte signed a law restoring Good Manners and Right Conduct (GMRC) and Values Education as core subjects in the K-12 curriculum in both public and private schools.^[483] In tertiary education, Duterte, on August 28, 2019, signed a law expanding access to educational services through the establishment and administration of transnational higher education (TNHE), allowing foreign universities to offer degree programs in the Philippines in an effort to modernize the higher education sector and bring international quality standards and expertise into the country.^[484][485] Duterte signed a law on May 31, 2021, integrating labor education in the higher education curriculum,^[486] and another law on August 22, 2019, requiring the creation of an advanced energy and green building technologies curriculum for both undergraduate and graduate students.^[487]

On February 14, 2019, Duterte signed a law establishing a career guidance and counseling program for all secondary schools nationwide to assist students in pursuing a proper college education.^[488]

Duterte recognized the role of a sports academy to sports development.^[489] On June 9, 2020, Duterte signed a law establishing the country's first National Academy of Sports in New Clark City, Capas, Tarlac.^[490]

In an effort to boost research and development in the country, Duterte signed in June 2018 the Balik Scientist Act providing incentives to Filipino scientists abroad to motivate them to return to the country and share their expertise.^[491][492]

The Duterte administration adopted a "technology neutral" approach and included renewable sources of energy such as hydroelectric, geothermal, wind, and solar in the power producing mix. The administration stressed that coal remains the most viable source of energy if the Philippines is to accelerate industrialization,^[493] and questioned the sanctions imposed by the United States and European Union on smaller countries including the Philippines when the country's carbon footprint is not significant compared to the superpowers.^[494]

To hasten the expansion of the nation's power capacity, Duterte signed an order on June 28, 2017, establishing the inter-agency Energy Investment Coordinating Council tasked with simplifying and streamlining the approval process of big-ticket projects.^[495] On January 21, 2022, Duterte signed a law promoting the use of microgrid systems in unserved and underserved areas to accelerate total electrification of the country.^[496]

The administration pursued policies for the country to transition to renewable energy as a source of power.^[497] At his fourth State of the Nation address in July 2019, Duterte issued a directive to cut coal dependence and fast-track a transition to renewable energy.^[498][499] In August 2017, Duterte inaugurated the first Filipino solar module manufacturing facility at Santo Tomas, Batangas, owned by renewable energy firm Solar Philippines.^[500][501]

The administration sought new energy sources.^[497] With the impending depletion of the Malampaya gas field, Duterte on October 15, 2020, approved the Department of Energy's recommendation to lift the moratorium on oil and gas exploration in the West Philippine Sea imposed by President Benigno Aquino III in 2012.^[502] The administration's energy department partnered with Australian company Star Scientific Ltd. and Japanese company Hydrogen Technology Inc. (HTI) to study hydrogen as a possible energy source.^[503][504] On February 28, 2022, Duterte signed an executive order approving the inclusion of nuclear power in the country's energy mix.^[505][506]

The administration pursued to liberalize the energy sector.^[497][507] In October 2020, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi confirmed that the Philippines would now allow 100% foreign ownership in large-scale geothermal projects.^[508][509]

The energy department reported in September 2021 that the country's system capacity increased from 21,424 megawatts in 2016 to 26,287 megawatts in 2020, and household electrification level rose from 90.7% in 2016 to 94.5% in 2020.^[510]

In June 2018, Duterte signed the E-NIPAS Act of 2018, a landmark legislation protecting an additional 94 critical habitats nationwide and declaring them as national parks, increasing the number of protected areas from 13 to 107 covering a total of 3 million hectares (30,000 km²). The largest in the protected areas include Tañon Strait (534,589.05 hectares or 5,346 km²), Ticao-Burias Pass (414,244 hectares or 4,142 km²), Samar Island Natural Park (335,105.57 hectares or 3,351 km²), Siargao Island (283,974.77 hectares or 2,840 km²), Turtle Islands Wildlife Sanctuary (242,958.29 hectares or 2,430 km²), Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary, and Sarangani Bay (210,887.69 hectares or 2,109 km²).^[511][512]

On February 2, 2017, the mining sector was shaken up after environment secretary and staunch environmentalist Gina Lopez announced the closure of 23 mining operations and the suspension of five others.^[513][514] Duterte, who has expressed support for Lopez, said that there was nothing he could do about the closures.^[515] On May 3, Lopez's appointment as Environment Secretary was rejected by the Commission on Appointments (CA) in a vote of 8–16 on May 3, 2017, amid issues over her order to close and suspend mining operations.^[514][516] In July 2018, Duterte floated a "conspiracy" behind Congress' decision in May 2017 to reject Lopez's appointment as environment secretary.^[517] He also ordered mining companies to conduct reforestation activities and reiterated that he will ban open-pit mining.^[518]

On April 15, 2021, Duterte lifted the nine-year moratorium on new mining agreements imposed in 2012 to boost government revenue and the pandemic-battered economy, a move which was hailed by mining companies but has dismayed environmental activists and progressive groups.^[519]

On December 23, 2021, environment secretary Roy Cimatu signed a Department Administrative Order repealing the ban on open-pit mine on copper, gold, silver, and complex ores imposed in 2017 by Gina Lopez.^[520]

