November 26-December 2, 1973

Entry missing from handwritten file, but is in the transcribed PCGG file. Source of text cannot be verified.

Official Gazette for November 26, 1973: THE PRESIDENT acted to alleviate further the oil shortage by allowing the importation, free from customs duties, of naphtha and other processed products as may be determined by the Chief Executive upon the recommendation of the National Economic and Development Authority. Through Presidential Decree No. 343, the importation, free from customs duties, maybe made by persons or entities duly authorized by the Oil Industry Commission, for a period of 45 days from approval of the decree (November 26, 1973) unless sooner terminated by the President.
THE PRESIDENT appointed Mr. Felimon C. Rodriguez, a well-known business executive, as acting president of the Philippine International Trading Corp., and declared the new government agency officially operational. The President announced the appointment of Mr. Rodriguez as PITC president during the courtesy call of the 11-man trade mission from the People’s Republic of China, led by Director Yao-Ting Wang of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade. The PITC was established by Presidential Decree No. 252, issued last July 21, for the purpose of strengthening the country’s position in the international trade.
THE PRESIDENT granted a 60-day reprieve to three death convicts who were scheduled to be executed in the electric chair for the gun-slaying of a Chinese national and a policeman in Leyte in 1958. Given a lease on life were Valentin Suparable, Antonio Pacli and Benjamin Pacli. The execution was suspended upon recommendation of the Board of Pardons and Parole, which has asked for sufficient time to study the petition of the convicts for executive clemency.

Official Gazette for November 27, 1973: THE PRESIDENT proclaimed a state of public calamity in the provinces of Capiz, Negros Occidental, Aklan, Nueva Vizcaya and the Cagayan Valley, which suffered widespread destruction to property and loss of lives caused by the strong winds and heavy rains of typhoon “Openg.” The Chief Executive issued the proclamation (Proclamation No. 1210) to prevent the excessive increase in the prices of essential commodities due to profiteering and hoarding, as well as to enable government and civic relief and welfare agencies to carry out their objectives effectively.
THE PRESIDENT has ordered substantial increases in the per diem and other travel expenses for government officials and employes traveling on official business abroad and within the country. The presidential directive was contained in Executive Order No. 421, covering the travel of officials abroad, and Presidential Decree No. 344, regulating the traveling expenses of officials and employes when on official travel within the Philippines. These increases seek to alleviate the plight of public officials and employes sent on official mission or business in the light of the continuing rise in the costs of hotel or other accomodations, transportation and other expenses incident to travel within the country and abroad.
SECRETARY of Information Francisco S. Tatad voiced a strong appeal that “libraries be brought to the people,” because libraries are not merely repositories of information and knowledge but “powerhouses of human motivation for achievement.” The secretary sounded the appeal during the celebration of National Book Week sponsored by the Library and Library Science Departments of the Philippine Normal College. The secretary stressed that a library is useless if it stands like a parthenon on an inaccessible hill; it must be brought down and play its vital role in the life of the people. “The books do not belong to the shelves a-s prey to dust and the ravages of time; they belong to the people.”
THE PRESIDENT has authorized the city of Manila to tap its idle P3, 696,922 sinking fund for public market construction, purchase or repair, and use it for urgent public outlays. The President’s directive is contained in Presidential Decree No. 345.
THE PRESIDENT conferred the Presidential Merit Medal on C. Allan Foran, former president of Ford Philippines, “in appreciation of significant contributions to economic development, particularly in car manufacture and technology.” It was Mr. Foran who was responsible for Filipinizing the Ford management and personnel force up to 99.9 per cent, and it was he who constantly sought to inculcate the values of skill and efficiency and substantially upgraded the Filipino’s skill in mechanics and technology.

Official Gazette for November 28, 1973: THE PRESIDENT directed all gasoline stations, distributors and dealers of gasoline and other oil products to service the public during all hours of the clay and night outside the four-hour curfew, notwithstanding any existing directive from any national or local agency limiting their operation to certain specific hours. The President also directed the oil companies to make available to all their outlets at least one week’s supply of gasoline and other oil products to ensure a steady supply through these outlets.
ALL government agencies involved in the energy conservation program were directed by the President to review all existing emergency policies that have been adopted in the wake of the oil crisis, with the end in view of facilitating the normalization of the local oil situation. The President’s action was prompted by a communique from Algiers that the Arab summit conference there had decided to ease the oil squeeze on the Philippines and Japan.
EXECUTIVE Secretary Alejandro Melchor Jr., issued Memorandum Circular No. 684, extending the deadline for submission of land ownership declarations of government personnel to December 15, 1973. The circular amends Memorandum Circular No. 679 directing all employees of the national government and the officers and men of the Armed Forces to submit through their office or unit heads land ownership declarations not later than November 24, 1973.

