1:15 AM Aug. 19th
I met Foreign Minister Omar Alsaffa at 11:00. Although sick from lack of sleep and an abdominal ulcer, he promised a refinery for the Philippines, oil—and a fertilizer plant and a complete ______.
As well as contribution to the Amanah Bank.
Had lunch with him.
I created three provinces out of Cotabato and a new province of Tawi-Tawi out of Sulu. Appointed Ex-Gov [Simeon] Datumanong for the new province of ______ and Commodore [Romulo] Espaldon for Tawi-Tawi. He also is the commander of the new Sulu Frontier command and supervises all of Sulu including Gov. [Murphy] Sangcula.
Released P10 million for the evacuees. Created the National Council of Evacuees under Imelda.
Official Gazette for August 18, 1973: NEWLY-created Philippine International Trading Corporation (PITC) will engage in all aspects of trade—from procurement, marketing, trading, shipping and warehousing to distribution, insurance, financing, and investment promotions—on a scale never before attempted in the Philippines Disclosing the concept behind the formation of the PITC, Secretary of Trade Troadio T. Quiazon Jr. said the setup will enable the private business and industry sectors to effect economies of scale in their operations and, at the same time, generate additional revenues for the Government. The PITC was created by the President under Presidential Decree No. 252 issued on July 21, 1973, to secure a more competitive position for the Philippines in international trade.
BUREAU of Customs ordered the transfer of all idle vessels moored alongside the Pasig River to other anchorage areas to clear the way for the beautification and development project of the First Lady. Customs Commissioner Rolando G. Geotina likewise directed the head of the three-man Customs group to make a survey of the to check on-the number of sunken vessels still to be salvaged and to have them removed not later than September 15. The commissioner vowed full implementation of the anti-pollution regulation and directed the prosecution of any person dumping refuse and other waste material, into the river, particularly crewmember of commercial boats navigating the Pasig River who are under the Customs jurisdiction.
SECRETARY of Information Francisco S. Tatad emphasized the role of Pilipino in uniting the Filipino people and in assuring the success of the Government’s efforts to build a New Society. Speaking at the National Teachers College in connection with the nationwide observance of Pilipino Week, the Secretary stressed that in the New Society, the Government is placing heavy emphasis on the development of a national language to strengthen the bond that unites Filipinos. Mr. Tatad enumerated what the administration has done to propagate the national language. This includes the decision of the Board of National Education to use Pilipino as a medium of instruction from the primary” level up. The board has also made Pilipino a required course in schools.
FINANCE Secretary Cesar E. A. Virata announced that a total of P114,592,535.40 in special education tax was collected in 1972 by 67 provinces and 61 cities. He said that the amount was appropriated in accordance with the law, for adjustment and payment of salaries of school teachers, repair of school buildings and accessories, barrio high schools, scholarships, textbook and education research. The special education tax is an annual additional tax of one per cent on the assessed value of real property in addition to the real property tax regularly levied under existing laws and is collected by provincial and city treasurers pursuant to Republic Act No. 5447.