Typhoon “Sening” was as violent as we feared it would be. I have declared all of the Bicol (Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Albay, Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte) and the two Southern Tagalog provinces of Quezon and Marinduque.
But the airfield in Legaspi is still unfinished (cementing that is) and not even the twin-engined Cessna or Queenair could land.
So I am directing instead local purchases and distribution through the Phil. Nat. [Philippine National] Red Cross.
The road from Legaspi to Tiwi, Malinao and Tabaco is reported washed out. So we are sending helicopters to ferry the relief goods.
The worst hit is probably Catanduanes. Virac and the other towns are practically wiped out.
I went to the residence of Gov. Isidro Rodriguez at 8:00 AM and took up with him the causes of his sulking. It seems he is of the impression I abandoned him during the fight for the chairmanship of the Governors and City Mayors League. The reports had been that they were supporting the CSM (Christian Socialist Movement) candidates led by Raul Manglapus, Feria, Concepcion, Dandan, Bote Jose, Voltaire Garcia. Apparently they were (including his wife, Daling). Lapsus lengua confirmed it. But they seemed to have changed their minds.
The same thing is true of Father [Pacifico] Ortiz. The women are carrying him and consider him some kind of an angel. If they only knew what he did during the liberation in Tacloban. And what he stands for.
Official Gazette, October 15, 1970: President Marcos proclaimed a state of calamity throughout the Bicol region, except the province of Masbate, and the provinces of Quezon and Marinduque. Press Secretary Francisco S. Tatad announced the proclamation following receipt of the report of the presidential survey team headed by Acting Executive Secretary Roberto V. Reyes and including Secretary of Public Works and Communications Manuel B. Syquio and other national officials, which flew to the Bicol region in the morning.
The President mostly attended to paper work, concentrating on reports on relief activities in the areas seriously affected by typhoon “Sening.” He also studied reports on the price trends conducted by the Bureau of Commerce, which he had asked the bureau to submit to him after he ordered a close watch on profiteers who may take advantage of the recent typhoon. He kept close pace with the movements of relief teams and repair-and-construction crews fielded to restore or rehabilitate public works and other much needed public services and facilities.The President stayed close to his desk through the morning and afternoon. He rested briefly late in the afternoon but returned to his study in the evening.