Official Gazette for October 15, 1971: President Marcos directed the Presidential Economic Staff and the Department of Finance to prepare a massive rural employment plan aimed at alleviating the unemployment and underemployment problem in the rural areas.
The President issued the order during his meeting with Finance Secretary Cesar E. A. Virata and PES Director-General Apolinaric, Orosa, who were among government officials, delegations and individual callers who called on the President. Called the national rural employment program, the plan would integrate the efforts of all government agencies concerned with generating more jobs into a single program of action. Among these were manpower training and development, cottage industries development, cattle and hog dispersal, rural improvement, workmen’s housing program, and intensive farming similar to the Magalang pilot farm project.
During his call on the President, Secretary Virata also reported on the result of his talks with the officials of the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the U.S. government, Latin American central banks and Japanese financing institutions. While in the United States, Secretary Virata also secured an exemption for Philippine oil from the 10 percent surcharge slapped by the U.S. government on imports. The finance secretary presented to the President the draft of an agreement prepared by Japanese financing officials whereby they would extend some 165 million concessionary loans to the Philippines for priority projects and commodity purchases.
Also present at the conference was Executive Secretary Alejandro Melchor, Jr., who also arrived from an official mission abroad.
Among the delegations received by the President were those composed of some 60 scouts and scout leaders and officers of the Council of Health Agencies of the Philippines (CHAP). The scouts and scout leaders, led by Dr. Vitaliano Bernardino, president and chief scout, called on the President in connection with the observance of Boy Scouts Week from October 25 to 31.
In brief remarks, the President underscored the vital role that scouting plays in the building of a “strong and progressive nation,” and called on all the people to lend support to the scouting movement in the country. The President also paid tribute to the leaders as well as to every level of the citizenry who, quietly in their own way, had contributed to the success of the scouting movement in the country.
In the group were explorer, rover, cub and boy scouts from the Greater Manila area, Superintendent Alfredo J. Andal, vice president for local council operations; Judge Josias K. Guinto, international commissioner; Prof. Vicente Escasa, deputy commissioner for program, Godofredo P. Neric, national scout executive; Supt. Conrado de los Reyes, Capt. Florentine Casanova, Deputy National Scout Executive Alfredo T. Sanchez Isaias Bolivia, chief of training; Manuel L. Sison, chief of program; and Ulderico Santos, program executive.
Following the call of the scouts and scout leaders, the President presented awards of merit to a member-organization of the Council of Health Agencies of the Philippines, and three outstanding individuals. The awardees were:
1) The Philippine Medical Women’s Association, for being the most active member-organization of CHAP; 2) Dr. Joaquin Maranon, for conducting valuable research on health needs; 3) Dr. Rosita Tivera Ramirez, for civic health work; and 4) Dr. Pedro Siojo of the Philippine Mental Health Association, for valuable contributions to the CHAP.
The President also inducted the officers of CHAP, namely: Lourdes T. Echauz, chairman; Dr. Helen P. Abundo, vice-chairman; Juana Reyes, secretary; Dr. Procopio Reyes, treasurer; Felix Pestanas, auditor; Gonzalo Santos Rivera, counsel; Mamerto Banatin, PRO; and Dr. Jesus Azurin, Leticia O. Canoy, Paz M. Catolico, Dr. Eliodoro D. Congco, Ines P. Gatmaitan, Dr. Elpidio Panganiban, Carmen F. del Rosario, Winnie Luzon, Dr. Pedro Siojo, Helen Sanchez and Dr. Primo Gonzales, members of the board.
In the afternoon, the President issued a proclamation (No. 923) declaring the existence of a state of public calamity in the province of Cagayan. Typhoon “Dadang” had wrought heavy damage to crops and property in the province The President issued the proclamation to prevent the excessive increase in the prices of rice and other essential commodities due to profiteering and hoarding, and to enable the government and civic, relief and welfare agencies to carry out their objectives effectively.
The President attended to other important state papers from mid-afternoon till early evening.
Golf at 7:00 AM to 9:00 [A]M. Since I went to bed at 9:00 PM last night I woke up at 4:30AM.
Boy Scout Week with the Scout Oath in boy scout uniform at 10:00 AM.
Induction of officers of Health Agencies.
Lanao del Norte problem.
Ilocos Norte—Lost my temper with Beth [Elizabeth Marcos-Keon] again.
PACD [Presidential Assistant on Community Development].
Work on the Vision of Liberation.
5:30 PM—Mr. Robert Fell, Secretary of Exports Credits Guarantee Dept. He was accompanied by Minister Henry Bartlett of the British Embassy and businessman Atty. Aziz.
7:00 PM—Interview by Neal Cruz of Pace.
The legal panel is working on the case against Sen. [Benigno] Aquino [Jr.] tonight.
The Chinese communist agents who are here have been reported by Boni’s net of agents. I attach the report.