Woke up at 9:00 AM. Went skiing in the bay next to Talaga which had many _____ and was rough. Returned at 1:30 PM. Mass, Lunch, Rest and Meditation at 3:30 PM.
Visited the beach house at 5:00 PM.
Official Gazette for April 15, 1973: THE PRESIDENT was informed by a group of local and foreign business executives that their companies will undertake the $50-million development of the Export Processing Zone Authority in Bataan. The project according to the business executives will be financed by a $50-million loan from the First National City Bank of New York under a semi-concessional term, which is one of the largest single financial assistance to the to the Philippines by a single overseas bank since the Proclamation of Martial Law. They told the President that the FNCB New York will give a $25-million loan to the Philippine Government project within the EPZA and another $25-million to the Landoil Resources Corporation for the putting up of a housing and community complex around the zone for some 40,000 zone workers.
THE PRESIDENT expanded the apprenticeship program in preparation for the expected increase in the labor demands of the country’s growing industries. He spelled out the new labor scheme in Presidential Decree No. 173 which amended Republic Act 1826, otherwise known as the National Apprenticeship Act, preparatory to becoming full-pledge employes. The new decree: 1) Eliminated the requirement that any candidate for apprenticeship be at high school graduate. It provided hat even non-high school graduates may now apply for apprenticeship. 2) Gave the secretary of labor the discretion to lower the statutory apprenticeship wage set at 75 per cent of the minimum wage, provided the employer requesting for the lower rate submits exemplary conditions supporting his stand, and the rate is not lower than 50 per cent of the minimum wage. 3) Provided for three training schemes for apprentices. 4) Empowered the President to order the employer’s establishment of apprentices for any job or occupation which may be needed because of a national emergency or for national development. 5) Creation of a Bureau of Apprenticeship pursuant to the integrated reorganization plan.
MORE FARMERS in settlements and landed estates will soon be using tractors and irrigation pumps to boost farm productivity, the Department of Agrarian Reform reported. In a memorandum to all regional directors, DAR Secretary Conrado F. Estrella said appropriations for the purchase of farm tractors and irrigation pumps have already been earmarked. Secretary Estrella also advised farmers to consolidate their requirements and organize themselves into groups so that they could avail themselves of the DAR assistance. Under the agrarian reform program implementation plan, infrastructure and land consolidation projects such as dams, pumps, canals, roads, and bridges will be given lop priority in the development scheme.
THE PRESIDENT has approved a plan to convert the Greater Manila Food Terminal Market Inc. into an agro-industrial-commercial complex which will operate under a regional concept of supply and outlet. Development Bank of the Philippines Chairman Leonides S. Virata and GMTFM President Jose D. Drilon Jr. have earlier made the proposal to the Chief Executive. The two officials specifically proposed to turn the 120-hectare GMTFM establishment into a multi-purpose site. The GMTFM, which is at present engaged only in marketing commodities (mostly agriculture produce), will be developed with the view of easing the financial burden of the DBP and the GMTFM regarding the terminal’s operations.
SECRETARY OF FINANCE Cesar E. A. Virata said that the heavy turnout of income tax filers indicates the growing tax consciousness of the people. The finance secretary made this assessment even as he assured that the increased tax revenue would he used for financing more development and social projects. The secretary also met with tax experts of the government to finalize proposed amendments to the National Internal Revenue Code for submission to the President. Some important matters discussed during the meeting included uniform rates of taxes on franchise, corporation taxes, tax treatment of private educational institutions, income tax of public utilities and the lowering of taxes on locally manufactured items.
Am now reading The Revolution and the Civil War in Spain by Pierre Broué and Emile Temime.
That a civil war followed the General’s Revolution was due to the strong communist organization supported by the socialists who finally joined up with them—and the support by Russia of the “Republicans”—although [Francisco] Franco’s Falangists or “Nationalists” were supported by Germany and Italy.
The book works out how much against their wish the Communists by their predilection to violence created the need for the “General’s Revolution” and again constituted the final opposition to the Revolution.
This should be a lesson to us.
In the conference which I held with the “originals” (with Col. [Mamerto Bocanegra], the J-3 [Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations] and Gen. [Antonio] Tamayo, Chief of Logistics included) at 4:30 PM, Saturday April 14th, I informed them:
- That I had written a Political Testament which I directed them to follow, indicating the successor to use in case of my death or disability; that this was necessary in view of the fact that even now there was rivalry among various leaders; that it was necessary to continue our policies even if I should not be capable or around to lead, otherwise our constitutional revolution would ultimately fail; that even Alexander’s empire had broken up because he had failed to appoint a successor and on his death had when queried had merely said, “To the strongest” belongs his empire; and that I assessed the various personalities aspiring for leadership.
- There was need to renew our pledge to our commitment because there is an apparent weakening of the elements of our revolution. A corruption and loss of ideals has set in. this is a repetition of my warnings specially to PC [Philippine Constabulary[ Chief, Gen. [Fidel] Ramos. He called a command conference
Example: Extortion by PC in Surigao del Sur by Georgia Pacific. Thus the CG [Commanding General] of Metrocom [Metropolitan Command], Gen. Alfredo Montoya is reported openly and publicly embracing and kissing an Australian blonde in the golf links of Wack Wack while his security man running beside his golf cart where he and his lady love were riding and a helicopter above came to a landing thereby publicly calling attention to the indiscretion. This was supposed to have taken place a month ago and was confirmed by Bert [Roberto] Sabido, an eyewitness, and Miniong [Herminio] Disini. - The critique of the Mindanao, Sulu operations. It involves a change from small unit deep penetration operations to larger unit employment and inter service coordination specially air and navy.
- Our policies—
We should allow the rebels to continue the mistake of trying to hold ground thus lose their mobility.
The rebels should be lured to fight a conventional war and concentrate forces so they can be hit by all service as a profitable target.
The government plan is to concentrate forces (actually 5 to 7 battalions) in each province in the order of priority and liquidate the rebellion in that order.
In the meantime we should not be lured to fight a war of attrition or to send out small patrols as we did in Luzon.
Even Sulu has to wait. For the order of priority is 1. Cotabato 2. Basilan 3. Zamboanga Sur if it has deteriorated 4. Sulu.
In the meantime, our forces in Sulu must contain the enemy and keep it occupied or off-balance.
The three battalions now in Basilan should be sufficient to finish the campaign there.
I have noticed a tendency of the officers and men to utilize the tactics they learned in Luzon almost invariably even when meeting a massed enemy in a set-piece conventional situation. This has resulted in casualties if not total liquidation of small squad-strength units.