Official Gazette for February 11, 1971: PRESIDENT MARCOS started his day working on state papers, but broke off towards mid-morning to receive a stream of callers, mostly congressmen, who discussed with him various local problems.
First to see the President was Rep. Rodolfo B. Albano, Jr. of Isabela who accompanied Mayor Severo Lachica of San Mateo, who requested the release of funds for the reconstruction of the public market which was destroyed by fire.
The President also received Msgr. Mariano Gaviola, secretary-general of the Catholic Bishops of the Philippines, who requested’ that a government survey be made of some 5,000 hectares of public land in Montalban, Rizal, which
Met with the businessmen this afternoon at the house of Charlie Palanca at 4:00 PM. We explained the housing, employment, rural electrification and tax programs. Bert [Gilberto] Teodoro [Sr.] and Ting [Sixto] Roxas for the first, employment by employment, rural electrification by Ronnie [Geronimo] Velasco and taxes by Sec. Cesar Virata.
Enriquito Zobel opposed the investment in housing of 40% of the funds of insurance companies as he claims this would mean they would have to close up.
Taxes were discussed actively and we have asked Sec. Virata, Gov. [Gregorio] Licaros and BOI [Board of Investments] Chairman [Vicente] Paterno to constitute a committee to meet with businessmen on taxes; the Council of Economic Development to be the committee on housing and Ting Paterno, Ting Roxas, Dave Sycip, Jobo [Jose B.] Fernandez [Jr.] and ______ for employment.
The opinion is developing that what the Philippines needs is a benevolent dictator although such people like Amando Doronilla believe I am not the man who can be the benevolent dictator.
The people are talking of this openly and discussing it in the forums of TV shows.
Some day, soon, I must make a decision on this.
Ambassador [Henry] Byroade sent word that he has asked for the recall of Minister Finn for discussing or revealing the secret matters that we (Byroade and I) have talked about.
I must talk to him about it. Byroade sent word through Col. [Fabian] Ver.
would be converted into a housing resettlement and cooperative farming project for urban squatters under the auspices of the Church, as part of the reorientation of the church.
Msgr. Gaviola informed the President that he had already discussed the project with Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources Arturo R. Tanco, Jr. and Land Authority Gov. Conrado Estrella, who expressed support for the project.
Later, the President met with Rep. Rogaciano Mercado of Bulacan who requested the Chief Executive to fill the post, of municipal judge of Valenzuela, Bulacan, as soon as the incumbent Judge Teofilo Avejo retires at the end of February.
Mercado recommended Judge Conrado D. Manzana of San Ildefonso for the post to be vacated by Avejo.
Other representatives who discussed local problems with the President were Eduardo Gullas of Cebu, Guillermo Sanchez of Agusan, Rafael Aquino of Sorsogon and Angel Conception of Nueva Ecija.
The congressmen mostly requested for the release of funds allocated to their respective districts for community development projects.
Among the President’s prominent action of the day was his approval of the promotion of 739 officers of the armed forces of the Philippines, upon the recommendation of Secretary of National Defense Juan Ponce Enrile and Gen. Manuel T. Yan, AFP chief of staff.