March 3, 1927 Thursday

[1] Official Gazette for March 3, 1972: PRESIDENT MARCOS as usual started the day going over state papers. In the process he issued an executive order revising the rates of toll fees being collected from motor vehicles passing through Kennon Road in Mountain Province. The revision of toll rates was recommended by Secretary of Public Works and Communications David M. Consunji. At about 9:30 in the morning, the President left his deskwork to attend a briefing on the reorganization plan conducted by Chairman Armand Fabella of the Reorganization Commission. The important proposals in the reorganization plan included: 1) Reduction of agencies directly under the supervision of the Office of the President from 158 to 28, and the establishment of 11 uniform regional districts, and further providing for increased delegation of authority within the individual departments to effect greater decentralization of operations. 2) Merging of the National Economic Council and the Presidential Economic Staff into a National Economic Development Authority, and creating planning and programming units at various levels to facilitate preparation and execution of national development programs. 3) Creation of a Department of Local Government and Community Development to absorb the PACD, to improve further the interrelated process of development from the national to the local level. The reorganization plan was submitted to Congress by the President after the one-hour briefing held at Malacañang. The briefing was attended by Senator Ernesto Maceda, Secretaries Carlos P. Romulo of Foreign Affairs, Arturo R. Tanco, Jr., of Agriculture and Natural Resources, David M. Consunji of Public Works and Communications and Juan L. Manuel of Education, Administrator Eduardo Rodriguez of the Office of Economic Coordination; Executive Secretary Alejandro Melchor, Jr., Chairman Vicente Paterno of the Board of Investments and Undersecretary Manuel Collantes of the Department of Foreign Affairs. After the briefing, the President met privately with Governor Aristeo Lecaroz and Rep. Francisco Lecaroz of Marinduque; Vice Governor Francisco Rabat and some municipal mayors from Davao del Norte who consulted with him problems of their respective constituencies. The President then welcomed delegations from 10 nations participating in the Third World Men ’ s Softball Championship which was to be held at the Rodriguez Sports Center in Marikina, Rizal. The participating teams was accompanied to Malacañang by Gov. Isidro Rodriguez of Rizal, president of the Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines and host in the tournament. Early in the afternoon, the President motored to the Phil-Am Life building to view the car exhibits of the Philippine Automotive Association. The President was accompanied by the First Lady, Mrs. Imelda R. Marcos. Back at Malacañang hours later, the Chief Executive returned to his private study and resumed his interrupted deskwork, going over urgent state papers until late evening. Every now and then the President disengaged from his deskwork to attend to some unexpected callers who consulted him on the problems of their respective offices.

[2] Official Gazette for March 4, 1972: WITH a limited schedule of callers, President Marcos started early going over state papers needing his immediate attention. At about 9:00 a.m. the Chief Executive received Marshall Green, U.S. assistant secretary of state for Pacific and Asian affairs, and special envoy of President Richard M. Nixon. “Mr. Green briefed the President on the recent visit of President Nixon to the People ’ s Republic of China. They conferred for almost three hours. Early in the afternoon, the President motored to the Rodriguez Sports Center in Marikina, Rizal where he formally opened the Third World Men ’ s Softball Championship. Addressing the various delegation of athletes from countries participating, the President declared that “physical fitness will be quickly accepted as a major goal of a society or its government if it is understood in the context of human resources development.” He said that training for physical fitness not only promotes bodily health, but also creates moral values that arise from the experience of strength, endurance, and the conquest of difficulties. Speaking of efforts to promote local sports, the President said, “In the Philippines, we want to make up for the omissions of the past by accelerating our physical fitness programs. And may I say that this encounter beginning today of the great softball teams of many countries in our midst will help accelerate the awareness of this need among our countrymen.”

[3] The US Consul General for Hongkong and Macau during this time is actually David L. Osborn.

