I attach the communications on the sugar quota problem. We want to keep our quota of 1,500,000 tons provided for by the Laurel-Langley agreement plus 47.22% of the deficiency of the Puerto Rico quota and the American increase of their consumption.
But the domestic producers of the U.S. want at least 300,000 to 500,000 tons for Florida, Louisiana and Texas (the latter at the instance of Chairman [William Robert] Poage of the Agriculture Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives who incidentally says that the Philippines has never filled up our quota, the best performance having been in 1970 when we exported 1,300,000 tons to the U.S. But with our new mills we should easily export our quota of 1,500,000).
And the Latin-American countries are asking for more quotas.
The best that can happen now would be an extension of the present sugar act for even two years when we would be able to fill up our quota and thus not be asked to reduce because of non-performance.
8:15 PM February 21, 1971[1]
Sunday
Took time off and played 18 holes in Manila Golf. Felt pain in the stomach when I dr[a]nk Welch grape juice mixed with beer. I stopped by taking Gelusil then eating pospas of chicken (soft boiled rice with chicken) and taking Gelusil again.
The symptoms seem to indicate hyperacidity or the beginning of an ulcer.
And I have lost weight from 132 to 128 pounds. Last week I was down to 126½ pounds. These are the symptoms I felt when the doctors thought I had a deondunal [duodenal] ulcer.
But I feel strong and capable.
I have just received the reaction of the congressional members of the reorganization commission to our decisions in the cabinet. They insist for one thing in placing the Phil. Constabulary under the Police Commission. Most of the arms and equipment of the Constabulary are lent to the Armed Forces of the Philippines under the Military Assistance Pact. So if the Constabulary is placed under a civilian office, the arms and equipment under MAP would have to be returned to the AFP officially.
Then it is the purpose of the radicals to weaken and disperse the elements of the Armed Forces so that there may be no effective opposition lo them and protection of the cities and areas now infiltrated by them like Central Luzon.
And their next move is the dismantling of the regular Army, Navy and Air Force and in lieu thereof organize a citizen army which of course would be no match to a strengthened NPA [New People’s Army]. This was conveyed by the Appropriations Committee headed by Joe [Jose] Alberto and Nick [Nicanor] Yñiguez, and the majority floor leader, Lening [Marcelino] Veloso.
We will train and organize a citizen army specially in Mindanao but we must not dismantle or weaken the regular armed forces.
We must also include the reorganization of the tax-collecting agencies and the RCA [Rice and Corn Administration] as the prices of rice and corn keep going up.
Yesterday we received a message from Sec. [Carlos] Romulo that Ambassador [Leon Ma.] Guerrero of India sent a cable that Mrs. Honey Berlin was in a serious condition from a clawing by a monkey in the New Delhi Zoo.
We tried to get Dick Berlin by telephone but could not. So we have called them inviting them to the Philippines again where Honey can be treated and recuperate in the U.S. Armed Forces facilities or in our Philippine private hospitals.
I attach the message.
[1] Official Gazette for February 21, 1971: With his day clear of scheduled callers, President Marcos had time to concentrate more fully on official papers and other urgent matters of state. He continued his review of the reorganization of the executive branch of the government, as recommended by the Reorganization Commission, even as he scheduled another meeting with his Cabinet on this matter. In the afternoon, the President worked on state papers, in the process issuing a proclamation designating the years 1971, 1972 and 1973 as the golden jubilee years of scouting in the Philippines. The designation of the three-year period was made to focus the nation’s attention to the important and far-reaching effects of scouting in the country. The President noted that the Boy Scouts of the Philippines, through the Golden Jubilee board and committees, is undertaking long-term projects and programs. These are designed, he said, to prepare the movement for even greater and more significant national and community development in the coming years, by providing the youth with opportunities for meaningful service to community and the nation.