I have just watched the newspaper on Television which was inaugurated yesterday on Channel 9. It makes reading your newspaper unnecessary.
Ambassador [Henry] Byroade saw me this morning at the instructions of his government to inform me of the reduction of the military personnel of the U.S. in the Philippines by about 1,600 navy and 4,300 of the Air Force. This will reduce U.S. dollar expenditures in the Philippines by about 1/6 to 1/5 of present. The total U.S. military personnel in the Phil. is about 24,000.
The question being asked by leaders in Asia is whether this presages the ultimate withdrawal of the U.S. from Asian bases. Sec. of State [William] Rogers has said that the U.S. will continue to maintain these bases and Amb. Byroade tells me that Pentagon feels
Official Gazette for July 22, 1970: President Marcos followed more or less his usual daily schedule, which begins with a protracted early morning stint at his desk, to scan the papers piled up for the day and act on them. Then he begins receiving the callers listed on his schedule.
First among those to see the President in the morning was US Ambassador Henry Byroade who discussed matters of mutual interest to the US and the Philippines. The hour-long meeting was held behind close doors.
The President later received the special mission of the Department of Labor scheduled to depart for countries in Asia and the Pacific, and as far afield as the US West Coast and two cities in Canada, to contact Filipino workers and explain the advantages of the dollar remittance plan of the government as well as the dollar deposits in major RP banks, recently approved for adoption. The mission members who saw the President were Labor Undersecretary Raoul Inocentes, mission chairman; Alfredo V. Antiporda of the Central Bank, Isidoro M. Villanos of the Philippine National Bank and Cresencio M. Siddayao of the Department of Labor.
Then the President inducted J. B. Tagorda as deputy commissioner of public highways, filling a long vacant post. The President also designated Secretary of Education Onofre D. Corpuz chairman of the Commission on Population. The commission was created by the President last May to formulate program recommendations relating to the economic and social development of the country.
Other callers received by the President were Reps. Artemio Loyola of Davao del Sur, Eduardo Gullas of Cebu and Pablo Malasarte of Bohol who came with Gov. Lino Chacto of the same province.
The officials consulted with the President on their respective local problems.
The rest of the President’s working day was spent at his desk.
He directed the National Library officials to assist in the organization or strengthening of libraries maintained by offices of the executive department. In his directive, the President pointed out the need for the maximum use and maintenance of libraries serving offices under the executive department.
He particularly instructed the National Library officials to look into the proper acquisitioning, accessioning, circulation, and preservation of books, periodicals, and other publications purchased with government funds.
Later in the afternoon, the President approved the commissions given to 14 individuals in the reserve force of the Philippine Navy, as well as the promotions for 238 inactive reserve officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The commissioned navy officers are graduates of the Naval Officer’s Qualifications Course. Of the AFP reserve officers promoted, six are to the rank of lieutenant colonel, 91 to major, 68 to captain and 73 to first lieutenant.
that the Subic Naval Base will be of the highest importance to the U.S. five years from now.
I have asked that the U.S. repeat the statement that it is not withdrawing from Asia; that the U.S. informs us how much more personnel are withdrawn and if totally withdrawn, that Filipinos be trained and prepared now to take over the bases partially or totally. I asked that there be no statements here in the Phil. although the Republican administration may want to show to Americans that it is withdrawing American soldiers from abroad.
I have sent USec. [Raoul] Inocentes of Labor on an important mission as my representative on dollar repatriation by Filipinos abroad. Foreign Affairs should cooperate.
Since we expect a loss of $40 million from the U.S. military personnel withdrawal I have asked for a better and more strict accounting of U.S. military dollar expenditures which may mean $2 million more dollars monthly and lipstick dollar payments which last month netted an additional $3 million to total $10 million monthly. So there should be an additional $60 million annually if this rate continues. We will be able to make up for the $40 m loss.
Then we expect an additional $50 to $100 million on the campaign for Filipinos abroad to expatriate their dollars. Our best talking points are the new free rate of P6.25 to the dollar and the authorization for Philippine banks to accept dollar accounts in numbered secret deposits held inviolate and untouchable by RA 1405 which I have pledged I will not allow to be amended during my term of office. This should attract the salted dollars abroad.
Tomorrow I meet with Mr. [Donald] Marshall, head of Lusteveco [Luzon Stevedoring Corporation], sister company of the Marianas Development Co. whose about 3,000 Filipino employees do not repatriate their dollars home.
Tourism—
I have directed a more coordinated effort on the part of the diplomatic officers and PAL [Philippine Air Lines] stations.
We should set up agencies in Japan, Hongkong, Bangkok and Sydney to push our tourism and be an information center that can engage in propaganda which the embassies cannot do.
The French manager of Air France, Michelle Popa has offered to bring in some German investors on hotels. [Federico] Junior Ablan brought him.