[4] Official Gazette for March 5, 1972: AS IN the day previous, the President alternately worked in his study and fulfilled his speaking engagement with the country ’ s labor groups affiliated with the organization called Pinagbuklod ng Manggagawang Pilipino. While in his usual early morning chore of acting on pending state papers, the President signed an executive order creating the Manila International Airport Rehabilitation and Improvement Committee. The President was guest speaker at noontime at the first biennial anniversary convention of the Pinagbuklod ng Manggagawang Pilipino, held at the Manila Hotel. The Chief Executive deplored the apparent division and fragmentation of the labor ranks which prevent them from being heard, not only on matters that affect them but on the more vital issues that concern every Filipino. Labor Secretary Adrian Cristobal introduced the President to the labor delegates. The president was back at Malacañang early in the afternoon. As it was the start of Press Week observance in the country, the President, issued the following statement: “Amid misunderstandings and confusions, the Press must continue to sift the facts from unverified data, the significant from the merely sensational, the essential from the artificial, and interpret things true and things false according to their real nature. In the conduct of government it must continue to act as the vigilant watchdog, but must never pass up any opportunity for constructive advice. Within society and within itself, it must remain society ’ s foremost critic and its own, too, so that it may always comport itself with excellence.” The Chief Executive worked on his desk uninterruptedly until la te evening.

[5] Official Gazette for March 6, 1972: PRESIDENT MARCOS had a series of conferences, first with heads of government agencies charged with the nation ’ s production of staple commodities and, second, with the committee who will take charge of the rehabilitation and improvement of the Manila International Airport. In conferring with the rice and corn production group, the President directed that new roads be opened up in potential rice and corn producing areas of the country as a means of encouraging greater, production of the staple commodities. He ordered the Cooperatives Administration Office, Agricultural Productivity Commission, the Presidential Arm on Community Development and the Agricultural Credit Administration to pool all their personnel, funds and materials towards the organization of such cooperatives. In the same conference, the President ordered Budget Commissioner Faustino Sy-Changco to release public works funds and make them available for projects geared to increasing rice and corn production, such as roads, bridges, irrigation and flood control facilities. He also instructed the various agency heads charged with the prompt organization of the barrio and municipal cooperatives to coordinate and submit recommendations on the implementing details of the massive programs. Those who conferred with the President were Secretary of Finance Cesar E. A. Virata, Executive Secretary Alejandro Melchor, Jr., Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources Arturo Tanco, Jr., NEC Chairman Gerardo Sicat, CB Governor Gregorio, S. Licaros, Public Highways Commissioner Baltazar Aquino, Public Works Director Alejandro Deleña, APC Commissioner Francisco Saguiguit, PACD Secretary Rosendo Marquez, ACA Administrator Teofilo T. Azada and CAO Director Orlando N. Pagulayan. In the meeting with officials given the task of rehabilitation and improvement of the MIA, the President reiterated that there is an urgent need to rehabilitate the terminal building of the MIA the electronic equipment of the control tower, and the airport facilities. Present at the meeting were Secretary of Finance Cesar E. A. Virata, Executive Secretary Alejandro Melchor, Jr., Director-General Apolinario Orosa of the Presidential Economic Staff, Director Jesus Singson of Civil Aeronautics Administration, Gen. Jose Rancudo of the Philippine Air Force and Architect Abelardo Batacan of the CAA. In the afternoon, the President devoted his time on state papers. From his study, the President issued a directive to the Secretary of National Defense to include all firearms owned and used by the government in the annual verification of firearms being conducted by the Philippine Constabulary. The President issued the directive on recommendation of Brig. Gen. Fidel V. Ramos, PC chief.

