11:45 PM, while waiting
for Imelda who went to
Lulu Tinio’s house for dinner
to patch up the couple who are
about ready to split
because of [Vivencio] Venciong’s [Tinio] affairs.
The heirs of the Sultan of Sulu are secretly dealing with the Malaysians. While they have transferred the rights of sovereignty to the Republic of the Philippines and authorized the President of the Philippines to represent them in negotiating their private rights over Sabah, they have been negotiating with Malaysian authorities for the purchase outright of their rights. I attach the report of the Secretary of Foreign Affairs.
Finalized the rules on petroleum exploration to be issued by the Dept. of Agriculture and Natural Resources and the Director of Mines.
Am encouraging Filipinos to go into Indonesia to do their logging instead of the Philippines, so we can protect our watersheds and forest reserves. There are now any number of Filipinos: Sorianos (American but originally Filipinos), Puyat, Golanes, Sarmiento, Valencia etc.
Copper prices have gone up from 44 cents a pound to 53 cents a pound. There has been a corresponding lift in the stock exchange.
I anticipate an increase in investments. We have barely scratched the surface in copper. I know of many mines that have not been opened for some reason or other.
PRESIDENT MARCOS concentrated on desk work, in the course of which he issued two executive orders and, among others, submitted more nominations to public posts to the Commission on Appointments for confirmation.
Sent to the Commission on Appointments were the nominations of Mamerto Coliflores, Celestino Brillantes and Emmanuel Banzon as municipal judges.
The two orders issued by the President were for:
1. The merger of the Special Action Unit (SAU) and the Complaints and Investigation Office (CIO), to integrate operations toward greater efficiency in dealing with problems and grievances elevated to Malacañang by the general public; and
2. The creation of the Philippine Agricultural Training Council (PATC), which will centralize policy and implementation of projects aimed at modernizing agricultural techniques.
The SAU and the CIO were merged to eliminate overlapping of functions and to streamline units of the Executive Office, such that these will be more responsive to the needs of those of the public seeking assistance in the solution of their problems.
In creating the PATC, the President emphasized the need for a central policy coordinating and implementing body in the adoption of modern agricultural methods and farming techniques and in the effective promotion of manpower training and utilization.
The President observed that the continuous development of agriculture is indispensable to effective economic and social development, and that Philippine agricultural productivity and efficiency can be further enhanced by modern agricultural methods and farming techniques and effective manpower training and utilization.
The only group of callers received by the President was composed of municipal and barrio officials from Surigao del Sur, who came to the Palace with Rep. Jose G. Puyat, Jr. to discuss local problems.
Imelda met with the Armed Forces ladies this morning, to harness them to the Green Revolution. They are a most active group. They will turn the military camps into beehives of production.
The minority floor leader, Rep. Justiniano Montano of Cavite has been changed—replaced by Rep. Ramon Mitra of Palawan.
There is a move among the Nacionalistas to change the leadership of the House. I have not heard any cry for help from the Speaker.