Caught up with my paper work. But specially on the deficit level for this year. We must increase the expenses and the deficit from P250 million to P290 million. Anyway the money supply of P5.5 billion was reduced in January by P250 million, February by P120 million and March by another P100 although we had a surplus of $20 million in our external trade balance increasing the money supply by that much.
Sec. C[esar] Virata of Finance is not here and he does not know this although he has arbitrarily set the deficit level at P250 million.
So I asked Gov. Greg[orio] Licaros to settle this with him.
Then I have started to work on the allocations for infrastructure.
This morning Maj. Gen. & Mrs. [Hugh] Casey, Russ Volckman, Don Blackburn and their wives Asst. Sec. of the Navy Johnson Ed Ramsey and others of the party went to Caliraya which had been surveyed and built by Maj. Gen. Casey in 1937-1940 with Filemon Rodriguez, [Ramon] Ravanzo [Jr.] and others.
Then lunch at the Nayon [Pilipino] where I handed over some awards for them.
Then in the evening at 9:00 PM Sol. Gen. Felix Antonio as new Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.
Official Gazette for April 10, 1972: PRESIDENT MARCOS and the First Lady, Imelda R. Marcos, motored at 10:30 a.m. to the Nayong Pilipino to attend the award rites and luncheon given in their honor in connection with the commemoration of Bataan Day.
During the award ceremonies, the President conferred the Golden Heart Presidential Award on Maj. Gen. Hugh J. Casey (U.S. ret.) for his “pioneering efforts and active participation in the development of hydroelectric power in the Philippines.”
He also conferred Presidential Plaques on U.S. Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Manpower James H. Johnson in appreciation of his participation in the anniversary commemorative rites; and Maj. Gen. Hugh Casey, Brig. Gen. Russel Volckmann, Brig. Gen. Donald Blackburn and Col. Edwin Ramsey in “profound appreciation of their contribution to the defense of Bataan and heroic and voluntary service in the underground movement that helped bring about the liberation of the Philippines.”
Present were Executive Secretary Alejandro Melchor, Jr. Secretary Eduardo Rodriguez of the Office of Economic Coordination, Assistant Executive Secretary Roberto V. Reyes, Chairman Manuel Barretto of the National Power Corporation, Filemon Rodriguez and a few other guests and their ladies.
Also awarded plaques of appreciation for their participation in the Bataan Day ceremonies held at Mt. Samat, Pilar, Bataan, were Commander Robert Warren and Major William Dabney of the U.S. marines, both members of Secretary Johnson’s staff.
Back in Malacañang early in the afternoon, the President closeted himself in his private study and worked on state papers till late evening.
Met [Jose] Joe Alberto, Chairman of the appropriations committee, FTZ [Free Trade Zone] Manager Teodoro Peña, Com. of the Budget [Faustino] Sychangco and Gen. Vargas and Joe Reyna of Seato [Southeast Asia Treaty Organization].
I have decided not to go to Ilocos Sur so as to allow the Armed Forces complete freedom to go after the wanted men.