Manila is in need of a better government. Garbage strewn all over the streets, bad sewage and drainage, corruption and hypocrisy, police inefficiency and dishonesty—these among others makes the city stink.
We must now see what we can do to file charges against the entire city government administration and replace the mayor, vice mayor and councilors.
I would like to see [Teodoro] Doroy Valencia as mayor of Manila and the civic leaders as councilors.
Then I must change Sec. Manuel Syquio with an honest and hard driving engineer. I have either Dave Consunji the contractor or the present Dean [Alfredo] Juinio (Dean of the College of Engineering of the UP [University of the Philippines] and now Administrator of the National Electrification Administration). These men are young, talented, honest and energetic. They are good technocrats and managers.
I would like to change CAA [Civil Aeronautics Administration] Administrator Federico Ablan Jr. with Bobby Lim, former Vice President of PAL [Philippine Air Lines]. Ablan is definitely dishonest and a weakling. The Aviation industry no longer respects him.
Official Gazette for July 26, 1971: President Marcos ordered Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources Arturo R. Tanco, Jr. to ask the National Economic Council to certify to the importation of 350,000 metric tons of rice as earlier recommended by Tanco himself.
The President took a direct hand in the rice crisis after receiving reports that rice prices all over the country have continued to rise in some places up to ₱3.00 per ganta despite efforts of the Rice and Corn Administration to bring down prices to P2.20. The RCA has attempted to flood the markets with portion of the 110,000 metric tons of rice imported from Taiwan and Thailand and donated rice from Japan.
At the same time, the President instructed RCA Chairman-General Manager Jose D. Drilon, Jr. to explore the possibility of obtaining rice on “thirty-years to pay” terms from Japan and Thailand for the 350,000 metric tons additional rice import. The President also asked Tanco to call rice merchants all over the country to a meeting to discuss the rice situation with them and to appeal for the lowering of prices.
In the afternoon, while working on state papers, the President created a committee to investigate the complaints lodged by the municipality of Carigara and the Carigara Farmers Cooperative Association against the operations of a logging firm, allegedly being carried out within the proposed Carigara watershed reservation.
Named to compose the committee were a representative each of the U. P. College of Forestry, who will act as chairman; the National Irrigation Administration, the Bureau of Soils, the Bureau of Forestry, and the Bureau of Public Highways, as members.
In another Administrative Order, the President reconstituted the membership of the technical committee created to determine the true and correct boundaries of Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur. Included as members of the technical committee were the other district land officers and highway district engineers of the Zamboanga provinces.
The President also issued a proclamation reserving for port development purposes (customs zone) a parcel of land m the port area of Davao City. The site adjoins the pier facilities at Sasa Wharf, Port of Davao and has an area of approximately 115,622 square meters.
Gen. [Marte] Iglesias who is now acting Director of the Bureau of Supply Coordination I would like to shift to the position of Postmaster General so he can clean up the Post Office.
Armand Fabella for Sec. of Commerce and Industry Vice [Ernesto] Maceda who will run for senator.
Adrian Cristobal for Sec. of Labor vice Ople who will run for senator.
Ex. Gen. Mamarinta Lao vice Mama Sinsuat as Adm. of the Cultural Minorities whom I must change as he has been selling scholarships.
I probably will have to take over the position of Sec. of National Defense until I can choose the right man for this sensitive position.
I have cleared the filing of anti-graft charges against Mayor [Antonio] Villegas and all the other officials in the Manila city government. This will mean their automatic suspension by the Court (Circuit Criminal Court of Judge [Manuel] Pamaran), the “fastest judge” as he decides cases in a few hours.
And on prices, I have authorized USec. Drilon to pass by Japan and check on the 300,000 tons of rice being offered by Japan, payable in 30 years at 3% interest with ten years grace. Even in Pangasinan, rice is P2.80 per ganta.
Then I have ordered the importation of cattle by Delta for corned-beef manufacture and by the government for cattle dispersal. This will probably be from Australia.
Local purchase by the Bureau of Animal Industry for dispersal to the barrios so that there would be plenty of animals not depending on commercial feeds which are getting too costly. And we will use all funds available.
Sec. [Arturo] Tanco [Jr.], whom I have ordered to implement these directives, seems overworked and tense. He volunteered to me that he and his American wife are incompatible and have been separate for several years but that their relations are getting strained by the catty comments about Bung Tanco of Amelita Reysio Cruz, the Bulletin columnist.
We have practically chosen the senatorial candidates—the three reelectionists [Alejandro] Almendras, [Dominador] Aytona and [Wenceslao] Lagumbay although I have asked him to study the matter well as he may be much weaker now than before; then
Sec. Juan Ponce Enrile representing Cagayan Valley
Gov. Tito Primicias representing West North Luzon
Sec. Blas Ople representing Central Luzon
Sec. Ernesto Maceda representing Southern Tagalog
Inday Garcia representing the Visayas or
Mons. [Mariano] Gaviola or Amuerfina Melencio Herrera
By “me” I mean, Senate Pres. Gil Puyat, Speaker Cornelio Villareal, Senate President Pro Temp Jose Roy Acting President of the Party. Imelda helped.
Tomorrow, all the Governors, Congressmen, senators and city mayors meet at 9:30 AM on a directorate meeting at Sen. Roy’s residence to nominate the candidates for senators, elect the body to determine and nominate the candidates for senator, elect the body to determine and nominate the final list of candidates, authorize arbitration committees—and perhaps choose a new president.
The final list of senatorial candidates will probably be made two or three days later by the special committee.
But if the quarrel between Puyat and Roy which started tonight on the question of Party Presidency continues tomorrow, the directorate will probably choose me Party President with powers to appoint such bodies as I may decide to advise me.
At least we do not have the bitter quarrel that exists between the Liberals leaders. [Gerardo] Roxas and [Benigno] Aquino [Jr.] which has split their party down to the level of the municipalities as we found out on our trip to the Ilocos.