5:14 PM
For the period December
19, 1973 to January 3, 1974
I am convalescing from the flu but have no more fever or pains. So I am trying to catch up with the long gap in my diary brought about by the rush of events and my illness since December 31, 1973.
The period has been marked by two events—the decision of OAPEC [Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries] in Kuwait on December 25, 1973 to include the Philippines among friendly countries (to the Arabs) and entitled to receive all oil requirements, along with Britain, Belgium, Spain, France and Japan; and secondly the passage of 1973 with its achievements: 10% growth in real terms, more than one billion dollars in foreign exchange reserves, 60% increase in exports, 23% new exports, increase in investments from abroad and my continuance as President-beyond December 30, 1973, the end of my term under the old Constitution and without any untoward incident.
Official Gazette for January 3, 1974: THE GOVERNMENT purchased 91,284 cavans of palay worth P3,174,940 from March last year to January 2, 1974, according to the National Grains Authority. NGA Administrator Jesus Tanchanco said the purchases were made under the NGA’s direct procurement program aimed at realizing its buffer stock of 10 million cavans. Mr. Tanchanco said the 91,284 cavans were bought at the Government support price of P35 a cavan of 50 kilos, or P0.70 a kilo.
THE FIRST LADY, representing the President, called for “affirmative resolution and positive action,” from all segments of the nation in the task of nation-building. The occasion was the cornerstone-laying of the Muslim Maharlika Village in Bicutan, Taguig, Rizal. In her brief remarks, the First Lady emphasized that the brotherhood of all Filipinos is “demanded of us” and’ the rise of a Muslim community in the heart of Greater Manila indicates the true meaning of “our membership in the national community.”
DEPARTMENT of Education and Culture is helping control population growth by reorienting the values and attitudes of the people, according to Education Secretary Juan Manuel. Secretary Manuel made the statement before participants in the National Multi-Sectoral Seminar on Population Education at the Development Academy of the’ Philippines in Tagaytay City. The education secretary said that a program on population education attuned to the existing beliefs and conscience of the Filipinos is the most effective instrument in the campaign against population growth in the country. The Philippines is the only country in the world which has embanked on a nation-wide population program through the formal school system, he said.
DEPARTMENT of Trade announced that the Philippines exported more than §9 million worth of lumber and plywood last month to bring the total export receipts for these products to S46.6 million during the last five-month period ending December 1973. The monthly breakdown of lumber exports during the last five months follows: August $3,268,128; September, $3,798,971; October, 55,112,413; November $3,660,850; and December, $4.2 million. For plywood, the monthly export receipts were: August $6,854,843; September $6,400,820; October, $5,161,054; November, $3,298,475; and December, $4.8 million. The bulk of the exports went to the United States, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Hongkong, Denmark, Switzerland and Guam.
INSURANCE Commission issued a new ruling requiring foreign reinsurers transacting business with insurance companies in the Philippines to submit a report to the Insurance Commission and the Foreign Exchange Department of the Central Bank of the Philippines. Insurance Commissioner Gregoria Cruz Arnaldo said such report shall: 1) Include all contracts for the settlement or liquidation of insurance claims for losses or damages and reinsurance premium liabilities; and 2) Indicate the particular reinsurance contract involved, the currency and amount paid, the date of payment and the name of the local bank through which the inward remittance of foreign exchange” was effected.
There has been a change in the tone of newspaper reports abroad about the Philippines. I enclose some of the reports.