On April 4, Duterte announced that the government shall 'close down' all operations within the island of Boracay, the country's number one tourism destination, due to 'environmental concerns'.^[521] On April 9, Duterte said that the government had 'no master plan' on how to clean-up Boracay, which he called a 'cesspool', and said the island will be a land reform area once its rehabilitation is done.^[522] On April 24, about 600 soldiers, police, and coast guard members were deployed to Boracay to maintain peace and order amid possible protests during the closure,^[523][524] causing alarm among residents.^[525] On April 26, Boracay's 6-month closure began, and the entire island was officially closed to the public.^[526] Two weeks after the closure, Duterte ordered the creation a Boracay inter-agency task force to review and consolidate existing master plans and formulate an action plan to reverse the degradation of the island resort.^[527]

Boracay was officially reopened to the public on October 26, 2019, following a six-month extensive clean-up.^[528] A limit for visitors to the island had been set by the government, where only 6,000 would be allowed on any given day, as studies have shown Boracay's capacity to be only at 6,000.^[529]

On September 14, 2021, Duterte signed an executive order extending the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force's term until June 2022 to "ensure completion of the remaining milestones of the Boracay Action Plan until 2022".^[530]

After Cagayan Valley experienced massive flooding due to Typhoon Ulysses, Duterte on November 15, 2020, ordered Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu to look into reports of illegal logging and mining, lamenting that despite being discussed in various meetings, "nothing" has been done to address the issues.^[531] He vowed to improve efforts against illegal logging and mining to prevent a repeat of the disaster. Interior Secretary Eduardo Año ordered the Philippine National Police to begin a campaign against illegal logging.^[532] On August 26, 2021, Duterte revealed that the New People's Army is protecting illegal loggers in exchange for money.^[533]

During his presidency, Duterte signed several health-related bills into law.^[534] On February 20, 2019, Duterte signed the Universal Health Care Act, mandating the automatic enrollment of all Filipinos under the government's health insurance program.^[535] Six days earlier, he signed the National Integrated Cancer Control Act, institutionalizing a "national integrated" program to control and prevent cancer, a leading cause of death in the Philippines.^[536] Also signed was the Philippine Mental Health Law on June 20, 2018, which established a national policy seeking to enhance the delivery of integrated mental health services in the country and protect the rights of persons using psychiatric, neurologic and psychosocial health services.^[537] On December 3, 2019, Duterte signed the a law seeking to establish Malasakit Centers in all hospitals run by the Department of Health.^[538] Duterte issued executive orders prohibiting smoking in public places nationwide in May 2017,^[539] and regulating the use of firecrackers and pyrotechnics in June 2017.^[540]

Duterte made efforts to address hunger and malnutrition among Filipinos. On June 29, 2018, he signed a law institutionalizing a national feeding program for undernourished children in public schools.^[541] On January 10, 2020, Duterte signed an executive order creating an inter-agency task force on zero hunger which will formulate a National Food Policy and provide a roadmap for achieving zero hunger.^[542]

In 2017, Duterte launched a ₱1 billion medical program funded under Office of the President's socio-civic projects fund. The program, Lingap at Gabay Para sa May Sakit (LinGAP sa MaSa), implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development,^[543][544] provided free medicines, prosthesis, assistive devices, radiology, and chemotherapy assistance to indigent citizens.^[545]

In an effort to make medicines more affordable for all Filipinos, Duterte issued an executive order in February 2020 setting a price cap on select medicines.^[546] In December 2021, Duterte issued another executive order enforcing stricter price regulation of drugs and medicines used in addressing the leading causes of morbidity in the country.^[547]

Following the first confirmed case of "novel coronavirus 2019" in the country, Duterte on January 31, 2020, ordered a temporary ban on the entry of Chinese nationals from China's Hubei province,^[548] expanding the ban to the whole of China in February 2020.^[549] On March 8, Duterte issued a proclamation declaring a State of Public Health Emergency throughout the country due to the COVID-19.^[550] Four days later, Duterte placed Metro Manila on lockdown.^[551] On March 16, Duterte declared a State of National Calamity for the next six months.^[552] A day later, Duterte placed the entire Luzon under Enhanced Community Quarantine which resulted to the temporary closure of borders and suspension of work and public transport, while instructing people to stay home.^[553] On March 24, Congress passed the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act,^[554] which Duterte subsequently signed the following day. Under the law, the President was granted the authority to realign the 2020 national budget to address the COVID-19 crisis in the country, and to temporarily take over or direct the operations of private establishments which include private hospitals, hotels, and public transport which will be used in addressing the health crisis.^[555]

On July 2, 2020, the Duterte administration launched the National Action Plan (NAP) Phase II which seeks to gradually open the economy while protecting the people's health against the virus through the "Prevent-Detect-Isolate-Treatment-Reintegration" Strategy (PDITR).^[556] On April 4, the administration started requiring the public to use face masks when leaving home.^[557][558] Millions of reusable cloth face masks were distributed to poor citizens.^[559][560] In May 2021, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) started issuing Safety Seal certifications to establishments compliant with the government's health protocols.^[561][562]

