2:30 AM July 3rd
Official Gazette for July 2, 1973: THE PRESIDENT inaugurated the 2.16-kilometer San Juanico Bridge linking Samar and Leyte which he called a symbol of the Filipinos’ vision and firm resolve to unite themselves under the New Society. In inaugurating the longest bridge in Southeast Asia, the Chief Executive said the engineering marvel which constitutes the central segment of the Pan Philippine Highway is a clear proof of the people’s determination to obliterate obstacles to unity and progress. The opening of the S-shaped bridge marked a giant stride toward the realization of the plan to link the archipelago’s three main regions—Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao—through the Pan Philippine Highway.
THE PRESIDENT has created the Professional Regulation Commission to coordinate and supervise the operations of various government boards of examiners and upgrade professionalism in the country. The Chief Executive has promulgated Presidential Decree No. 223 empowering the PRC—to be composed of one full-time commissioner and two full-time associate commissioners—to enforce laws regulating the different professions.
HEALTH personnel who will receive assignment in “difficult” or remote areas of the country will be granted 25 per cent additional incentives pay to solve the dearth of doctors, nurses and midwives in the rural areas. This was revealed by Health Secretary Clemente Gatmaitan who has already requested the Budget Commission for release of the necessary funds for this purpose. Under the plan, doctors receiving a P600 monthly salary will get an additional P150 a month and nurses with a P350 monthly salary will receive P450 monthly. The incentives will be chargeable to savings from allotments incurred by the corresponding offices concerned where certain areas are declared difficult or remote, Secretary Gatmaitan stated.
DEPARTMENT of Health has authorized the setting up of all rural mini-hospitals with a capacity of six to 10 beds each. Health Secretary Clemente Gatmaitan said that the “mini-hospitals” shall be established and made available to residents of “depressed communities” and remote areas throughout the country. The setting up of these health facilities has been approved subject to the following conditions: 1) That health bed facilities are not available, either government or private, within a radius of 30 kilometers from the nearest existing hospital; 2) That the number of inhabitants within its service area shall not be less than 2,000 persons; 3) That the services to be provided by the facilities shall be for simple diagnostic and therapeutic equipment and procedures of which are within the capacity of a general practitioner; 4) That these six to 10 beds facilities are established to meet the primary health care of the community, and in the event that the patient’s condition will require the services of a regular hospital, the cases shall be referred accordingly, applying first aid treatment and resuscitating procedure to allow safe transfer to the hospital; 5) That these facilities shall conform with the prescribed requirements of the Bureau of Health and Medical Services.
GRASSLANDS which are unproductive or unsuitable for crop growing may be converted into productive uses, the National Institute of Science and Technology has reported. NIST Commissioner Jose R. Velasco, in a lecture on “Grasses and Grasslands in the Philippines” before the Philippine Botanical Society, said that the cheapest way to minimize soil erosion in terms of manpower and time is to bring unproductive land back under forest cover. The NIST commissioner pointed out that open grasslands constitute some 11.59 per cent of the total land resources in the country. Observing the logged-over areas gradually degenerate to grasslands which are not suitable for growing crop, Dr. Velasco urged the botanists to improve their know-how in managing the Philippine grassland resources.
FARMER-APPLICANTS can now apply for pumps with provincial or regional office of the National Irrigation Administration under a new scheme of irrigation pump distribution. All they have to do is to com ply with the following procedures: 1) Make the required down payment (10 per cent of the cost unit) and hand or put up guarantee to secure payment of the yearly amortization as determined by the NIA; 2) Execute or sign a contract for the purchase of the unit and provide the necessary labor and initial capital to finance the construction and installation of the equipment; 3) Pick up the pump and engine set from the NIA warehouse and construct the system within a reason able time determined by the NIA and undertake the installation of the pump unit within 15 days after it was released; 4) Maintain and operate a system, including such items as fuel, oil, salaries of mechanics, water tenders and other workers; 5) Allow or permit the NIA administrator or oil representatives to inspect the irrigation system at all times Applicants in group must form an association and oblige, bind and engage themselves jointly and severally to pay direct to the NIA the annual amortization due on the cost of the irrigation equipment.
The entry for July 1 is merged with the entry for June 30.
The day came off fine although it ended about twenty minutes ago although it ended about twenty minutes ago in a strong rain driving everyone for cover including the models of the fashion show.
The cultural minorities show was a terrific hit. And so was MC Gen. [Jose] Rancudo on the songs offered by the cabinet.
But it was a working visit. The airport New Aids, the mass and inauguration of San Juanico which is known as Marcos Bridge, the Vicente Orestes and the UP [University of the Philippines] of Tacloban and 8 other new buildings—lunch or snacks at the Nipa House, then the Schistosomiasis Research Project at Palo with Dr. Carl Shafner and finally the Governors, City and Mun. [Municipal] mayors—about 2,000 at the NIDC [National Investment and Development Corporation] in Tanauan.
Then all the way to Ulot for rest after lunch and a swim and six games of pelota.
Tomorrow I go to Cebu alone to inaugurate the bridge of Mandaue-Upon. So that the guests can stay another day in Ulot.