Official Gazette for October 28, 1973: THE PRESIDENT said an increasing part of every official peso expenditure will be devoted to economic development and social amelioration as the reform program of the government moves on. The President, in reply to a question from the press, said this is the meaning of the shift in orientation in government spending under the New Society. Prior to the proclamation of Martial Law, the operations of government represented the bigger portion of government spending as against capital expenditures for development. This is a conscious policy that forms part of the effort of the government to remove the inequalities in society that spawn disaffection and, sometimes, dissidence.
THE PRESIDENT has proclaimed the period from November 11-17, 1973. as “Management Consciousness Week,” in line with the policy of the government to promote management consciousness in both the public and private sectors to help achieve the developmental goals of the nation. Proclamation No. 1187, issued by Acting Executive Secretary Roberto V. Reyes, by order of the Chief Executive, pointed out that management consciousness is essential to promote better business practices, increase production and improve public administration and services, which are vital prerequisites to economic development, social progress and stability.
THE PRESIDENT has promulgated Presidential Decree No. 317 amending certain sections of Act 2427 (Insurance Act) so as to broaden the cooperatives base and enable cooperatives to expand their activities in coordination with the economic, social and agrarian reforms of the government. PD 317 amends Sec. 200 (B) of the Insurance Act to the effect that the supervision and control of the insurance commissioner shall not apply to cooperatives undertaking insurance on the life, health, property and other risks of its members or those of the individual members of the member-societies.
THE PRESIDENT was informed by officials of one of biggest independent manufacturers of car components in the world, the Dana Corp., that they have decided to make Manila their Southeast Asian headquarters because of the favorable investment climate in the country. Led by Frank Groper and Robert Davis, the Dana officials said they arrived at the decision after making a survey of investment possibilities in various Southeast Asian countries.
THE PRESIDENT directed General Romeo Espino, AFP chief of staff, to set aside 30 hectares of land in Fort Bonifacio for a Maharlika Village to serve as a Muslim residential area. The President ordered General Espino to draw up the plans for the village, and to determine priorities in accommodation therein. The President’s directive for setting up the Muslim village is in line with the government’s policy of like treatment for both Christians and Muslims.
Official Gazette for October 29, 1973: THE PRESIDENT inducted into office the three new and eight incumbent members of the Supreme Court. The new appointees are Justices Estanislao Fernandez, Cecilia Munoz Palma and Ramon C. Aquino. The three hew associate justices will hold office during good behavior until the age of 65. The eight incumbent associate justices who were made to continue in office by the President under Sec. 10 of Article XVII of the Constitution, will hold office until the age of 70, unless sooner replaced.
THE PRESIDENT called upon the country’s librarians to help the government face squarely the challenges posed by the 20th century. The librarians, according to the Chief Executive, are in the best position to obtain the deepest understanding of the needs, values, aspirations and resources of the national community. In a speech read for him by Secretary of Education and Culture Juan L. Manuel during the closing ceremonies for the golden jubilee celebration of the Philippine Library Association, the President stressed that imbued with energy, dedication and idealism, many librarians are destined to become planners and doers, not merely operators of libraries.
THE PRESIDENT declared November 1, 1973, a special public holiday. The Chief Executive noted in Proclamation No. 1199 that paying homage to the dead on All Saints Day is “one of our cherished traditions and, in keeping with that tradition, the people should be given full opportunity to observe the day with all its religious fervor.”
THE PRESIDENT exhorted foresters to redouble their total effort towards the important task of protecting and conserving the valuable forest resources of the country not only for material progress or for its aesthetic value, parks, games and wildlife but also for the prevention of soil erosion and flood control as well as the maintenance of the proper ecological balance of nature for the welfare of this and the generation that will come after. In a message to the Society of Filipino Foresters, the President said the forest resources will long continue to be one of the major pillars of our economy, particularly in the earnest efforts of the New Society towards industrialization, stabilization of the international trade and the general uplift of the standard of living of the Filipinos.
Sunday and Monday
As I sat for my portrait by Betsy Brias, I finally came upon the solution of the problem on small land owners on the land reform.
If the landowners have another source of income and has been an absentee landlord then the decree must be enforced and the land goes to the tenants who pay the landlord his 25% for 15 years.
But should there be too small an area then a cooperative of both landlord and tenant can be organized.
And the government saves the P3 billion required for the purchases of the small land holdings.
I also have worked on the book while posing.
Monday I swore in the justces of the Supreme Court.
The mayor of Marawi, Omar Dianalan, confirms the intelligence reports that the Muslim secessionists are again conspiring to mount simultaneous attacks on govt [government] forces.
Mayor [Leroy S.] Brown of Basilan reports the same thing.
So I have alerted Sec. [Juan] Ponce Enrile and Gen. [Romeo] Espino/
And up to now there have been none of the sizeable surrenders that we expected in Jolo.
I am sending Sec. A. [Alejandro] Melchor [Jr.] to Tokyo on the launching of the Japanese sattelite [sic]. I attach copy of my letters.
And the reports on needle pricking.