Official Gazette for November 29, 1973: CUTS on the fuel allocations to industries have been restored to not more than 20 per cent reduction of the first nine-month monthly average to maintain production and avoid layoff of labor. At the same time, all provincial governors have been ordered to organize local allocation boards for the conservation and disposal of fuel in their respective provinces. The order to restore cuts in the fuel allocations to industries was issued by Secretary of Industry Vicente T. Paterno, who is chairman of the Petroleum Operation Center under the National Prime Commodities Executive Committee.
THE PRESIDENT told a visiting member of the Parliament of India that the present program of reforms in the Philippines is nothing more than the implementation of the massive war on poverty. “When we speak of poverty,” the President told Dr. V. K. R. V. Rao, ” we speak in terms of the farmer who has known disease and hunger.” The President pointed out that 75 per cent of the people in the country live on farms but because of poor conditions they are forced to move to urban centers. The President said this is being done by providing them with incentives such as the establishment of cottage and small and medium-scale industries in the countryside, compact farming, marketing, cooperative, irrigation, electrification, and others.

Official Gazette for November 30, 1973: THE PRESIDENT exhorted the organizers of the Mabuhay ang Pilipino Movement to go to the barrios and act as “motivators” of the changes going on even as he congratulated them for the success so far achieved by the Movement. Addressing the officials, coordinators, and members of the Movement on the first anniversary of its launching, the President said that the movement is a success considering the fact that it has spread to 29 provinces in Luzon, 14 in the Visayas and 11 in Mindanao; and 32 cities, with 292 municipal charters and many more barrio chapters. However, the President said, there are 1,400 municipalities and 40,000 barrios throughout the country, and the MPM should now go to the barrios and provide the necessary organization to make the people in the barrios “initiators of change.”
THE PRESIDENT expressed the hope that the coming here of the trade mission from the People’s Republic of China not only would promote the expansion of commercial relations between the Philippines and mainland China but would also contribute to the unity and brotherhood among men in Asia as well as in the rest of the world. The President was host at dinner held in Malacañang in honor of the 11-man mission which is currently on a 10-day exploration of local trade possibilities, as guest of the Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines.
WORLD BANK tourism development mission which had just gone through an extensive three-week survey of investment possibilities in the Philip pines informed the President that they are impressed by the tourism assets of the country, principally its scenic spots, fine beaches, ideal climate and its “very warm and hospitable people who have the facility of the language.” “We found your assets very outstanding, Mr. President, and hope to be of assistance in the various phases of development of your country,” Dr Philip Glaessner, deputy director of the WB tourism department and head of the group, said.
EDUCATION Secretary Juan L. Manuel said the new Constitution is “a powerful instrument for social reform.” Secretary Manuel in a speech before the Philippine Constitution Association (PHILCONSA) on the occasion of Bonifacio Day said that among the provisions which make the Constitution a powerful instrument for social reform are those on the development of a more intense nationalism, the stress on the obligations of citizenship, the new concept of social morality and the dominance of social justice ideals. The secretary said that under the new curriculum, the Constitution will be taught on all levels. The ultimate goal is to make the Constitution a living part of the people’s daily activities, the secretary said.
BOARD of Regents of the University of the Philippines approved unanimously the conferring of the award, Doctor

November 27, 1973—the Algeria Summit Conference exempts Philippines and Japan from the oil embargo for one month. Big news throughout the world.

I rendezvous with the Sulu, Basilan and Zamboanga del Sur rebel leaders to bring about their return to the fold of the law and cooperate on the pacification drive.

I also directed the finalization of the purchase of Esso’s 57% of the Bataan refinery and its whole marketing organization for $25 million.

But as yet no contract with Saudi Arabia on the 100 million barrels a year as promised by the King. So I asked Ramon del Rosario to stay. He went to London to wait and returned

of Humanities, honoris causa, to the First Lady in recognition of her various works and support to the propagation of the arts and the execution of projects aimed at improving the well-being of the people.