To expand the country's testing capacity for COVID-19, the administration established sub-national laboratories of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in several hospitals across the country.^[563][564] Extension laboratories were also set up in private hospitals,^[565][566] while "mega swabbing centers" were established in parts of Metro Manila and Bulacan to further expand testing.^[567][568] On November 4, 2020, Duterte issued an executive order directing the Department of Health and the DTI to place a price cap on COVID-19 tests to make them more affordable.^[569] The health department authorized the Philippine Red Cross laboratories to conduct saliva-based RT-PCR tests starting January 25, 2021,^[570] and collaborated with the University of the Philippines-Philippine Genome Center^[571] and the UP-National Institutes of Health in conducting genome sequencing of COVID-19 samples.^[572]

The administration adopted "a national-government-enabled, LGU-led, and people-centered response" to the COVID-19 crisis. In April 2020, the Inter-Agency Task Force passed a resolution giving the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) the responsibility to lead contact tracing efforts.^[573] The DILG ordered local government units to increase their contact tracing teams to monitor the status of COVID-19 suspect and probable cases,^[574] and also hired thousands of contact tracers.^[575][576] The DILG also ordered barangay captains to form Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams composed of an executive officer, a barangay tanod, and two barangay health workers as first-line COVID-19 respondents in their communities.^[577][578] The administration launched StaySafe, a digital contact tracing mobile application, to improve efforts to contain the spread of the virus.^[579]

To reduce the risk of local transmission and properly implement home quarantine protocols, the administration launched the Oplan Kalinga program, which directs local government units to fetch COVID-19 patients with mild symptoms and transport them to government quarantine facilities. The program focuses on patients whose homes have no separate room or toilet for isolation, or patients living with elderly or people with comorbidities.^[580] Hotels and accommodation establishments were temporarily converted into quarantine and isolation facilities.^[581]

In August 2020, the administration launched the One Hospital Command Center (OHCC) to monitor hospital capacity and assist infected patients in finding an appropriate health facility.^[582] On July 12, 2021, the OHCC was strengthened and relaunched as the National Patient Navigation and Referral System,^[583] which aims to interconnect health facilities and government agencies to provide immediate health services to COVID-19 patients.^[584]

The administration purchased and distributed medical equipment and supplies.^[585] In March 30, 2020, the health department purchased 1 million personal protective equipment (PPEs) worth ₱1.8 billion for COVID-19 health workers, prompting the Senate to call for a probe on alleged overpricing.^[586] On May 20, Duterte took full responsibility for the procurement of the PPEs, saying he ordered health secretary Francisco Duque III to expedite the procurement of the PPEs regardless of cost so as not to compromise the health workers' safety.^[587][585] The DTI also boosted local production of medical equipment through its Shared Service Facility Fabrication Laboratories (SSF FabLabs) project.^[588][589]

The administration provided hazard pay, special risk allowance (SRA),^[590] and sickness and death benefits^[591][592] to health workers.^[593] In November 2020, Duterte signed two administrative orders granting hazard pay and SRA to medical frontliners.^[594] In mid-2021, the COVID-19 Delta variant caused a rise in daily infections in the country, causing some medical workers groups to conduct protest and resignation threats. The health department disbursed ₱237 million for health care workers, after Duterte ordered for the distribution of the special risk allowance within 10 days.^[595] In January 2022, the health department replaced the hazard pay and SRAs benefits with the One COVID-19 Allowance (OCA), which would be distributed monthly to all health care workers, taking into consideration their COVID-19 risk exposure classification.^[593]

The Department of Science and Technology conducted studies and clinical trials on supplementary treatment for COVID-19 which include virgin coconut oil, tawa-tawa, lagundi, and melatonin.^[596][597]

In September 2020, Congress passed the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act (Bayanihan 2), which replaced the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act. On September 11, Duterte signed the Bayanihan 2 into law, which includes a ₱165 billion fund that aims to stimulate the economy while strengthening the health sector and the administration's pandemic responses. The law also allows the President to realign funds for pandemic-related expenditures.^[598]

The administration started its COVID-19 vaccination program on March 1, 2021, a day after the arrival of the country's first vaccine doses which were donated by the Chinese government.^[599] Under the program, priority was given to medical workers, senior citizens, and persons with comorbidities.^[600]

Duterte on February 14, 2019, signed a law creating the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development, tasked to establish Housing One-Stop Processing Centers (HOPCs)^[601]

The DHSUD reported in October 2021 that the Duterte administration has financed and produced 1,076,277 housing units from 2016 to June 2021 and had the highest yearly output average of 195,687 housing units per year since 1975.^[602][603]

In March 2022, the government started its first housing project for indigenous peoples.^[604]

