We have been in a rush all day as we dispatched the Maligayang Pasko Motorcade to distribute gifts to the poor.
Official Gazette for December 16, 1970: President Marcos had several conferences in the morning, with a break in between when he joined the First Lady, Mrs. Imelda R. Marcos, to speed off the 50 trucks carrying Christmas cheer to the needy of the Greater Manila area.
Early in the morning, the President worked at his desk, then had his first conference of the day, to discuss the details of the aid in kind to localities hit hard by the recent typhoons. The President asked his official family to spend the season in the field particularly among the unfortunate victims of the floods and series of typhoons which wrought heavy damage to the country.
The President said he will start his Christmas trip with a visit to Bicolandia, during which he will confer with local officials and distribute credit certificates which will entitle barrio captains to requisition cement for school buildings from district engineers’ offices. The conferees agreed that the certificates would be distributed to the barrio captains and that each barrio official could draw up to 150 bags of cement, or as much cement as indicated by a previous survey made by the Department- of Public Works and. Communications. The cement will be charger to the Development Bank of the Philippines. Present at the meeting were Secretary of Public Works and Communications Manuel B. Syquio, Secretary of Finance Cesar E A. Virata, Executive Secretary Alejandro Melchor, Jr., Central Bank Governor Gregorio S, Licaros. DBP Chairman Leonides S. Virata and Governor Jose V. de Ocampo. and Carlos Leaño of the Infrastructure Operations Center (IOC).
Then at 10 a.m., the President and the First Lady stepped out of Malacañang to see off the student volunteers and others helping the First Lady bring off Maligayang Pasko 70. Back in Malacañang about an hour later, the President worked for a while, then met behind closed doors with Secretary Virata and BIR Commissioner Misael P. Vera on the revamp of the Bureau of Internal Revenue.
Next, the President conferred with a delegation of mayors from Cotabato, with the governor sitting in, on the peace and order condition in the province. Gov. Simeon Datumanong informed the President that although there were incidents in five municipalities, general peace prevail in General Santos City and in 29 municipalities of the province. Trouble spots, he added, were only the municipalities of Upi, Lebak, Magatioy, Ampatuan and Datu Flang. The President, however, said that further violence must stop and that the best way to do this was to hold a peace conference where all sides could present their views and work toward a just settlement of all disputes. The President has scheduled a conference of feuding minorities and other factions in the province.
Others at the meeting were Secretary of National Defense Juan Ponce Enrile, Brig, Gen, Eduardo Garcia, chief of the Philippine Constabulary; Governor Datumanong, Lt. Col. C, B. Cajelo, provincial PC commander Mayors Datu Dima Dalid of Marmen, Bai Salilang Mangelen of Lutayan, Datu Balakat Sangki of Ampatuan, Datu Samad Mangelen of Buluan, Datu Akilan Ampatuan of Maganoy, Sansaluna Biruar of Parang, and Datu Carpenter Dumamba of Tumbao.
At about noon, the President taped an interview with Dr. Oswald C. J. Hoffman, president of the Lutheran National Council of America. The interview was for broadcast throughout the world on the Lutheran radio network. The First Lady was also interviewed along with the President. Hoffman was accompanied by Robert Gormats, Rev. Hahn Browne of DZAS, Rev. Gene Thiaman and Rev. Alvero Cariño. Other visitors received by the President were Reps. Emerito S. Calderon of Cebu, Felipe Almazan of Kalinga-Apayao, Felix Fuentebella of Camarines Sur, and Jose Luyat, Jr. of Surigao del Norte. The solons took up problems of their respective districts.
We have worked out with the Sec. of Finance, Governor of the Central Bank, Chairman of DBP [Development Bank of the Philippines] and Secretary of Public Works the payment to the local governments of their allocation of excess income tax, highway fund and rural fund in kind like cement and GI [galvanized iron] sheets. But Sec. [Cesar] Virata’s grey hair has increased because of the DBP foreign obligations up to June which may amount to $60 million.
Called a conference with Gov. [Simeon] Datumanong of Cotabato and mayors on the Tiruray-Moslem feuds. Both sides are now to blame for the killings. So we have to hold a peace conference in Cotabato on the 28th and invited all groups.
Finalized the plans for the Mecca pilgrimage.
Tomorrow we go to Bicol (Pili, Cam. [Camarines] Sur then Bato). We will return by noontime. Weather is good.