Am writing this on the 20th as I was too busy on the legislative program for the special session.
Saw Imelda off for Japan. We were at the airport at 7:30 AM. The plane was supposed to take off at 8:15 but [Leandro] Lindy and Cecille Locsin were late so it took off at 8:30 AM and landed at Tokyo at 12:20 PM Manila time, a flight of 3 hours and 5 minutes.
Talked to her when she reached the Imperial Hotel at 2:00 PM. Then went into the series of conferences until late at night.
Official Gazette for June 19, 1970: President Marcos was up early for a special purpose—to see the First Lady, Mrs. Imelda R. Marcos, off for Osaka, where she will represent the President at Expo 70’s observance of Philippine Day. By 7:15 a.m., the President and the First Lady were on the way-to the MIA, arriving about 30 minutes later. The large and warm spirited crowd made the departure a festive occasion. The PAL jet which took Mrs. Marcos and her party to Tokyo left at 8:15 a.m., and the President shortly returned to Malacañang after a brief press interview and conversation with officials and dignitaries who also saw the First Lady off.
Back at Malacañang, the President waded immediately into the paper work at hand. In-between he received visitors, and sat down for conferences with officials. He conferred with Central Bank Gov. Gregorio Licaros and Secretary of Finance Cesar E. A. Virata. Licaros reported to the President on the results of his mission abroad.
Next the President met with Secretary Virata, Budget Commissioner Faustino Sy-Changco and Rep. Jose Alberto on the budget bill. Later in the day, he received Denmark’s. Minister of Trade Knud Thomsen, who paid his respects. The President then received SQA Administrator Jose A. Unson who submitted a report on the 50,000 ton deficit reallocation of U.S. sugar, which would increase the country’s dollar earnings from sugar exports.
Among other visitors the President received during the day was Sen. Wenceslao R. Lagumbay who consulted him on official matters. Earlier, the President signed Senate Bill No. 208 (H. B. 853) prohibiting the increase of rentals of residential buildings and lots for a period of one year, beginning March 1970. Under the law, no lessor of a building unit or land on which a residential dwelling is located shall:
1) Increase the monthly rental agreed upon prior to the approval of this Act, when it does not exceed f-300 beginning March 1970; 2) Demand any deposit in advance for any purpose in excess of 2 months rental for a period of one year from the date of the effectivity of this Act.
The President also designated Assistant Executive Secretary Ponciano G. A. Mathay as acting executive secretary “upon the departure, and for the duration of the absence” of Executive Secretary Alejandro Melchor, Jr., who left for the United States to attend the 25th anniversary observance on June 26 of the signing of the United Nations Charter. While in the United States, Secretary Melchor will also confer with. electrification experts, in connection with the administration’s electrification program