During his campaign for the 2016 presidential election, Duterte promised to phase out contractualization (locally known as endo, derived from "end of contract") and improvement to labor policies in the Philippines. Upon his election, he appointed Silvestre Bello III as Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment, who considers making all companies put at least 80% of all employees under contract as per the president's orders.^[605] By the end of 2016, around 32,000 workers have been regularized.^[606] In 2017, Duterte and Bello aimed for a new permanent policy that would end labor-only contractualization by the end of February, but Bello wounded up not signing it. Instead he decided first for dialogue between the president and labor groups in order to get feedback.^[607][608] Eventually Duterte met with the labor groups as Bello drafts a new Department Order that would stop labor contractualization. However, by March 16, Bello signs Department Order 174 which sets stricter guidelines on contractualization but doesn't immediately illegalize it.^[609] Duterte however continued his stand against contractualization, promising to sign an Executive Order against it.^[610] However, terrorist attacks perpetuated by the Maute group in Marawi City ended up postponing the signing.^[605] A rally was organized by labor groups on March 15, 2018, in protest against the president's delay of the EO.^[611] Eventually on May 1, Duterte signed Executive Order No. 51 which prohibits illegal contracting and subcontracting,^[612][613] although labor groups criticized the president for his actions since the one signed was not the draft agreed upon with them.^[605] Malacañang admitted it was powerless in enforcing a ban on contractualization, stating that an Executive Order is not sufficient to enforce a total ban on it, and said that lawmakers should amend the Labor Code of the Philippines for contractual work arrangements to be abolished.^[614]

On September 21, 2018, Duterte certified as urgent a Senate bill prohibiting contractualization and labor-only contracting, which was stated to benefit over 40 million workers in the country.^[615] However, in July 2019, Duterte vetoed the Security of Tenure Bill, stating that the measure "unduly broadens the scope and definition of prohibited labor-only contracting, effectively proscribing forms of contractualization that are not particularly unfavorable to employees involved." He added that while he remains committed to eradicating all forms of abusive employment practices and protecting the workers' right to security of tenure, he stressed that "our goal, however, has always been to target the abuse, while leaving businesses free to engage in those practices beneficial to both management and the workforce." The decision was welcomed by employers, with labor groups criticizing the move as a failure to deliver a campaign promise.^[616] Malacañang defended Duterte's veto, stating that his administration remained in its promise to end unfair practices of contractualization.^[617]

In November 2019, the labor department reported that over 564,000 contractual workers have been regularized by their employers as part of the administration's effort to end contractualization.^[618]

Duterte vowed to make the concerns of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) his top labor priority.^[619] In December 2021, Duterte signed Republic Act No. 11641 creating the Department of Migrant Workers to improve coordination among government agencies concerned with Overseas Filipino Workers affairs.^[620] Duterte issued executive orders creating the Overseas Filipino Bank in September 2017 and the Overseas Filipino Workers Hospital in December 2021 that will cater primarily to overseas Filipino workers.^{[621][622][623]} In August 2017, Duterte signed a law extending the validity of Philippine passports from 5 years to 10 years.^[624]

On August 15, 2016, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) launched its first one-stop shop for Filipino migrant workers where they can have more efficient access to all government front-line services to be able to secure their required employment documents.^[625] In September 2016, the POEA exempted OFWs who returning to their jobs or same employers abroad from paying travel tax as well as securing overseas employment certificate (OEC) and paying the agency's processing fee.^[626]

In November 2018, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) launched the OFW E-Card, a new identification card that will give OFWs faster access to OWWA's programs and services, including welfare services, scholarships, training programs, and social benefits.^[627]

Following the death of Filipina maid Joanna Demafelis in Kuwait wherein her body was found inside a freezer, a dispute between the two countries occurred wherein Duterte issued a deployment ban to Kuwait in February 2018 and thousands of Filipino workers in the Gulf state having since been repatriated. On May 11, 2018, the Agreement on the Employment of Domestic Workers between the Philippines and Kuwait was signed by the two countries, which recognized certain rights of Filipino migrant workers employed as servants or maids in Kuwait.^[628][629]

Following the death of Jeanelyn Villavende who was killed by her employer in Kuwait, the Philippines approved a total ban on the deployment of workers to the Gulf state on January 15, 2020.^[630] The Philippines and Kuwait later signed an agreement on the proposed standard employment contract for Overseas Filipino Workers in the Gulf State on February 5, 2020. The standard contract contains regulations endorsed by Duterte— including allowing Filipinos to keep their passports and cellphones, setting one day off with pay, as well as designating working and sleeping hours for the OFWs.^[631]

During his tenure, Duterte approved the raising of salaries of government employees,^[632] including the military, police, and other uniformed personnel.^{[633][634][635]} In January 2020, Duterte signed the Salary Standardization Law of 2019 increasing the salaries of government workers which include teachers and nurses, in four tranches from 2020 to 2023.^[632][636]

On February 20, 2019, Duterte signed a law extending paid maternity leave of female workers from 60 days to 105 days.^[637][638]

Duterte stressed that transactions will be simpler and faster through the use of a national ID.^[639] On August 6, 2018, Duterte signed into law the Philippine Identification System Act seeking to establish a single government identification card for all citizens and foreign residents in the country by integrating various government-issued IDs.^[640] On February 14, 2022, Duterte issued an executive order institutionalizing the national ID as sufficient proof of identity and age in all forms of transactions, eliminating the need to present additional IDs.^[641]

During his presidential campaign, Duterte called the land reform program of the Aquino administration a "total failure", and stated that he would pursue land reform differently by prioritizing the provision of support services alongside land distribution to farmers.^[642] On July 5, 2016, a few days after Duterte's presidential inauguration, the Department of Agrarian Reform opened the gates of its main office in Quezon City after two decades of being barricaded shut to keep protesters from storming inside the government agency's office.^[643]