[6] Official Gazette for March 7, 1972: PRESIDENT MARCOS started the day by discussing with Nacionalista senators foreign policy matters at a breakfast conference. After his meeting with the senators, the Chief Executive received Tengku Mahkota Ahmad Shah of Pahang, Malaysia, who paid a courtesy call, having just arrived in Manila to participate in a series of polo games with Filipino teams. Ambassador Mauro Calingo, the newly accredited envoy of the Philippine government to the Republic of West Germany, paid a farewell call before proceeding to assume his post in Bonn. Next to call on the President was a group representing the International Executive Service Corps in the Philippines, headed by A. A. Wilcox, director of operations. Mayor Osmundo de Guzman of Marikina, Rizal accompanied the group to Malacañang. Later in the day, the President presided at a closed-door briefing for committees on foreign relations of the two chambers of Congress. The briefing was attended by Senate President Protempore Jose J. Roy, Senators Mamintal Tamano, Ernesto Macecla, Ambrosio Padilla, Arturo Tolentino, Lorenzo Sumulong, and Magnolia Antonino; Speaker Cornelio T. Villareal, Speaker Protempore Jose Aldeguer, Majority Floorleader Marcelino Velosu; Reps. Nicanor Yfiiguez, Fermin Caram, Jr., Rodolfo Rivilla, Leonides de Leon, Guillermo Sanchez, Jose Puyat, Jr., Pedro Medalla, Jose D. Aspiras, Rafael Legaspi, Jose Leido, Jr., Eduardo Gullas, Ramon Durano; Secretary Carlos P. Romulo of foreign affairs Undersecretary Manuel Collantes, and Minister Felipe Mabilangan, Jr., of the DFA. The last group to see the President was composed of National Irrigation Administration officials.

[7] Official Gazette for March 8, 1972: PRESIDENT MARCOS issued a proclamation declaring Thursday, March 9 as Laurel Day in the province of Batangas and in the cities of Batangas and Lipa, to afford residents there full opportunity to observe, with appropriate ceremonies, the 81st birth anniversary of the late leader whom the President described as a “jurist, patriot and statesman.” The President also created a special committee to pursue implementation of the Manila Bay Road Projects. Earlier in the day, The President met with Mayor Ramon D. Bagatsing of Manila who sought the release of at least ₱4 million from the city government ’ s share of regular and special allotments from national revenue collections. Mayor Bagatsing informed the President that the city government, with an overdraft of ₱32 million and a cash deficit of ₱10 million, was in very serious financial straits because it has a monthly budget of ₱9.2 million. The President assured the mayor that he “will extend all the help and assistance necessary to avoid disruption of essential services. Following the call of Mayor Bagatsing, the President received a large delegation from Laguna led by Reps. Joaquin Chipeco and Leonides de Leon, the delegation took up problems affecting the province particularly the funding of public works projects. Sen. Ernesto Maceda accompanied the group to Malacañang. In the delegation were Mayors Cesar Dizon of San Pablo City, Dominador Cabuhat of Cavinti, Mauro Alimagno of Cabuyao, Lorenzo Meneses of Los Baños, Benjamin Real of Sta. Maria, Luis Rellosa of Famy, Felicisimo Vierneza of San Pedro, David Aventurado of Magdalena, Tomas Manalang of Nagcarlan, Pedro Aritao of Pangil and Proceso Rondilla of Luisiana. The President devoted the rest of the day to paper work.

[8] Official Gazette for March 9, 1972: THE FATE of some 1,600 families who will be displaced by the proposed Pantabangan Dam of the Upper Pampanga River Project a multimillion power and irrigation complex, was the principal concern of President Marcos as he signed a proclamation setting aside five parcels of land With a total area of 6,007 hectares wherein families to be displaced by the dam will be resettled. The President interrupted his desk work at about 9:45 in the morning, and presided at a conference with members of the Cabinet and heads of agencies involved in the agriculture and public works programs of the government. The conference concentrated on the problems arising from increasing production, and the need to intensify the public works building program. The President emphasized the necessity for checking on past public works fund releases. Towards this end, the President ordered: 1) Secretary of Public Works and Communications David Consunji to check on past fund releases for public works to determine how much was spent, how much still remained, and what had been accomplished. Secretary Consunji also to meet with provincial executives and engineers to determine where to build feeder (farm to market) roads in the most productive regions of the country. 2) Secretary of Finance Cesar E.A. Virata to release directly to the local governments their regular and special allotments from the revenue collections. Secretary Virata also to submit a monthly breakdown of funds available for agricultural production and public works projects, which would serve as basis for future releases. 3) National Irrigation Administrator Alfredo Juinio to submit periodic reports supported by a map of the Philippines on the progress of the irrigation program, and to prepare both long-range (25 years) and short-range (10 years) irrigation programs. 4) The Presidential Arm on Community Development to coordinate the efforts of all government agencies participating in the establishment of cooperatives. Present at the conference were Secretaries Cesar E.A. Virata of Finance Arturo Tanco, Jr., of Agriculture and Natural Resources, David Consunji of Public Works and Communications, Executive Secretary Alejandro Melchor, Jr., Budget Commissioner Faustino Sy-Changco, BIR Commissioner Misael P. Vera, Public Highways Commissioner Baltazar Aquino, NIA Administrator Alfredo Juinio, Animal Industry Director Pedro Refuerzo, Fisheries Commissioner Andres Mane, Agricultural Productivity Commissioner Francisco Saguiguit, Deputy Agricultural Credit Administrator Amado Lansang, PACD Regional Director Alberto Virtucio and others. At another conference, the Chief Executive reiterated that the production of more rice and corn by local farmers not the importation of these basic staples has always been the policy of his administration. The conference this time was with representatives of the rice production sector and with heads of government agencies involved in rice production. The President lamented the popular impression emphasizing the deficiencies of rice and corn, without taking into account that the government had exerted extraordinary efforts and thereby achieved cereal surplus in 1968-69. He stressed that lie would not allow the price of rice to go beyond ₱3.00 per ganta.

