Official Gazette for February 20, 1973: THE PRESIDENT laid down three basic policies to prevent forest destruction and to encourage the establishment of wood processing industries. After inducting into office the officials of the Philippine Chamber of Wood Industries at Malacañang, the President promulgated the following basic policies governing forest concessions: 1) The phasing out over a three-year period of the exportation of raw timber or logs; 2) Limitation of logging concessions to not more than 100,000 hectares each, as provided by the Constitution; 3) The punishment, without further notice, of all violators of the laws, rules and regulations governing timber concessions. The President said that the exportation of logs will be phased out and that after three years, he will not authorize the shipping of logs out of the country. Regarding the violation of laws, rules and regulations governing logging concessions, such as the provision for the reforestation of logged-over areas and the prohibition against leasing the logging concessions to operators on a fixed royalty basis, the President said the government is going over the records and will punish all violators without giving them further notice. The President said this is necessary not only to protect the interest of the people and the people in the wood industries but also to perpetuate this legacy and hand it over to the next generation, “if not increased, at least not diminished.”
THE PRESIDENT issued a decree creating the Fertilizer Industry Authority (FIA) to regulate, control and develop the fertilizer industry in the Philippines with the end in view to assuring the agricultural sector of adequate fertilizer supply at the lowest possible cost. Under the decree, the FIA shall have jurisdiction over all existing and potential Manufacturers and suppliers of fertilizers and fertilizer inputs. Among its function are the control and Regulation of the prices, distribution channels, promotion and storage; the establishment of implementing regulations governing import and export of fertilizer and the regulation of all aspects of domestic fertilizer production. The FIA shall also assist in the financing of the importation of fertilizers and the expansion of the local industry.
DEPARTMENT OF TRADE and Tourism has asked the business community to keep levels of profit within the bounds of dignity as defined in the pricing guidelines of the New Society. Secretary of Trade and Tourism Troadio Quiazon Jr., said in a meeting with members of the Philippine Marketing Association Inc., that while the government does not intend to remove profit motivation which is the major incentive of business, it will not allow undeserved profit due to profiteering and manipulation of prices. The government has introduced the social pricing-concept on basic commodities in its bid to curb the sharp increase of prices, but prices of other goods may be allowed to be determined by the existing supply and demand situation. Retailers and wholesalers were, warned against undue increases with the admonition that violators will be promptly prosecuted with their licenses or permits canceled. It was; pointed out that violators may be detained pending resolution of their cases.
PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS will be fielded as volunteer barrio workers to organize barrio associations in the rural areas for the period of one year starting this month. This was the subject of the memorandum of understanding between the Department of Local Government and Community Development and the Department of Education and Culture which pointed out that since the formation of full-fledged cooperatives start with the organization of barrio associations, there is an urgent need for volunteer workers at this crucial stage. Teachers who will serve as volunteer workers will be assigned in the barrios where they are teaching. Their working hours in the organization of the barrio associations will be calendared in such a way as not to disrupt their regular school activities. Aside from the service credit that the Department of Education and Culture will allow the teachers, they will also be provided with a P30 monthly honorarium for their voluntary services. The barrio associations would be the first stage in the launching of cooperatives which may result in the total emancipation of the tenants in heavily tenanted areas of the country.
DEPARTMENT OF LOCAL Government and Community Development reported that local governments have retained control and supervision of national aid for the maintenance of local roads following an amendment of Presidential Decree No. 17. The decree, issued last October had revised the Philippine Highways Act of 1953 and transferred the control and supervision of road maintenance funds from the local governments to the Bureau of Public Highways. The President, after a conference with local government executives, ordered the amendment of the decree and directed that the control and supervision of funds for the maintenance of local roads be returned to the local governments.
THE GOVERNMENT chalked up an additional income of P8,120,074 out of tax discrepancy collection made in January by the customs appraisers division in Manila on 683 entries. The amount almost equaled the tax discrepancy
Mr. T. S. Wallace, President of Esso Philippines has confirmed the offer of 6O% of Esso, Phil. and 34.4% of their interest in the Bataan Refinery (they have 57% and Mobil 43% of the refinery) for an asking price of P150 million, the Delgados offering P112 million.
But Esso has been losing for the last two years—P50 million in 1971 and P20 million in 1972.
I attach the notes I took on this.
Reemphasized the policy on logging concessions on the occasion of the induction of the officers of the Phil. Chamber of Wood Industries. 1. No more exports of raw or unworked logs in three years; 2. Implementation of the new constitution’s limit on logging concessions of 100,000 hectares; 3. Automatic cancellation of concessions for violations like non-performance of the condition of reforestation or leasing out of concessions.
Created the Fertilizer Authority before the new officers of the Federation of Sugar Planters. Their problems: 1. Sugar Quota before U.S. Congress 2. Unpaid dividends 3. Sugar Commissions Organization 4. Assurance Fund.
Started the organization of the Veterans and Retirees Economic Arm.
The Bangkok Post headlined the story of Ninoy’s [Benigno Aquino Jr.] alleged letter smuggled out of his cell. We have protested to the Thai government and are preparing the documents against him so he can be formally charged and investigated.
I am ordering Sec. [Francisco] Tatad to send over to the Bangkok Post editor the documents implicating Ninoy Aquino—possibly through Amb. [Manuel] Yan.
Bishop [Francisco] Claver sent a copy of a letter he sent to Archbishop [Teopisto] Alberto. I have ordered the charges to be investigated, although the good bishop seems to be too passionate to be objective. He is as bitter as his opponent, Gen. [Antonio] Fortich.
Tonight Sec. [Carlos] Romulo, reported tonight that the ASEAN [Association of Southeast Asian Nations] has finally accepted the idea of an “Asian Forum” that I proposed way back in 1966 before the U.S. Congress and the United Nations.
Few people realize it but this idea of Asian solutions for Asian problems may be the beginning of unity and peace in Asia.
collections made during the first quarter of this fiscal year. Of the total tax discrepancy collected last month the iron and steel section led with P2,286,169, followed by the miscellaneous section with P760,759; hardware section, P753,132; foodstuff section P722,694, and ten other sections with collections ranging from P52,000 to P400,000.