Following the Boracay cleanup, Duterte in November 2018 distributed 623 certificates of land ownership award, covering 274 hectares (680 acres) of land in Boracay and Aklan, to the area's Ati inhabitants and other agrarian reform beneficiaries.^[644] In December 2018, the last 117 farm workers in Hacienda Luisita have been handed their certificates of land ownership award covering 6,600 square meters of land, completing agrarian land distribution at the estate formerly owned by the Cojuangco-Aquino clans in Tarlac province.^[645]

In February 2019, Duterte ordered all government agencies to identify government-owned lands that can be distributed to agrarian reform beneficiaries.^[646][647] On August 27, 2019, Duterte completed the distribution of remaining portions of land in Hacienda Luisita in Tarlac under the agrarian reform program in a ceremony distributing over 87,000 hectares of land.^[648]

As of August 2021, a total of 516,000 hectares (1,280,000 acres) of land were distributed among 405,800 farmers nationwide by the Department of Agrarian Reform under the Duterte administration.^[649]

The Duterte administration has pursued to pull 6 million Filipinos out of poverty.^[650] After assuming the presidency, Duterte issued his first Executive Order ordering 12 government agencies to be placed under the supervision of the Cabinet Secretary in a goal to evaluate existing poverty reduction programs and streamline them.^[651][652] Duterte on October 5, 2016, signed his fifth executive order adopting Ambisyon Natin 2040 as the 25-year economic development plan for the Philippines, such that "by 2040, the Philippines shall be a prosperous, predominantly middle-class society where no one is poor."^[653]

In April 2019, Duterte enacted three landmark laws; the Magna Carta of the Poor which aims to uplift the standard of living and quality of life of poor Filipinos,^[654][655] the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) Act, which institutionalized the 4Ps cash transfer program and seeks to reduce national poverty by providing "conditional cash transfer to poor households for a maximum period of seven years to improve the health, nutrition and education aspect of their lives",^[656][657] and the Community-Based Monitoring System Act, authorizing the government to adopt a community-based monitoring system (CBMS), which is to be established and instituted in every city and municipality as an "economic and social tool towards the formulation and implementation of poverty alleviation and development programs" of government.^[658]

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the Duterte administration made strides in reducing poverty. In December 2019, the Philippine Statistics Authority reported that nearly 6 million Filipinos were lifted out of poverty as the government boosted its spending on social welfare. The agency stated that from a 23.3% poverty incidence recorded in 2015, this had dropped to 16.6% in 2018.^[659] The administration pursued to lower poverty rate to 15.5 to 17.5% by the end of 2022.^[660] However, the COVID-19 pandemic struck, prompting the government to impose lockdown measures to contain the virus, resulting to an increase in unemployment.^[661][662] The number of poor Filipinos rose from 22.26 million in 2019 to 26.14 million in early 2021 due to the pandemic.^[660] In June 2020, the administration began to ease lockdown to spur economic activity and address hunger and unemployment,^[661][663] and distributed cash aid to millions of poor and low-income families during the lockdowns.^[661][664]

On May 21, 2021, Duterte signed a law extending the electricity lifeline rates for the poor for a period of 50 years.^[665][666]

Duterte had enacted several laws seeking to protect minors from abuse and exploitation.^[667][668] On January 10, 2019, Duterte signed a law requiring the government to provide special protection of children in armed conflict.^[669] On December 10, 2021, Duterte signed a law criminalizing child marriage, its facilitation and solemnization, and cohabitation of an adult with a child outside wedlock.^[670][668] Another landmark law was signed on March 4, 2022, raising the age of sexual consent from 12 to 16.^[671][672] On September 27, 2019, Duterte issued an executive order creating the National Council Against Child Labor tasked to intensify government efforts against child labor.^[673]

Duterte signed on January 10, 2022, a law simplifying and shortening the adoption process in the country. The law also established the National Authority for Child Care (NACC), which will handle all matters involving alternative child care.^[674][667]

The Duterte administration had made strengthening of the Reproductive Health Law (RH) implementation part of its 10-point socio-economic agenda. The Law had not been implemented due to a temporary restraining order issued by the Supreme Court. On January 9, 2017, Duterte signed an executive order providing funds and support for modern family planning, and ordered the full implementation of the RH Law.^[675][676]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Senator Bong Go proposed a long-term plan to decongest Metro Manila and promote development in other regions, reintroducing the Balik Probinsya program implemented by then President Benigno Aquino III.^[677] Duterte expressed support for the program,^[678] and on May 6, 2020, issued an executive order institutionalizing the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa (BP2) Program,^[677] which provides incentives such as transportation, livelihood assistance, cash aid, skills training programs, and low-cost housing to qualified beneficiaries wishing to return to their respective provinces.^[679][678]

In January 2017, Duterte approved a ₱1,000 increase in the Social Security System pension.^[680] On December 20, 2018, Duterte signed a law raising the monthly old-age pension of living Filipino veterans of World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War from ₱5,000 to ₱20,000.^[681]

In January 2022, Duterte signed a law granting survivorship benefits to the surviving spouse and children of deceased retired prosecutors of the National Prosecution Service.^[682]

Recognizing the "urgent need to create a coherent and unified strategy for space development and utilization to keep up with other nations in terms of space science and technology", Duterte on August 8, 2019, signed a law creating the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA), which will serve as the central government agency addressing all national issues and activities related to space and science and technology applications.^[683]