[9] Official Gazette for March 10, 1972: PRESIDENT MARCOS took time out from his busy schedule to receive several callers which included the following: 1) John Woodley, deputy director of the International Monetary Fund ’ s Asian department; Kemal Siber, IMF representative in the Philippines; Secretary of Finance Cesar E. A. Virata and Central Bank Gov. Gregorio S. Licaros. The IMF official called on the President to pay his respects as the annual consultations between the IMF and the Central Bank on the shape of the country ’ s monetary and fiscal policies drew to a close yesterday. During the call, the President requested Deputy Director Woodley to convey his gratitude to the IMF officials for the substantial assistance they have extended to the Philippine government. 2) Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources Arturo R. Tanco, Jr. who accompanied to Malacañang several provincial governors with whom the President conferred on the infrastructure and other projects being undertaken in their respective areas, and to find out whether such projects are being properly supported by the national government. In the course of the conference, the President expressed the hope that the initial meeting would usher in “a continuing dialogue between national and provincial officials” so that the faulty implementation which has resulted in inefficiency and waste of funds and time could be avoided. The President also told the chief executives of the country ’ s top rice producing provinces that production must now be given all the boost that it needs all over the country. Present at the conference aside from Secretary Tanco, were Secretary of Public Works and Communications David M. Consunji, Budget Commissioner Faustino Sy-Changco, Commissioner of Public Highways Baltazar Aquino, Agricultural Productivity Commissioner Francisco Saguiguit; Governors Conrado Norada of Iloilo, Aguedo Agbayani of Pangasinan, Eduardo Joson of Nueva Ecija, Brigido Valencia of Pampanga, Vicente Magsaysay of Zambales, Teresa Dupaya of Cagayan, Felicisimo San Luis of Laguna, Carlos Ca.jelo of Cotabato, Ignacio Santiago of Bulacan, Alfonso Umali of Oriental Mindoro and Felix Alfelor of Camarines Sur. Following the conference, the President administered the oath of affiliation with the Nacionalista Party to Rep. Rogelio Tiglao of Pampanga. The President ’ s afternoon time was devoted mostly to desk work.

