Bongbong called up from London to say that he and Kokoy [Benjamin Romualdez] arrived at quarter to eleven London time which would be quarter to six in the evening Manila time. He was able to sleep in the plane sitting up and London is not bitter cold as they expected but only as cold as the day Bongbong left. He goes to Worth Abbey School tomorrow at 4:00 PM.
Official Gazette for January 10, 1971: PRESIDENT MARCOS outlined an eight point plan designed to broaden the government’s social justice program.
Addressing the first national convention of the Philippine Congress of Trade Unions at the Magsaysay Hall of the Social Security System building in Quezon City, the President said the goals of his administration are:
1. A massive low-cost housing program for the masses.
2. Creation of public defenders’ office to provide free legal aid to indigent laborers.
3. Establishment of employment exchange offices to facilitate employment and systematize the chaotic labor market.
4. Encourage the organization of workers’ consumer cooperatives to help secure low and reasonable prices.
5. The merger of the Court of Industrial Relations and the Court of Agrarian Relations.
6. Establishment of a Workers’ Bank, to meet the special credit requirements of the workers.
7. A more serious study of unemployment insurance to be administered jointly by the Department of Labor, the Social Security System and the Government Service Insurance System.
8. A new land policy designed to effect the full development of idle lands, both public and private, as early as possible.
The President also told the convention that in accordance with the appeal of labor leaders, he had authorized the distribution of 90 percent of the ₱30 million expected from the ₱1 fee to be collected on every picul of sugar produced, as bonus for the sugar workers.
He further said that a legislation had been pending in Congress for sometime for a massive low-cost housing program for workers. The President also appealed to the labor leaders to police their own ranks because the implementation of the labor laws was their primary responsibility.
Earlier, the Pagkakaisa ng Manggagawang Pilipino group, led by its president Roberto Oca, pledged its support to the President in the current controversy between the oil companies and the jeepney drivers.
Oca informed the President that the PMP will support every move of the President to resolve the controversy particularly because the jeepney strike was causing hardship among the workers who could not go to work and earn a living.
The PMP group included Antonio A. Ancheta, Israel Bocobo, Frank Nora, Macfidio H. Cruz, Geronimo Quadra, Ricardo Manalad and Andres Dingsalan, Jr.
Present at the PILCONTU convention were Secretary of Labor Blas F. Ople, Democrito Mendoza, president; Cecilio T. Seno, vice-president; and Jerry Montemayor, Jr. Fr. Pacifico Ortiz, Jr., and some 400 delegates from 17 affiliated organizations.
While attending to his desk work in the afternoon, the President designated Jose Alvarez, director of the Rizal Park, as officer-in-charge of the Parks and Wildlife Office.
Alvarez took the place of Director of Forestry Jose Viado, who has been concurrent Parks and Wildlife Office head.
The President also directed the Department of Education to resume classes in all schools. Classes were suspended by the education department due to the strike of jeepney drivers.
Intelligence reports indicate expectation of use of explosives by Algerian-trained demolition men and target date for major disorder and violence July and August to continue up to the political campaign for local elections.
I attach an intelligence report on this.
Congressman [Salipada] Pendatun and Ex-Cong. Raschid Lucman are reported engaged in subversive activities in Mindanao and Indonesia.
I attach the report of Ambassador [Modesto] Farolan in Indonesia.
The Manila Chronicle, today, has come out with a vicious front page editorial [The Fruits of Corrption]. I attach a clipping as a sample of the Lopez campaign of hate.
I also attach a memorandum prepared on the reasons for this blackmail.
Spoke before the new labor center of [Francisco] Kits Mendoza after meeting the Pinagbuklod na Manggagawa nang Pilipinas headed by [Roberto] Bert Oca.
We must keep the laborers and the farmers on our side.