In his fifth state of the nation address in July 2020, Duterte warned the country's two major telecommunications companies, Globe Telecom and Smart Communications, to improve their services by December or risk facing closure.^[684][685] Duterte urged telecommunications firms to report local officials who may be trying to delay the approval of necessary permits for cell site construction,^[686] after the firms said that red tape and non-standardized requirements made it difficult for them to build towers.^[687] In compliance with Duterte's order, the Department of Interior and Local Government streamlined the application process for the construction of shared cellular sites,^[686] shortening it to 16 days.^[688] Local government units also complied with Duterte's order.^[687][688] Since Duterte's warning, Globe Telecom and Smart Communications were able to improve their services.^[689] In February 2022, average fixed broadband download speeds rose from 7.91 Mbit/s to 82.61 Mbit/s, a 944% growth. Average mobile internet speeds have also seen a 467% growth at 42.22 Mbit/s from 7.44 Mbit/s since the start of the Duterte administration.^[690]

Duterte campaigned to break the telecom duopoly dominated by Globe and Smart, driven by the companies' poor mobile network services and internet speeds.^[691][692] On March 9, 2021, Dito Telecommunity, the Philippines' third telecommunications player, made its commercial debut.^[693] On May 18, Duterte signed a law granting a 25-year franchise to Dito Telecommunity.^[694]

On March 11, 2021, Duterte issued an executive order liberalizing access to satellite services.^[695]

On August 2, 2017, Duterte signed the Free Internet Access in Public Places Act requiring the government to provide free internet access in public places.^[696][697]

On February 8, 2019, Duterte signed a law allowing mobile users to keep their numbers for life even if they switch service providers.^[698]

Under the National Tourism Development Plan (NDTP), Duterte's administration devoted $23 billion for infrastructure in the tourism sector which will last throughout his presidential term. The NDTP sought to make the sector “not only sustainable and highly competitive in the region, but also socially responsible to propel inclusive growth.”^[699] The Department of Tourism recorded an all-time high record number of 7.1 million tourists that visited the Philippines in 2018, achieving the number despite premier destination Boracay being closed to make way for its rehabilitation.^[700] With the Philippines hosting the 30th Southeast Asian Games in 2019, the tourism department launched a website dedicated for its international visitors, stating that the country's hosting for the event is a "perfect opportunity to showcase the best of the Philippines in a very accessible manner.”^[701] The Southeast Asian Games gave a boost to Central Luzon's tourism industry, particularly in the Clark Freeport and Subic Freeport which hosted some sporting events.^[702] A total of 8.26 million international tourists visited the country throughout 2019, breaking not only the agency's own record but also exceeding the annual target under the NDTP. Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat stated that this "heralds a new milestone in the country's tourism history, breaching the eight millionth mark”.^[703]

In January 2021, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) reported that a total of ₱120 billion was allocated from 2016 to 2021 for the construction, improvement, and upgrading of about 4,147 kilometres (2,577 mi) of roads leading to declared tourism destinations, of which 2,168 kilometres (1,347 mi) were completed.^[704]

On February 10, 2022, the administration reopened the Philippines to international tourists after nearly two years of border closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[705]

On June 19, 2017, the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) was launched by the Department of Transportation, with the goal of making the country's public transportation system modern, efficient and environmentally friendly.^[706] The program calls for the phasing-out of jeepneys and other Public Utility Vehicles (PUVs) that are at least 15 years old and replacing them with safer, more comfortable and more environmentally-friendly alternatives. Replacement vehicles are required to have at least a Euro 4-compliant engine or an electric engine to lessen pollution.^[707] Under the program, PUV operators with existing franchises are encouraged to consolidate into a "single legal identity" with at least 15 units.^[708][709] On June 28, 2019, the transportation department and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority jointly launched the Tsuper Iskolar program which provides scholarships and livelihood training to public transport drivers affected by the PUVMP.^[710][711]

On August 2, 2017, Duterte signed a law extending the validity of driver's license from three years to five years.^[712]

On April 17, 2019, Duterte signed a law granting students a 20-percent fare discount on all public utility vehicles. The law allowed the discount to be availed of daily, including on weekends and holidays.^[713]

Duterte said he will allow the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos's remains to be moved and interred at Libingan ng mga Bayani (Heroes' Cemetery) because he was a president and a soldier, never mind a hero.^[714][715]

On November 8, 2016, the Supreme Court issued a verdict paving the way for the burial of the late dictator at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, which sparked protests. On November 18, Ferdinand Marcos was buried with full military honors at the Heroes' Cemetery.^[230] It sparked national outrage, especially among those who suffered human rights abuses under the Marcos regime. The protests was continuously held from November 18 to 30.^[231] Vice President Leni Robredo, who opposed the burial, said the surprise burial showed the Marcos family acted "like a thief in the night". Duterte expressed hope for everyone to "find space in their hearts to forgive and set free those who have hurt or injured them".^[716]

The Duterte administration has vowed to pursue an "independent foreign policy" that would reject any meddling by foreign governments, reiterating Article II, Section 7 of the 1987 Constitution which states: "The State shall pursue an independent foreign policy. In its relations with other states the paramount consideration shall be national sovereignty, territorial integrity, national interest, and the right to self-determination." In September 2016, Duterte said: "We will observe and must insist on the time-honored principle of sovereignty, sovereign equality, non-interference and the commitment of peaceful settlements of dispute that will serve our people and protect the interests of our country."^[717]