[10] Official Gazette for March 11, 1972: PRESIDENT MARCOS had a three-hour conference with his advisers during which he started a thorough reassessment of the various development programs to establish funding priorities and insure increased national production. Among the various programs and projects reviewed by the President with his advisers were the irrigation, school budding and highways programs, flood control systems, reclamation of Manila Bay area, rural improvement and the formation of cooperatives. During the conference wherein Sen. Lorenzo Teves and Rep. Jose Alberto, chairmen of the appropriations committees of both chambers of Congress were present, the President: 1. Directed National Irrigation Administrator Alfredo Juinio to submit a comprehensive survey showing potential sources of water, how much money is needed, and how wide the area is to be irrigated; 2. Also directed that studies be made for the possible transfer of functions, personnel and equipment of the Irrigation Service Unit of the Department of Public Works and Communications to the NIA to prevent waste of funds and overlapping of functions; 3. Approved the request of the Presidential Arm on Community Development for the release of P1.6 million for communal irrigation projects; 4. Asked Secretary of Public Works and Communications David M. Consunji and Director of Public Works Alejandro Deleña to submit a report on the reclamation projects in the Liguasan marsh in Cotabato, Candaba swamps in Pampanga, and Tagum river in Davao, which will save thousands of hectares of land for cultivation; 5. Ordered that another 3,000 prefabricated Marcos-typo school buildings be included in the 16th year Reparations schedule and that a school building program be prepared. The President issued the directive when he was presented by Director Deleña a certification of the Department of Education that there is a need for an additional 88,000 more school rooms. 6. Also concurred with Sen. Teves ’ s proposal that a bill lie pro-pared imposing a two per cent tax on all real estate transfers in order to provide for a school building fund. Present at the conference aside from Secretary Consunji, Director Deleña and Administrator Juinio, were Executive Secretary Alejandro Melchor, Jr., Budget Commissioner Faustino Sy-Changco, PACD Officer-In-Charge Rosendo Marquez, Director Alberto Virtucio and Commissioner of Public Highways Baltazar Aquino. In the afternoon, the President did some desk work, during which lie signed an executive order establishing the policy guidelines on Philip pine trade with socialist and communist countries. The order followed the formal establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Rumania and Yugoslavia, which was unanimously recommended by the Foreign Policy Council last month. Later in the day, the President announced he has authorized the First Lady, Mrs. Imelda R. Marcos, to make a six-day visit to the USSR as his personal representative. The President said that he had given her the go signal to make the trip to Moscow to look into how the area of cultural cooperation between Manila and Moscow, which do not have diplomatic relations, might be expanded to mutually benefit the two countries, and their peoples. At the same time, the President said that he has asked her to clarify with the Soviet officials standing feelers for economic cooperation, including reported proposals for soft-loans on vital industries and economic projects of the government.

[11] Official Gazette for March 12, 1972: PRESIDENT MARCOS designated the Cabinet members as regional development coordinators and instructed them, whenever necessary, to personally supervise all development program in their respective regions. The President made the designation when he conferred with them in the morning in order to pursue more vigorously the objectives of the development program and insure equal distribution of economic benefit among the rural areas. Aside from their supervisory assignment, the President also required the members of his official family to: 1) Submit periodic reports on the progress of development; 2) Appraise him and the cabinet of the situation that may bear watching from a national viewpoint, and on developments deemed crucial to the management of the overall development program; and 3) Be present and to participate in decision-making whenever local leaders from his region confer with the President on matters of regional development. The secretaries of foreign affairs, finance and justice were directed to give their general support to the program. Among other things the President designated two individuals as members of the board of the Agricultural Cooperatives Administration, thus completing the board ’ s membership. Designated by the President were Fidel Infantado and Candido Guiam, representing farmer-beneficiaries of the Agrarian Reform Program and the minority party, respectively. The two are the only regular members of the board as provided for in the law. The other members of the Board, who are ex-officio are the under secretary of agrarian reform who will act as chairman, the ACA administrator as vice chairman, and the vice president of the Philippine National Rank in charge of agricultural loans. Also during the day, the President declared that his administration is channeling new energy into the physical education because he is convinced more than ever that “the future of Philippine athletics is best assured by a program that prizes physical education in addition to academics.” The President made the declaration in a speech read for him by Secretary of Education Juan L. Manuel, at the opening of the 18th National Private Schools Athletic Association ’ s meet in Bacolod City in the morning. The rest of the President ’ s day was devoted to desk work.

[12] No reference to the rockets nor Marcos’ half-day in Carballo island in OG.

[13] Official Gazette for March 13, 1972: PRESIDENT MARCOS reminded all government offices and public schools of the observance of “Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Day” on March 17, which has been proclaimed as such in Proclamation No. 15 dated March 7, 1966. The reminder was embodied in a memorandum circular the President issued through Executive Secretary Alejandro Melchor, Jr. In the memorandum circular, the President said that all government offices and public schools are enjoined to commemorate and keep proper observance of March 17 this year.

