Opened the Asean Social Welfare Ministers Conference this morning. Offered to host a regional headquarters for social welfare and advance studies. Actually the UN [United Nations] has promised support for this project.
Then met the Elizaldes who want to put up a Petrochemical complex at a cost of $150 million. $32 [million] to be local equity and one half of this paid up. Taiwan has put up its own, so has Singapore, Thailand and Korea. So we cannot depend on joint ventures. The nice part is the entire $150 million will come from abroad (including peso requirements) payable in 15 years and with a 3-4 year period of grace.
They are also interested in continuing their hot-rolling mill project and join in the setting up of a blast furnace. Jacinto wants to monopolize it. I have asked an American expert to come to advise me on the actual requirements of our economy and on the technical aspects of the steel industry.
Official Gazette for September 14, 1970: President Marcos stressed the importance of social welfare to development efforts, and recognizing the lack of manpower in this field offered Manila as the site of the Asian regional social welfare research and training– center. The President made the offer upon declaring open the First, Asian Ministers Conference on Social Welfare, held at the WHO Conference Hall on United Nations Avenue.
Later in the afternoon, the President tendered a reception in Malacañang in honor of the delegates to the conference.
The President started the day’s work early in the morning with an order to Executive Secretary Alejandro Melchor, Jr., to head a survey party to hard bit Quezon province, to assess its losses from the big typhoon that swept through its northern portion.
After working at his desk through midmorning, the President left Malacañang to formally open the First Asian Regional Conference on Social Welfare.
In his speech, the President welcomed the initiatives to tighten and widen regional cooperation on social welfare, and offered Manila as site for the first regional research and training center for this field of service.
Returning to Malacañang, the President worked for a time at his desk, then received the delegation of the Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines which formally invited him to be guest of honor and inducting officer when the new set of CCP officers are installed at ceremonies to be held at the Manila Hotel. The CCP group included Simeon C. Medalla, president; Miguel S. Arambulo, Jr., vice president; Wigberto Clavecilla, vice president; Benito L. Medina, secretary-treasurer; and Ceferino L. Benedicto, director.
In the afternoon, the President was back at his desk working on state papers. He received the report on the typhoon toll submitted by Secretary Melchor, and promptly fired off orders on the rehabilitation of damaged or destroyed buildings, and on assistance to farmers who lost their crops or livestock.
While at work in his private study, the President received definite word from Vatican that His Holiness, Pope Paul VI, will arrive in the Philippines on November 27 for a three-day visit.
I have sent Secs. [Alejandro] Melchor [Jr.] and [Juan] Ponce Enrile as well as Gen. [Manuel] Yan to Casiguran to supervise the relief work of the government agencies. They confirmed more than a hundred dead, 50 missing, 30 seriously injured, 2,000 hectares of coconut and 1,200 hectares of riceland completely destroyed. It was the most devastating typhoon in our history. It had winds of 200 knots an hour, an earthquake and tidal waves. It was the center of the typhoon.
The wife of Commander Melody [Benjamin Bie Jr.] comes to negotiate a quiet and covert surrender of her husband. And we can use Melody to get Commander Dante [Bernabe Buscayno].