Duterte made his first international trips as president to Vientiane, Laos and Jakarta, Indonesia on September 5–9, 2016.^[718]

Duterte has placed great importance on the Philippines' diplomatic relations with its ASEAN neighbors. Following tradition, his first trips outside the country were to Laos on September 7 for the 49th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Leaders Summit,^[719] Indonesia on September 9,^[720] Vietnam on September 29,^[721] Malaysia on November 9,^[722] Cambodia on December 13,^[723] Singapore on December 15,^[724] Thailand on March 17,^[725] and Myanmar on March 19.^[726][727]

In 2017 the Philippines was chair and host to the ASEAN summits, a series of diplomatic conferences centering on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The culminating event was held in Manila on November 10–14 (31st summit). It was attended by ten Asean leaders.^[728]

In his early days of presidency, Duterte made efforts to distance from the United States and forge closer relationships with China and Russia,^[729][730] particularly in the areas of trade and commerce.^[729] In his first visit to China in October 2016, Duterte announced his "separation" from the United States, which he later clarified as a "separation of a foreign policy" and not a severance of diplomatic ties,^[731] and declared a realignment of the Philippines with China.^[732] Duterte said he planned to review the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, stressing that the agreement does not bear the signature of the Philippine president.^[733] A month earlier, Duterte informed the United States that the upcoming annual Balikatan exercise would be the last.^[734] In May 2017, Duterte expressed interest in conducting joint military exercises between the Philippine Armed Forces and China's People's Liberation Army in Mindanao, particularly in the Sulu Sea.^[735]

Duterte made a conciliatory stance toward China in hopes of avoiding a war.^[736] In May 2017, Duterte disclosed that President Xi Jinping had threatened war if the Philippines tried to enforce an arbitration ruling and drill for oil in the West Philippine Sea.^[737]

Duterte also hoped that a non-confrontational approach to China will eventually lead to striking a deal on joint exploration of the West Philippine Sea to support his massive infrastructure program.^[730] During President Xi Jinping's first state visit to the country in November 2018, the Philippines and China have signed 29 agreements, which include a memorandum of understanding on joint oil and gas development in the West Philippine Sea, and cooperation on the Belt and Road Initiative.^[738][739] In September 2019, Duterte disclosed that Xi Jinping has offered the Philippines a controlling stake in a gas deal in the Reed Bank if the Philippines sets aside the South China Sea Arbitration ruling.^[740]

In April 2017, Duterte ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines to occupy and fortify at least nine uninhabited islands in the South China Sea.^[741] Duterte also ordered the Philippine Navy to build structures on the Benham Rise to reassure the Philippines' sovereignty over the undersea region, following the sighting of Chinese survey vessels.^[742] A month later, Duterte signed an executive order formally renaming the Benham Rise to the Philippine Rise.^[743]

Incidents of China's aggressiveness in the South China Sea made a huge impact on Duterte's friendly approach to China.^[730] In April 2017, Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua said that Philippine plans to repair Thitu (Pag-asa) Island were 'illegal'.^[744] As early as December 2018 until 2020, China deployed hundreds of military vessels around Thitu Island to prevent the Philippines from upgrading the island runway and other structures.^[745] In April 2019, following a military report that at least 275 Chinese vessels had been monitoring around Thitu Island since January, Duterte gave a "word of advice" to China not to touch Thitu Island or he would send Philippine soldiers on a "suicide mission".^[746] In January 2021, China passed a law authorizing its coast guard to fire on foreign vessels as needed,^[747] and in March, it moored 220 Chinese vessels which were believed to be manned by the Chinese military at the disputed Whitsun Reef.^[748][749] These incidents have induced Duterte to authorize foreign affairs secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. to submit several diplomatic protests.^{[730][750][751]}

As early as June 2020, Duterte gradually distanced from China, according to a RAND Corporation defense analyst.^[752][730] After Duterte decided to terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement in January 2020 when the US denied a visa for Senator Ronald dela Rosa due to dela Rosa's role as police chief during the Philippine anti-drug war,^[753][754] Duterte later postponed the termination in June 2020,^[755] in November 2020,^[756] and in June 2021,^[757] cancelling the termination in July 2021 during U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin's trip to the Philippines.^[758] In July 2020, Duterte allowed the Department of Foreign Affairs to demand China to recognize the South China Sea Arbitration ruling.^[730] During the 75th United Nations General Assembly in September 2020, Duterte made one of his strongest defenses of the Philippine victory in the arbitration case, an unexpected move that eventually earned rare praises from some of his key critics.^[759]

The Philippines affirms that commitment in the South China Sea in accordance with UNCLOS and the 2016 Arbitral Award. The Award is now part of international law, beyond compromise and beyond the reach of passing governments to dilute, diminish or abandon. We firmly reject attempts to undermine it.