[14] No Official Gazette entry for this day.

[15] Official Gazette for March 15, 1972: PRESIDENT MARCOS started his day with a breakfast with visiting U.S. publisher William Ra ndolph Hearst, Jr., owner of the Hearst chain of newspapers in the United States, who called to pay his respects to the President. With Hearst were three journalists, Robert Bernard Considine, Joseph Kingsburry Smith, and Robert E. Thompson. Then, the President presided over a conference with Secretary of Finance Cesar E. A. Virata, Executive Secretary Alejandro Melchor, Jr., Acting Secretary of Foreign Affairs Manuel Collantes on the finalization of the programming of the $65 million Japanese Commodity and Project loans. Later in the day, the President received Japanese Ambassador Toshio Urabe who accompanied the two Japanese doctors conducting research on malaria and other tropical diseases in Palawan. The doctors came to apologize for the unauthorized acquisition of a deadly specie of mosquito which they brought to Palawan that had been reported to have broken loose and caused a widespread alarm. During his meeting with the Japanese doctors—Drs. Daisuhe Katamine, director of the Institute of Tropical Medicine of Nagasaki University and Toshio Nakabayashi, team leader, the President asked the Japanese government to extend all necessary cooperation to the Philippine government in the control of malaria and schistosomiasis japonensis. The President told the Japanese medics that he was particularly interested in seeking cooperation on two projects, namely, the research on malaria control being conducted in Manila and all over the country, and the control of schistosomiasis japonensis projects in Manila and Palo, Leyte. Upon the request of the President, Ambassador Urabe directed the Japanese doctors to confer and cooperate with Acting Secretary of Health Clemente S. Gatmaitan. He also informed the President that he will informed his government on the outcome of their meeting. Also present at the meeting were Secretary Manuel Collantes and Philippine Ambassador to Japan Roberto Benedicto. Following the meeting, the President motored to the Makati Medical Center, where he looked in on the condition of Secretary of Foreign Affairs Carlos P. Romulo who is recuperating from injuries indicted on him when his car was bumped by a freight truck. The President was accompanied by U.S. publisher William Randolph Hearst and the three other visiting journalists. From the Makati Medical Center, the President motored back to the Palace where he immediately buckled down to desk work. In the course of desk work, the President certified to Congress the urgency of enacting House Bill No. 4200, which seeks to authorize the undertaking of long-range educational development projects. In certifying the Will which was introduced by Rep. Frisco San Juan, the President emphasized that the recently concluded Presidential Survey of Philippine Education had asked for “new patterns, new directions.” He added that the ten-year education development program is, therefore, “a piece of social legislation in answer to the needs of our times and people.” Also during the day, the President ordered an all-out drive against price manipulators and hoarders of consumer goods, particularly prime commodities, which he said had caused the unnecessary spiralling of prices. He at the same time instructed the Secretary of Commerce and Industry to speed up the formation of consumers and marketing cooperatives, as a long-range campaign against the profiteering activities of unscrupulous businessmen. In the order which he sent to the Secretary of Commerce and Industry, the Chairman of the Price Control Council and the Chief of the Constabulary, the President directed the three officials to report on artificial hiking of prices, and to trace its causes. The President ordered the three agencies to pursue criminal action against both local and foreign businessmen responsible for the artificial and undue increase in prices. He also instructed them that all agents of the three agencies concerned be fielded to conduct a continuous check on prices, in addition to the regular surveys and told them to coordinate efforts with the local price control groups, under the local governments.

