Amb. William Sullivan presented his credentials today. All of us have our misgivings about him. After all he ran the CIA [Central Intelligence Agency] American war in Cambodia. And he is the right hand man of [Henry] Kissinger in Indo China—and Kissinger is no friend of the Philippines.
But I still hope he is really the professional diplomat he is supposed to be—and therefore a pragmatist.
Official Gazette for August 6, 1973: THE PRESIDENT issued Presidential Decree No. 252 authorizing the creation of a Philippine International Trading Corporation “to provide a formal institutional framework for the promotion of foreign trade and the development of domestic industries.” The body, sought in the decree, can take advantage of economies derived from bulk purchases, wide-scale shipping marketing, centralized financing and assistance and other export promotions services in the world market.
THE PRESIDENT has promulgated Presidential Decree No. 263 upholding the promotion of policemen who have been in the’ service for 20 years but whose educational qualifications fall short under the Police Act of 1966. The Chief Executive noted that a number of police officers who were already in the service when the Police Act of 1966 took effect were subsequently promoted, although these policemen did not have the educational qualifications prescribed under the law at the time they were promoted. The President stressed that considerations of justice and equity, as well as the interest of the police service, require that appropriate consideration be given to police experience acquired by length of service, as well as special police training, for purposes of determining qualifications for promotion of those who were already in the service at the time of the approval of the Police Act of 1966.
THE PRESIDENT declared a national policy-objective to provide electricity all over the country on an area-coverage service fee basis. The President announced this policy-objective during the call of the presidents and general managers of some 43 rural electric cooperatives throughout the country. To carry out the policy-objective, the President issued a decree converting the National Electrification Administration into a corporation to give it flexibility, ample leeway in movement, funding, and the exercise of discretion.
THE PRESIDENT said that existing problems between the Philippines and the United States will be solved in the mutual spirit of understanding, goodwill and friendship. The Chief Executive made the statement following the presentation of credentials of US Ambassador William H. Sullivan at Malacañang. In accepting the credentials of the new American envoy, the President had attached significance to the United States’ act of sending to the Philippines “a veteran with a varied diplomatic background” in the person of Mr. Sullivan. Mr. Sullivan replaced Ambassador Henry Byroade, who has signified his intention to retire from the service.
THE PRESIDENT has reasserted his proposal for the establishment of an Asian Forum for the peaceful settlement of disputes among Asian countries and defusing potentially dangerous issues. Speaking at the launching of the Philippine International Friendship Organization (PIFO) Forum in Asia at the Malacañang Heroes’ Hall, the President said the fundamental character of the concept of an Asian Forum is for Asian to solve their problems through their own efforts in the spirit of peace, “because in the last analysis, no one will solve our problems for us, for a solution imposed from outside is not a solution.
PHILIPPINE Medical Care Commission (PMCC) decided to give hospitals involved in the Medicare program non-interest cash advance equivalent to the sum of the paid claims for four consecutive months. Dr. Pacifico E. Marcos, PMCC Chairman said that the enlarged cash advance aims to completely eliminate the practice of some hospitals to demand from some Medicare patients advance payments for medical services. This is an expanded version of the present cash advance scheme of the PMCC which gives to a participating hospital 60 per cent of each Medicare claim immediately for the preceding month.
New Zealand investor—Clark on the joint venture on table ware with Mike Magsaysay.
The effort at Sulu to peacefully bring in the leaders of the insurgents of Maimbung and Luuk through Vice Mayor [Mardioan?] of Maimbung.
Cabinet meeting—principally on reforms in the departments, the small scale and medium sized industries in the countryside.
There is a severe and critical shortage of rice. Now there were rusts at the NGA [National Grains Authority] trucks.
So is [sic] there shortages in sugar and cooking oil.
I have ordered 20% of exports to be set aside for domestic consumption in coconut oil. 35% for sugar.
We ate rice mixed with corn in the luncheon—cabinet meeting this noon.
We have enough corn. And it should be arriving this week from the south.
But the rice we contracted from Thailand and Pakistan have not been delivered.
And those to be delivered from Japan, China and Red China are delayed because of weather and shipping problems.
We will have to work at this [sic] shortages.