— Rodrigo Roa Duterte, 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly, September 23, 2020, ^[759][760]

Speaking at the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Duterte again stressed the importance of the Philippines' arbitral victory against China's sweeping maritime claims in the South China Sea, and said that no nation can undermine the sea ruling that favors the Philippines.^[761][762]

The Philippines and the United States made efforts to reinvigorate relations,^[730] with the high-level visits of commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Adm. John Aquilino, who affirmed the Mutual Defense Treaty with the Philippines, in August 2021,^[763] and Marine Corps Commandant David H. Berger in September.^[764] In September, foreign affairs secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. and defense secretary Delfin Lorenzana met with their counterparts in the United States to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty.^[765][766] In the same month, the AUKUS nuclear submarine deal was welcomed by Locsin citing that it can help balance the power in the Indo-Pacific region,^[767] although days after, Duterte expressed concern that the trilateral pact could provoke a "nuclear arms race".^[768] In December 2020, the Philippines received military equipment worth $29 million (₱1.4 billion) from the United States to boost the country's defense against external threats and terrorism.^[769]

China played an important role in the early months of the Philippines' fight against COVID-19.^[770] In February 2021, China became the first country to send the Philippines COVID-19 vaccines.^[771] Duterte disclosed that he personally requested President Xi Jinping for assistance in securing vaccines.^[772] In August 2021, Duterte conversely thanked the United States for its vaccine donations, which he said played a key role in his decision to keep the Visiting Forces Agreement.^[773][774]

On January 16, 2022, China donated to the Philippines ₱1 billion worth of non-combat military equipment,^[775][776] two days after the Philippines made a deal with India to buy the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile to improve its coastal defense.^[777]

In March 2022, months before his term ends, Duterte said potential trouble may occur if the next Philippine administration will not honor its agreement with China to conduct joint exploration activities in the West Philippine Sea, after receiving a reminder from a man from China whom he did not identify.^[778]

Amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Duterte in March 2022 pledged to open the country's "facilities" to American forces under the 1951 mutual defense treaty if the conflict spills over to Asia.^[779]

Philippine-Russian relations improved during Duterte's presidency.^[780][781] On November 20, 2016, Duterte met with Putin during the sidelines of the APEC summit in Lima, Peru. Duterte has praised Putin's leadership skills and called him his "idol". Putin also invited Duterte to visit Moscow.^[782][783] Duterte said that he would visit Moscow on May 25, 2017, where a defense cooperation agreement between the Philippines and Russia is expected to be finalized.^[784]

During an interview with RT in November, Duterte said that the Philippines is "not ready" for military alliances with China and Russia due to the Mutual Defense Treaty signed between the Philippines and the U.S.; however, he clarified that the Philippines could seek stronger diplomatic cooperation with China and Russia, as well as other countries, "to make the world more peaceful".^[785] Russian Ambassador to the Philippines Igor Khovaev expounded on Duterte's statement by saying that the Russian government is offering a strategic partnership with the Philippines, not a military alliance, and added that Russia does not believe in establishing military alliances with Asia. However, Khovaev explained that the Russian government is open to assisting the Philippines in purchasing Russian-made weaponry.^[786]

Duterte made his first state visit to Russia in May 2017 and met with Putin, but the visit was cut short when Islamic militants attacked Marawi.^[787] On October 2, 2019, Duterte made his second state visit to Russia to discuss about increasing security and defense cooperation.^[788][789] During the visit, Duterte received an honorary doctorate degree for international relations or foreign diplomacy^[790] from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations on October 5, 2019.^[791]

In October 2017, the Philippines and Russia signed an agreement on defense and technical cooperation, which included a sales contract for the purchase of defense articles with Russian state-owned company Rosoboronexport. Russia donated thousands of rifles, helmets and other military gear to the Philippines.^[792][793]

On April 13, 2021, Duterte and Putin held a teleconference and discussed about production and supply of coronavirus vaccines, defense, and trade opportunities. Duterte informed Putin about his plan to order 20 million doses of Sputnik V vaccine from Russia.^[794][795] On May 1, the initial doses of 15,000 Sputnik V vaccines purchased by the government arrived in the Philippines.^[796]

In March 2022, amid the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, Duterte stressed that the Philippines would remain neutral and refused to take sides.^[797]

Duterte said he is willing to accept refugees such as Rohingyas fleeing war and persecution in Myanmar,^[798] Afghan nationals fleeing Afghanistan to escape the Taliban's rule, and Ukrainian refugees.^[799][800] On September 9, 2021, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr. confirmed that the Philippines has welcomed an undetermined number of Afghan refugees to the country since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan three weeks before. Locsin did not give details to the public for the refugees' safety and privacy.^[801][802]

On February 28, 2022, Duterte issued an executive order institutionalizing access to protection services for refugees, stateless persons, and asylum seekers.^[803]

The 2019 mid-term elections was generally considered as a referendum on Duterte, who retained his high approval and trust ratings despite issues on his administration's war on drugs and other policies.^[804][805] Nine Duterte administration-backed candidates won Senate seats out of 12. Opposition alliance Otso Diretso suffered a historic loss by failing to secure a single seat.^[806][807]

• Protests against Rodrigo Duterte
• Political positions of Rodrigo Duterte
• Rodrigo Duterte presidential campaign, 2016
• Philippine War on Drugs
• Burial of Ferdinand Marcos
• List of international presidential trips made by Rodrigo Duterte
• List of executive orders by Rodrigo Duterte