On board Ang Pangulo August 4, 1974
Spent the whole day skiing. Am sunburned and physically tired but mentally relaxed.
Imelda and the children were taking dinner at Suite I with the latter’s “cousinzes” when I arrived at the palace at about 9:45 PM.
She is still feeling below the weather. I had to force her to retire before 12:00 PM [sic].
Official Gazette for August 4, 1974: THE PRESIDENT required aliens seeking entry or permanent residence in the country under the provisions of the Immigration Act to pay higher fees. Signing Presidential Decree No. 524, the Chief Executive raised 33 specific fees collectible from such aliens. These lees, originally fixed in 1940 were last raised in 1950. Religious missionaries admitted into the country as aliens are exempt from payment of monthly extension fees payable by temporary visitors. Foreign government officials, their families, attendants, household helps and employes, and non-immigrants in transit to a destination outside the Philippines are also exempt from paying their passport visas.
DEPARTMENT of Trade stressed that the long-term solution to the rapidly-spiralling of price of prime commodities is the expansion in production and increase in productivity. Secretary of Trade Troadio T. Quiazon Jr., who is concurrently Chairman of the Price Control Council, asserted this as he discussed the rationale behind the government pricing policy. The trade official explained that the price control being instituted by the government is only an interim measure to discourage price manipulation and speculation. He said that the real factors that would cushion the impact of prices are the intensification of food production, expansion of exports, and the development of alter native sources of energy, among others.
MALACAÑANG, through Assistant Executive Secretary Ronaldo Zamora, ruled that apartment owners are prohibited from charging new or incoming lessees rentals higher than those paid by previous lessees during the effectivity of an existing presidential decree on rentals. The ruling was handed down by Secretary Zamora in reply to an inquiry sent to Public Information Secretary Francisco S. Tatad by an apartment dweller in Paco, Manila. The opinion was a clarification of Presidential Decree No. 20, freezing rentals for lower-income groups. In his opinion, Secretary Zamora said that all the unauthorized increases in rentals must be refunded or applied to future payments of the lessors.
BUREAU of Standards has promulgated new standard code for food processing establishments and the processing and handling of frozen foods, the Department of Trade announced. The new standard code contains the guidelines for the production of quick frozen tools to maintain the latter’s quality particularly those for export. Specifically, the new code provides for the direct supervision and control of food processing establishments so that proper care in the environmental and personal hygiene requirements in these firms for the protection of the consumers are complied with strictly.
DEPARTMENT of Labor prodded sugar cane planters to give plantation workers the benefits due them under an existing social amelioration fund. In a meeting with representatives of the sugar industry, Labor Secretary Blas F. Ople noted that reports from the department’s’ Bacolod City office indicated that “certain” planters had refused to distribute the amelioration fund to their workers. Under the amelioration fund planters would help the workers through cash bonuses and amelioration projects based on an assessment of P0.90 per picul of sugar determined by the Sugar Quota Administration.
PHILIPPINES and West Germany signed an agreement to train Filipino military personnel in West Germany starting this year. Foreign Affairs Secretary Carlos P. Romulo and Defense Secretary Juan Ponce Enrile signed the agreement for the Philippines, while German Ambassador to the Philippines Baren von Buddenbrock signed for West Germany. The grantees will study in the German Army Command and General Staff College, which is equivalent to Fort Bonifacio’s Army College. The grantees will be provided with accommodation, food, clothing and personal needs in barracks. The requirement for grantees is to know German.