1:00 AM Sept. 20th
Official Gazette for September 17, 1973: THE PRESIDENT urged local historians to spearhead a nationwide effort to trace the ancient origin of the Filipino race as he deplored the lack of historical writing on the subject. Meeting the members of-the National Historical Commission headed by Esteban de Ocampo, the President asked the historians to concentrate on researches and studies on the earlier migrations before the three-waves that came from Malaya. He also asked them to trace the origin of the Filipino alphabet. The President challenged the younger generation of historians to write long and sustained observations of historical events.
THE PRESIDENT has directed the postmaster general to issue a stamp in honor of the great Filipino hero, Sultan Mohammad Dipatuan Kudarat. The President’s Letter of Instructions No. 126 directs that the stamp, which shall bear the facsimile of the medallion of the ancient Order of Sultan Kudarat, shall be made available within Fiscal Year 1973-74. The stamp is in recognition of the Muslims’ contributions to Philippine nationhood, particularly to the struggles, in which Sultan Kudarat featured during his lifetime, against foreign domination for 400 years.
TOTAL of P22, 391,889.00 in loans have been extended to farmers participating in the Masagana 99 rice program in Cotabato. Some 33, 260 hectares have been covered by the rice program with some 25,318 rice farmers benefitting. The breakdown of the loans extended is: Cotabato: P11, 259,759 covering 15,871 hectares benefitting 11,510 farmers; South Cotabato: P5, 074, 682 covering 7, 926 hectares benefitting 1, 663 farmers: Davao oriental: P338, 781 covering 673 hectares benefitting 522 farmers; Surigao del Sur: P870, 381 covering 1,676 hectares benefitting 1,625 farmers; Agusan del Norte: P848,038 covering 1,148 hectares benefitting 25,518 farmers.
BUREAU of Forest Development underscored the urgent need for the conservation of the remaining forest cover to maintain better quality environment. Forestry Director Jose Viado explained that forest con tribute much to the production of oxygen which makes the people feel comfortable and at the same time, consume much carbon dioxide found in the air that is harmful to human existence. The forestry official also said about 10 per cent of the solar energy reaching the planet earth is necessary to vaporize water from the surface of plants.
Official Gazette for September 18, 1973: THE PRESIDENT issued a, decree converting the National Social Action Council (NASAC) into a corporation and providing government assistance to the organization to enable it to participate more effectively in nation-building. The President signed Presidential Decree No. 294 in the presence of NASAC delegation who called at Malacañang headed by Bishop Mariano Gaviola, NASAC chairman. The President said that in pursuit of their respective developmental program, the Government, ecumenical faith and the private sector realize the need of collaboration and cooperation.
PERFORMANCE—as much as seniority—will be a basis for advancement in the new civil service. Secretary of Labor Blas F. Ople emphasized this as he reiterated the Government policy that the new civil service will not shield nor protect incompetent and corrupt government personnel. Addressing the Civil Service Commissions’s convocation that capped the 1973 Civil Service Week, Secretary Ople warned that a second “purge” of government personnel may be necessary to carry out the President’s directive to arrest backsliding in the public service. Secretary Ople said the main thrust of the civil service re forms is to bring about a rapid and thorough-going professionalization of the public service.
THE PRESIDENT issued Proclamation No. 1185 declaring September 21 a special public holiday. The day, which is the first anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law, had been proclaimed earlier by the Chief Executive as National Thanksgiving Day. . The proclamation notes that Martial Law declared under the authority of the Constitution to restore peace and order in the country has provided the opportunity as well as the means among the people the will to build the New Society which would reflect their greatest aspirations.
THE GOVERNMENT is intensifying the campaign to establish a more efficient dental health service because of the “terrible attrition that diseases of the tooth are wreaking on the health and vitality of the people.” This was revealed by Secretary of Information Francisco S. Tatad as he expounded on the Government’s efforts to improve the country’s dental services before the Manila Dental Association. Secretary Tatad explained that the heart of the Government’s intensified campaign includes dental public health, the science of preventing and controlling dental diseases; preventive services, consisting of measures that are initiated before any clinical signs of symptoms of dental diseases appear; and health promotion, the application of measures that contribute to the protection of the community’s total health.
Official Gazette for September 19, 1973: THE PRESIDENT has authorized the Foundation for Youth
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday
Bongbong and Irene left at 7:15 PM and have left a void so poignant because of the happiness of the last week end.
Talked to them last night (Tuesday night and this morning).
These are the days when they are 16 and 13 respectively when we should have them close to us. I hope we have not committed a mistake by sending them to London.
I have promised to call them next Sunday 11:00 AM London time when Cess is here for pelota so he can talk to her.
Tuesday we gave a dinner for the Russian Trade and Oil delegation. The Ambivalent, South Sea dancers, Bayanihan ending with the Asik and Singkil. The Russians wanted to dance.
But I dragged them out at 12:00 PM to work on some kind of memorandum of understanding so that they could have something to bring home.
I attach a copy of the memorandum.
Development m the Philippines, Inc., to conduct its first national education and fund campaign from September 8 to December 31, 1073 He signed Proclamation No. 1182 which calls upon “all government officials, military personnel, public and private school authorities and students, and those citizens and residents of the Philippines, regardless of nationality or creed,” to give generously to the foundation so as to raise the youth’s productive power and enhance their usefulness as citizens and community members.
STERILIZATION of both sexes by tubal litigation and vasectomy are acceptable methods of contraception as long as the subject’s consent is given intelligently. As such, sterilization cannot be considered as mutilation within the contemplation of Art. 262 of the Revised Penal Code. This was the opinion by Secretary of Justice Vicente Abad Santos in reply to a query submitted by the executive director of the Commission on Population. He further pointed out that the purpose of surgical sterilization is not transplantation but family planning and population control, motives which are not contrary to law or public policy.
THE FIRST LADY gave the go signal to put up a $60-million medical center complex that will provide services to some five million persons in Metropolitan Manila. To be named the Philippine Medical Center, UP, the building complex will rise on a 50-hectare site in Diliman and will be affiliated with the University of the Philippines. The medical center will house the Philippine Health Sciences complex which is dedicated to improving health conditions in the country.
DR. PACIFICO E. Marcos, chairman of the Philippine Medical Care Commission said that improvements on health and medical care delivery call for more doctors and nurses in the rural areas. He appealed to members of these professions to voluntarily heed the demand for their services. He said they should not wait for impositions by the people for their needed services. Dr. Marcos was the keynote speaker at the 10th anniversary of the Academy of Nursing of the Philippines held at the Philamlife open pavilion. The anniversary theme was “Delivery of Health Care Services in the New Society.” Dr. Marcos said that doctors and nurses should no longer fear of “remaining m the mire for life when they are assigned in. rural areas. A system of promotion for government doctors and nurses is being evolved so that a physician and a nurse would be assured of chances for better assignment and professional advancement, he explained.
PHILIPPINE exports to the United Kingdom performed creditably during the past fiscal year, reducing the trade gap that has characterized trade with the country over the years. At the close of Fiscal Year 1972-73, according to Secretary of Trade Troadio T. Quiazon Jr., Philippine exports to the UK showed a growth of about 15 per cent over the figures for the previous fiscal year. In terms of values, Philippine exports went up from FOB $3,360,140 to $15,457,230.
This morning (Wednesday) I spent several hours of movie and photography.
Worked on the speech for the 21st.
And the continuing assessment of our deficiencies—the processing of logs within the next three years, shipping, transport, the energy problem etc.