Official Gazette for March 10, 1973: MALACAÑANG announced that the President has signed Presidential Decree 145, amending “The Local Autonomy Act” in order to insure the sound and lawful exercise, of the local taxing power Presidential Decree 145 amends the penultimate and last paragraphs of” Section 2 of Republic Act No. 2264, otherwise known as “The Local Autonomy Act.” Under Sec. 2 of Republic Act 2264, the secretary of finance is authorized to suspend the effectivity of any local tax ordinance within 120 days after its passage if the tax or fee therein levied is “unjust, excessive, oppressive or confiscatory. However, due to certain defects and ambiguities in the existing law, the authority of the secretary of finance cannot be effectively carried out. Under the amendment, a tax ordinance shall go into effect on the 15th day after its passage. The secretary of finance shall have the authority to suspend the effectivity of any ordinance within 120 days after receipt of a copy if he believes that the tax or fee therein levied is unjust, excessive, oppressive or confiscatory or when it is contrary to declared national economic policy. The secretary of finance can suspend, either in part or as a whole, such ordinance for a period of 30 days within which period the local legislative body may either modify that tax ordinance to meet the objections or file an appeal with a court of competent jurisdiction. If the local legislative body does not make the necessary corrections or file an appeal with the court, the tax ordinance or parts thereof shall be considered revoked. A formal protest may be filed within 120 days after the passage of that tax ordinance provided the secretary of finance shall have 60 days, after receipt of the protest, to decide the protest. If the decision of the secretary of finance suspends in part or in full the tax ordinance protested, the local legislative body may either modify the ordinance in accordance with the decision of the secretary or exercise the right to appeal to the court within 30 days, otherwise the secretary’s decision becomes final.
THE PHILIPPINES and Yugoslavia have signed an agreement to abolish non-immigrant visa requirements for nationals of both countries, the Department of Foreign Affairs announced. Secretary of Foreign Affairs Carlos P. Romulo arid Yugoslavia Ambassador Jose Smole, the nonresident Yugoslavian envoy to the Philippines based in Tokyo, signed the agreement, the first to be concluded between the Philippines and a socialist country. The agreement which will take effect on April 15, 1973, provides that citizens of the two signatories may enter each other’s territory without visa for a stay of not more than 59 days for tourist or business purposes. It further stipulates that either country may refuse the entry or stay of citizens deemed to be undesirable.
THE PRESIDENT said that the soldier under the New Society has become not only the guardian of our security and freedom but also a real and effective worker for development and just like the rest of our people, is entitled to a measure of decency, dignity, and social and economic well-being. The President rioted that a majority of the Armed Forces personnel, especially those in the enlisted ranks, retire homeless notwithstanding the fact that they have served their maximum years in the military. The President’s speech was read by; Maj. Gen. Gaudencio Tobias (ret.) general manager of the National Housing Corporation, at the turn-over ceremony of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Mutual Benefit Association housing project at Barrio Butatan, Muntinglupa, Rizal, with an area of 56 hectares. There are similar housing project sites in Sta. Rosa, Nueva Ecija; and Cabuyao, Laguna, which are now in the process of development. The AFP further envisions the establishment of at least one housing community in each of the army brigade headquarters, PC zone, air force bases and naval stations throughout the country.
THE PRESIDENT approved the merger of the three competing local airlines to improve the efficiency and service of a deteriorating industry which is very vital to the development of the national economy. The decision to merge was prompted by a thorough study of the financial situation of the Philippine Airlines, Filipinas Orient Airways, and Air Manila Inc. Aside from their loan obligations with the government institutions, the government itself has equity holdings amounting to 21 per cent, of PAL stocks and 17 per cent of that of FOA. The government has also P226.6 million collectibles from the three airlines. The merger of the local airlines, according to Secretary of Information Francisco S. Tatad, was ordered in view of the fact that all three firms are losing, with the government as investor in these companies, being the biggest loser.