Official Gazette for December 1, 1973: THE PRESIDENT forged an agreement of cooperation with Muslim rebel leaders from Sulu, Basilan, and Zamboanga del Sur during his trip to Sulu recently. At the same time, the President appealed to the people of these areas to join the efforts of pacification, even as he directed Commodore Romulo Espaldon, SOWESCOM chief, through Letter of Instructions No. 149, to take more energetic steps towards in forming the citizens in the area of the program he has enunciated for the economic development and rehabilitation of these provinces.
IN SPORTS, acts of greatness and human courage, even when they end in defeat, are just as important as the medals and trophies that symbolize victory. This was stressed by the President in a speech read for him by Executive Secretary Alejandro Melchor, Jr. at the opening ceremonies of the 7th Asian Basketball Confederation championship at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum. The Chief Executive pointed out that in athletic competitions, man tests the limits of his endurance, speed and strength, moving him to perform courageous feats worthy of admiration. Whether these feats end in victory or failure is of no moment, added the President, because the eventual victor is “the human spirit, the capacity of man to achieve and to exceed the limits of his sense of accomplishments.”
THE PHILIPPINES is the new “banana king” of Asia. In 1971, the Philippines exported 185,000 tons of bananas or about 31 per cent of Asia’s total banana exports of 594.200 tons. The next year saw the Philippine banana exports leap to 52 per cent of the regional total of 618,900 tons. The second biggest producer of banana is Taiwan.

Official Gazette for December 2, 1973: THE PRESIDENT directed heads of government departments, bureaus and offices to enjoin their personnel to engage in food production activities, in furtherance of the government’s self-sufficiency program. The President’s directive is contained in Memorandum Circular No. 687, issued by Executive Secretary Alejandro Melchor, Jr. by authority of the President. The circular emphasizes it is imperative that the time and effort of these personnel be devoted to productive activities in line with the. New Society’s objective of achieving greater food sufficiency.
THE PRESIDENT said the government is exerting efforts to broaden the benefits for retired government employes and that a scheme that would increase the pensions of other retirees to a more equitable level would be perfected soon. In a speech read for him by Assistant Executive Secretary Roberto V, Reyes at the Biennial National Convention of the Philippine Government, Retired Employes Association, held at the GSIS Social Hall, the President assured retired employes in the public service that the government will listen to every proposal of the association that will reasonably enhance the living conditions of retirees or help them lead lives of usefulness and self-respect.
SECRETARY Francisco S. Tatad paid tribute to the work of radio amateurs in this country and abroad, and said the New Society has not been slow in recognizing their worth. The secretary, as guest speaker of the Philippine Amateur Radio Association on the occasion of Radio Amateur Week, said that by and large amateur radio in this country has been dominated by a strong sense of responsibility, leader ship, and patriotism. This is the very reason why the government pays tribute to the work of the radio amateur in designing a week of every year as Radio Amateur Week.

Saturday to Riyadh. I also directed Amb. Mabilangan who is with Sec. [Carlos] Romulo in Paris resting to return to Riyadh to help as the lower echelon officials in Saudi Arabia say they have as yet received no instructions on the contract; and Nuista Neswel who is in Jeddah setting up the Philippine Embassy, to return to Riyadh and help Monching del Rosario in the diplomatic level.

I directed Amb. Dionisio, resident ambassador to Pakistan but also accredited to Iran, to reside in Iran, and take steps to assure us of the continuous supply of crude from Iran.

I directed (all of these through Sec. [Manuel] Collantes) Amb. [Modesto] Farolan of Indonesia to proceed to Iraq and Kuwait to take steps to assure us that our supply of crude continues.

Saudi Arabia, according to Monching del Rosario, has ordered the crude oil for us, to be delivered through the normal channels—which means the American oil companies. So in the purchase of Esso, I directed Ting [Vicente] Paterno who is negotiating this, as the Chairman of the Board of Philippine National Oil Corporation, to get Esso to guaranty delivery to us of the crude we are entitled to and which we obtained by government to government negotiations.

The negotiation for the cooperation of the 8 original Sulu rebels was initiated by Sec. Antonio Raquiza.

I attach the papers.

Prentice Hall will publish the two books, Today’s Revolution—Democracy and Notes on the New Society of the Philippines. I am revising them.