[16] Official Gazette for March 16, 1972: PRESIDENT MARCOS met with representatives of the Mindanao-Sulu-Palawan bloc in the morning during which he called for more efficiency among government engineers to give a strong thrust to the infrastructure development in the country. The President issued the call as he deplored the “national phenomenon that many government engineers have become lazy, patronizing, and undependable,” which, he said is “reflected by the state of the roads all over the country.” He also noted that regular highways allocations are not being used to maintain the roads, but go instead to the salaries of officers and employes. The President also turned to the request of the representatives to suspend the transfer of government engineers in certain places, saying “we will have to seriously consider this proposal.” He stressed however, that he will not hesitate to transfer government engineers to the areas should they be found to have committed any irregularities in the course of their discharge of their duties and responsibilities. Those who attended the meeting were: Reps. Lorenzo Sarmiento of Davao del Norte Constantino Navarro of Surigao del Norte, James Chiongbian of South Cotabato, William Chiongbian of Misamis Occidental Cesar Fortich of Bukidnon, Jose Neri of Camiguin, Indanan Anni of Sulu, Pedro Roa of Misamis Oriental, Guillermo Sanchez of Agusan del Norte, Jose Puyat of Surigao del Sur, Constancio Maglana of Davao Oriental, Macacuna Dimaporo of Lanao del Sur, and Vicente Cerilles of Zamboanga del Sur. In the afternoon, the President, while going over reports submitted to him by various departments and agencies of the government, directed the Philippine National Bank, the Development Hank of the Philippines and the Central Bank to speed up all agricultural production loans and to institute a feed-back system so that he could be constantly posted on the availment of such loans, particularly by small farmers. The President issued the order upon reading the report of Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources Arturo Tanco, Jr. on the movement of prices in foodmarket In his report, Tanco noted that under-production of rice and corn and beef was beginning to have its initial effect on food prices. The agriculture official said that with the extension of increased production loans to farmers, the national production of rice is expected to receive a great boost, with farmers being able to buy farm inputs such as seeds, farm implements, fertilizers, pesticides. In issuing the order to the three financing agencies, the President pointed out the need for them to act in concert, in bringing about within the shortest possible time the important objective of increasing production in all agricultural areas. Also during the day, the President assured Palawan officials that there is no malaria epidemic. He told them he had received assurances from the Japanese government that no malaria-carrying mosquitoes had been let loose in Palawan, but “we have to take all necessary steps to prevent any outbreak of the disease which may be caused by this mosquitoes.” The President made the assurance during his meeting with Palawan delegation officials led by Gov. Salvador Socrates, who complained that “most officials coming to Palawan sometimes do not synchronize their efforts with municipal and provincial officials.” The President stressed that this practice should be rectified immediately, and to this end issued directive urging “national officials going to municipalities and provinces to notify and synchronize with the local executives so that the efforts at national level may be augmented by the initiative and resources of the local governments. During the meeting, the President also told Palawan officials who presented individual requests for appropriations that “we are not living priorities to municipal buildings, capitols, and non-productive investments.” He pointed out that the priorities are on irrigation, flood control, roads, bridges, and health facilities. However, he assured them that “we will try to help you as much as we can.”

[17] Juan Ona in an email message 21 April 2018 sent his recollections of this visit:   “The call of Mrs. Marcos on one of the Soviet ministers (I think it was the Minister of Science and Technology) was conducted in a very big room in the presence of about 40 people (mostly curious to see her). She indulged her fancy in her patented monologue, talking about everything. A short while after she touched on the American military bases in the Philippines, Ernie Pineda motioned to me and we left the room. We were at the back of the audience and she did not notice our departure. We should not have abandoned her.             “Having said this, I think Mrs. Marcos was the ablest operator of foreign policy in the Marcos administration. We may not like her methods or agree with her means, but in my opinion, these were very effective. In spite of her nonsensical rhetoric, she just charmed them all into granting her wishes. As an example, I remember that during that same visit [14-19 March 1972], her call on Soviet Prime Minister Alexei Kosygin was supposed to be for only 30 minutes. It started promptly at 4pm and ended at 6:20pm! Perhaps PM Kosygin could not take his eyes off Imelda at the height of her beauty and charm (43 years old at the time).                “ Mrs. Imelda Marcos’ 12-19 March 1972 visit was the first official visit of a ranking PH government official to the USSR upon the invitation of the Supreme Soviet. It paved the way for President Ferdinand Marcos’ 30 May-06 June 1976 State Visit, which in turn culminated in the signing of the Joint Communique on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations, Without the knowledge of DFA, New York Consul General Ernesto Pineda and I (First Secretary in London) happened to be her foreign policy advisers during her visit. ”