Imelda started playing badminton today at 5:30 PM while we were playing golf. With her at the tennis court which we walled with lawanit and canvas to serve as windbreak were [Lourdes] Lulu Tinio, [Imelda] Meldy Cojuangco and Helen Cu-Unjieng. She played for almost three hours.
Met the reporters of the new paper Times Journal. Vic Tañedo and Roy Acosta with the Express [Primitivo] Tibo Mijares.
Gov. G[regorio] Licaros on the Japanese loans and the punishment of dollar blackmarketeers as well as registration of currency.
[Alejandro] Alex Melchor [Jr.] on PES [Presidential Economic Staff] work on project planning and loans.
Sec. [Jose] Roño [Jr.] on the LOI [Letter of Instruction] for the new Dept. of Local Government and Community Development.
Then Com. Vera on the reorganization of [Misael] the BIR [Bureau of Internal Revenue].
Am working on the Report to the Nation for the 1st month of Martial Law and the Proclamation of the Emancipation of the Tenants by declaring their ownership of the land they till tomorrow at the Maharlika [Hall] at 10:00 AM.
Official Gazette for October 20, 1972: PRESIDENT MARCOS issued a decree which authorized the undertaking of educational development projects. Presidential Decree No. 6-A which became part of the law of the land, thus became known as the “Educational Development Decree of 1972.” It provided for the mechanics of implementation and the financing of said undertakings. According to the decree, it is the declared policy of the government to ensure, within the context of a free and democratic system, maximum contribution of the schools to the attainment of the following national development goals:
1. To achieve and maintain an accelerating rate of economic development and social progress;
2. To assure the maximum participation of all the people in the attainment and enjoyment of the benefits of such growth; and
3. To strengthen national consciousness and promote desirable cultural values in a changing world.
The President was hailed for his early promulgation of a decree providing for increased benefits for members of the Social Security System. Heretofore, such increases in benefits were possible only by legislation approved by the Congress of the Philippines. With the present increase in retirement and sickness benefits by Presidential Decree which amended the Social Security Act (R. A. No. 1161 as amended), the two benefits are now on par, if not above the international social security standards.
Officials and members of the Confederation of Filipino Rice and Corn Association Inc. also hailed President Marcos’ imposition of Martial Law and were grateful that they can now engage in their daily pursuits of farming, business and other endeavors with complete peace of mind. The peace and order situation in their respective regions has greatly improved, according to a unanimous declaration they adopted during a recent conference of the confederation.