[p.81] Col. [Fabian] Ver reports that de Leon has just come back from Samar where the men of [Sergio] Osmeña [Jr.] numbering about 300 are training with an American among them. We must find out if this is Larry Trackman. De Leon brought two samples of home-made bombs—beer bottles with gun powder and a fuse.
We must track down this [sic] training camps and eradicate them.
February 13, 1970: President Marcos had an early breakfast with Virgilio Marco, Executive Director of the World Bank for the area including the Philippines, Brazil, Colombia, among other countries, starting off a day which counted many conferences. Marco reported to the President on his talks with heads of local agencies having business transactions with the World Bank. Also present at the breakfast were Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Carlos P. Romulo, Executive Secretary Alejandro Melchor, Secretary of Finance Cesar E. A. Virata, NEC Chairman Placido Mapa, Jr., PNB President Roberto Benedicto and Acting Central Bank Governor Amado Briñas. After this meeting, the President received John McDavid, Supreme Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus, who is in the Philippines to visit all KC chapters in the country. McDavid gave the President a replica of the chalice that President Kennedy donated to the President of Mexico. He also presented a replica of the tiara of Pope Paul VI. McDavid was accompanied by former Ambassador Oscar Ledesma, president of the KC in the Philippines; Fr. George Wilmann, national deputy commander; Secretary of Justice Felix V. Makasiar; Dr. Ramon Campos; Fr. Francisco Tantoco, secretary-general; and Melquiades Virata, Jr. The President then received Antonio Delgado, who took up with the President, in behalf of the Philippine Chamber of Tourism, the ways and means of attracting to the Philippines tourists from the United States and Japan who might go to Expo ’70 in Osaka.
Shortly before noon, the President received a delegation which presented him with a “responsible parenthood program” prepared by a group of civic and religious leaders. Headed by Jaime Zobel de Ayala, a management expert, and Bishop Felix Perez, the delegation sought the President’s endorsement of the plan entitled, “Catholic Approach: The Rhythm Method.” The group intends to launch a nationwide information campaign aimed at securing public acceptance of the plan. The President referred the plan to the Population Control Commission headed by Secretary of Education O. D. Corpuz.
The President also conferred with officials of the People’s Homesite and Housing Corporation on the launching of a massive housing program for the working class and other low-income groups. He informed them that he had designated Executive Secretary Alejandro Melchor to coordinate the operations of all government agencies engaged in housing and to marshal their combined resources and facilities behind this new housing program for the poor.
Through the rest of the day, the President concentrated on his desk work. Working on state papers, the President among others:
Issued a proclamation creating the Tondo Condominium Project and placing government lands and buildings in Vitas, Tondo, Manila on sale to actual occupants. The proclamation will enable the 252 families, consisting of 1,712 persons, to own the units they occupy in the 252-apartment tenement building, which was constructed at a cost of P3,084,000 on a 15,000 square meters foreshore land in Vitas. Appointed Ramon Duremdes of Dumangas, Iloilo, as representative of the minority party in the Committee on Disposal of Valuable Government Properties, vice former Rep. Toribio Perez of Albay. Duremdes was recommended by Senator Gerardo Roxas, president of the Liberal Party, as provided for under Republic Act No. 5169. The same law empowers the President to sell government properties for the purpose of raising funds to pay for the government subscription to the Land Bank and to finance the operations of the Agricultural Credit Administration.
Met with Father [Jose] Blanco, the revolutionary priest. He seemed impressed with the crash program of employment with me calling the 600 biggest employers in the Manila area and asking them to take five to ten unemployed—then the housing program in Tondo, Tala Leprosarium, Sapang Palay, Carmona, San Pedro, Tunasan; the free trade zone and the sale of essential commodities without payment of tariff or tax if necessary; the agro-industrial estates and the Magalang project under a private foundation, the Filipinas Foundation of the Ayalas.
Have asked Sec. [Alejandro] Melchor [Jr.] to start the housing project immediately with the DBP [Development Bank of the Philippines], PNB [Philippine National Bank], GSIS [Government Service Insurance System] and SSS [Social Security System] contributing one million pesos each.
Hope to be able to visit some community projects soon.