DEPARTMENT OF Education and Culture has ordered special committee to facilitate the processing of application papers filed by schools and civic organizations desiring DEC accreditation of their civic action activities. It was pointed out that student participation in duly accredited civic activities is now a requirement for graduation as per Department Order No. 53, S. 1972. The following activities may be given accreditation by the DEC: 1) Summer workcamps, sponsored by public or private schools with activities along the lines of technical-vocational training
Gen. [Fortunato] Abat has apparently brought in stability to Cotabato.
He is the III Brigade Commander based in Cebu and brought into command the Central Mindanao Command over the IV PC [Philippine Constabulary] Zone Commander Gen. [Wilfredo] Encarnacion and Col. Aherro, TF [Task Force] Pagkakaisa commander.
He is the buck private in the old USAFIP [United States Army Forces in the Philippines] in 1974 who guided me from Natividad, Pangasinan across the Cordillera to the Bokod-Pingkian Trail to Nueva Vizcaya in one week.
Apparently he is able, fast in grasping a military situation and quick acting. He has the qualities of a good field commander.
But I have had to remind the Chief of Staff and the heads of the major services of matters that should belong to them to look into. Actually they are problems of command.
Our reaction time is slow—one week to fly in reinforcements of 800. I have had to remind them of Identification Panels. Forward Air Control Coordination of FAC and our mortars and RR [recoilless rifles].
The attempt to cut the road between Parang, the IVth PC Zone Hq. and Cotabato City indicates the intention to isolate either Parang or Cotabato City either of which would be a great victory militarily and psychologically.
I have had to remind the generals about this.
Called a meeting this morning at 10:00 with Sec. [Juan] Ponce Enrile.
We must generate more men for Cotabato and send them in fast. And more support weapons and ammo.
I have decided to have the Cotabato fighting covered by the media. A briefing was given them this afternoon at Camp Aguinaldo prior to their departure tomorrow at 6:00 AM for the combat area.
I attach the press release of AFP GHQ.
Two companies, Alpha and Baker, of the 4th Inf. Bn. [Infantry Battalion] secured Sowoi Bridge 12 kilometers north of Cotabato City on the road to Parang, able company meeting the
like animal husbandry, productive farming and fishing, reforestation, etc; and social orientation like adult and community education, family planning, household management, cooperatives, etc; 2) Civic projects similar to the ones mentioned in No. 1, initiated by local social action groups, sectarian or non-sectarian; 3) Summer workcamps sponsored by the DEC’s National Youth Volunteer Coordinating Center for National Development, for graduating students.
enemy opposition when it was only 6 kilometers from Cotabato City, Baker company making a passage in lines to reach the objective and hold it.
The attack was preceded by air bombardment by jets from Mactan, marked by the use for the first time of the Forward Air Controllers on the U-17’s communicating direct with the ground forces and directing the fire of the 106 Recoil-less Rifles and the 81 mm mortars which were most effective driving the enemy out of their position and finally dispersing them.
The enemy suffered about 40 casualties, the pilots making an actual body count of bodies on the ground. Our troops suffered none.
The troops are in high spirits bur will await a counter-attack in the night.
Datu Blah Sinsuat and his wife, Esther called me up by PLDT [Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company] to tell me that their men has just come back to Cotabato City with the news that the leaders of the rebels were hiding in Trans, barrio of Lebak with only 100-200 men. They are demoralized and some are wounded.
Apparently the navy has effectively cut off their supplies and it may be true to hit this sensitive nerve center.
The rebels in Trans can be boxed in and eradicated.
Japan has bought the Thor-Delta missile system from the McDonnell Douglas Corp. This was revealed by Andrew J. Diemeller American Federation of LaborCongress of Industrial Organizations legislative director before the US Senate Finance Subcommittee on International Trade.
The missile system is “considered by space experts to be America’s most effective space reliable launching unit. It is capable of carrying several hundred pounds of payload into space orbit, or, with little modification, can carry a nuclear warhead in the 1,500 to 5,000 mile range, clearly a potentially offensive weapon.
And Red China has the third biggest navy next only to the U.S. and Russia with 40 conventional submarines, ahead of Britain with 35, France with 21 and Japan 12. It is also third in size with a strength of 150,000 officers and men—double the size of Britain (80,000) and France (70,000), the 4th and 5th largest and Japan (40,000).