I spent the whole day on the final corrections of “Notes on the New Society in the
Official Gazette for September 2, 1973: THE PRESIDENT directed the opening for exploration of some 1.2 million hectares of strategic mineral lands. This region is located near the scene of an oil strike in the vicinity of Borneo. The development of the area was assured after the President approved a $15.5 million service contract with a consortium of American-Canadian financiers. The signing of the contract was held in Malacañang. Robert Mosbacher of Mosbacher Philippines Corporation led the group of foreign capitalists who will operate through a joint venture agreement with local firms.
SECRETARY of Information Francisco S. Tatad urged the country’s laurels 10 extend their expertise and services to the less privileged who need decent homes instead of allowing the realty profession to degenerate into a mere pursuit for profits.
In a speech before the Pasay City Realtors Board Inc. at the Hotel intercontinental, the secretary said that the realtors’ attitude should be centered on their fellowmen, defined by an awareness “that they must also share in the opportunities for a full and richer life.” Mr. Tatad likewise challenged the realtors to institute the necessary reforms against irregularities imputed against unscrupulous members of the real estate profession.
GREEN Revolution secretariat committee has reported that P145, 098,288.57 worth of GR produce from schools all over the country was sold and consumed by pupils and students for school year 1972-73. Andres B. Fernandez, chairman of the secretariat committee, said the amount represented the total production from the GR projects of 8,957,433 students. GR projects undertaken in schools were classified into leafy and fruit vegetable production, field crops, fruit production, poultry, swine and livestock and fish production.
Official Gazette for September 3, 1973: THE PRESIDENT authorized the release of P5 million for the importation of critical raw materials for the use of cottage industries whose products recently have made significant gains by occupying sixth place among the commodity exports of the country. In his Letter of Instructions, the Chief Executive instructed Secretary of Labor Blas F. Ople, chairman of the Cottage Industries Development Council; Budget Commissioner Faustino Sychangco and Administrator Mario Reyes, executive director, Cottage Industries Development Enterprise, to devise ways and means to ensure a steady supply of critical raw materials and minimize the difficulties often encountered in their procurement.
THE PRESIDENT received officials of the First Pennsylvania Banking and Trust, who congratulated him for the success of the reform program, particularly in the monetary system. The President told the bank officials that the changes “you are now witnessing have been brought about by forces beyond our control. Martial Law was imposed as a necessity, an act of survival.” The President said the Government is vent on building the New Society with sweeping changes in the economic and social structure, which had become so corrupted it had become impossible to attain the common goals of society. Mr. James Bodine, FPBT president, was also informed about an intensive food production drive, including cattle ranching, which is attracting big foreign ranchers.
DEPARTMENT of Justice issued a ruling that “no additional fee may be collected for fees rendered for purely administrative or ministerial acts not involving the performance of judicial functions of the court.” The opinion, rendered by Acting Secretary of Justice Catalino Macaraig Jr. was in reply to a query relating to the collection by registers of deeds of an additional fee of one per cent of registration fees for the UP Law Center. Mr. Macaraig Jr., on his part, requested the Commissioner of Land Registration to give appropriate instructions to registers of deeds that additional fees for the Center should be collected only whenever filing fees, as such, are imposed by law or regulation.
DEPARTMENT of Health has created a committee to study the harmful and hazardous effects of smoking on the health of the people. The group was named “Committee on the III Effects of Smoking.” It is composed of well known medical practitioners and specialists in different fields from both the Government and private sectors. The committee, which is instructed to submit its initial report shortly, shall undertake the following functions: 1) To study and compile data on the ill effects of cigarette smoking on human beings; and 2) To recommend measures on how the Department of Health can effectively combat these hazards of cigarette smoking.
Philippines.” I reviewed the appendices (specially the plebiscite cases—both concurring and dissenting opinions) as well as the first book, Today’s Revolution, Democracy, so that I do not repeat myself.
Finished the proof-reading of the galley proofs except the last chapter (Chapter VII) which I wrote and finished today, Monday.
Listened to the speech of Imelda in the Philippine Normal College where she received a Doctorate on Humanities. The speech is apropos, entitled The Compassionate Society.
The page proofs should come in tomorrow morning.
A Mr. Yoshida who is backed by the big Japanese bank Sangwa Banks wants to develop all of Looc as a tourist complex.
The foreign press continues to build up the [Benigno] Aquino [Jr.] case.
Radicalism has been reported in the universities specially the U.P. [University of the Philippines] and its president, S. P. [Salvador] Lopez is ineffective.
A caché of firearms has been ferreted out by the PC [Philippine Constabulary] under the Intelligence group’s guidance in Davao Oriental.