Woke up late again as I worked on the recovery programs. Exercised 3rd consecutive day. Muscles are sore (in the breast, legs and back). Shows I have laid off too long playing golf.
Met the National Food and Agriculture Committee on the Agricultural Recovery Program.
I attach the records of the meeting including my notes.
Worked on my speeches for the papal visit.
Official Gazette for November 24, 1970: President Marcos took up the measures for recovering the crop losses suffered from the recent typhoons with the National Food and Agricultural Council.
In a long- meeting in the morning at Malacañang, the various measures eyed to accelerate replanting of destroyed rice fields were discussed, as well as other matters pertaining to the stabilization of food supply, particularly for typhoon victims.
The President did not receive many visitors, preferring to work through the day at his desk. However, he met a delegation from Davao del Sur, which consulted him on local problems. He referred the various problems presented to the government agencies concerned. The delegation headed by Rep. Artemio Loyola and Gov. Ramon de los Cientos, was composed of provincial officials and several municipal mayors.
In the earlier meeting, those present were Undersecretary of Agriculture Arturo Tanco, Jr., Assistant Executive Secretary Roberto V. Reyes, Director Pedro Refuerzo of Animal Industry, Commissioner Francisco Saguiguit of the Agricultural Productivity Commission, Director Eliseo Carandang of Plant Industry, Peter Witt of the United Nations Development Program, Frank Sheperd of the United States Aid for International Development, Hector Moreno of the Rice and Corn Administration, Felix Gonzales of the Bureau of Fisheries, Gualberto Planas of the Rice and Corn Productivity Coordinating Council, Silverio Sarmiento of the Budget Commission, E. Alejandrino of the World Food Program, and representatives of the Central Bank and the Development Bank of the Philippines.
Earlier, the President signed the commission of three foreign affairs officers as consuls general of the Philippines in Indonesia and Belgium. Those commissioned were:
1. Eugenic Concepcion, as consul general in Djakarta, Indonesia, 2. Prudencio E. del Castillo, as consul general in Menado, Indonesia, and 3. Antero Liwanag, as consul general in Belgium.
In an address to the nation in the evening over a nationwide radio-television hookup, the President warned that hoarders and price manipulators will be prosecuted to the limit of the law.
The Chief Executive said that there are indications of attempts on the part of price manipulators and hoarders to take over control of prices. He said that “all persons engaged in these nefarious and criminal activities come under the special powers on price control extended by Congress to the executive and are immediately punishable.”
The President added that he had directed the organization of constabulary and armed forces teams reads to jump oft’ and take over any hoarded rice stocks in any part of the country.