March 14, 1973

[1] Official Gazette for March 15, 1973: THE PRESIDENT assured the people engaged in local oil exploration ventures of extraordinary and more than usual protection and support from the government. He made the assurance after inducting the officers of the Petroleum Association of the Philippines in Malacañang. The President reminded the PAP officers of the government ’ s policy to encourage oil exploration as shown by the approval of various proposals for oil exploration submitted by both local and foreign oil companies. He also informed the oil officials that he had already endorsed for study the association ’ s request for the amendment of the Presidential decree on oil explorations to the secretary of agriculture and natural resources and the director of mines. Inducted were: Mario S. Nieto, president; Luis Guerrero, vice president; Edgar Khrohn , treasurer; Oscar C. de Venecia , chairman; and Exequiel Toeg , Oliveros Liperal , Jose Andrada , Romeo Villonco, Carmelo T. Sison and Vicente Serrano, directors. THE PRESIDENT has promulgated Decree No. 151 allowing Filipino citizens or corporations and associations whose capital is at least 60 per cent owned by Filipinos to enter into service contracts with foreign persons and corporations for the exploration, development, exploitation or utilization of lands of the public domain. The service contracts refer to financial, technical, management or other forms of assistance, with any foreign persons or entity when such contracts are vital to achieve sound and more expeditous exploration, development, exploitation or utilization of such lands owned, held or controlled by the Filipino citizens or corporations. For purposes of the decree, a service contract with a foreign, citizen ’ or entity shall be considered vital to the national interest if, consistent with the requirements for national security, the exploitation, exploration or utilization of land subject thereof is necessary for carrying out agricultural, industrial and commercial development projects. SECRETARY OF FINANCE Cesar E. A. Virata announced that the government has collected over P50 million from taxpayers who availed of the tax amnesty benefits. He reminded taxpayers that the deadline for declaring previously untaxed income or wealth is April 2, 1973. The P50 million so far collected through four presidential decrees granting tax amnesty were paid by some 16,000 taxpayers. The secretary warned that after the tax amnesty period the government will flush out all tax evaders and apply the full force of the law against them Topping the collections were those from previously untaxed motor vehicles which amounted to P19,429,295.50 collected from 4,111 motor vehicles Some P12 million has been collected so far from about 1,000 taxpayers who voluntarily reported their previously untaxed income or wealth as provided for under Presidential Decree No. 67. MALACAÑANG has issued Presidential Decree No. 147 authorizing the commissioner of public highways to dispose of all unserviceable equipment arid property of the Bureau of Public Highways while some parts or assembly of such equipment or properties are still usable and of value. The decree amending Executive Order No. 37, series of 1954, and Executive Order No. 290, series of 1958, was promulgated in view of the existence of considerable quantity of unserviceable equipment and property of the bureau in its field offices throughout the country. A committee was created to effect the speedy disposal of all unserviceable equipment and property of the BPH. It is composed of the representative of the BPH, as chairman, and representatives of the Bureau of Supply Coordination and Department of Public Works, Transportation and Communications, as members. CULTURAL CENTER of the Philippines has announced a nationwide march/hymn contest under the auspices of the First Lady. The contest is in two categories: a march and hymn for band/orchestra and chorus. The lyrics must be in Filipino and the music should be expressive of the ideals and goals of the New Society. A prize of P5,000 each will be awarded to the best entry in each category, for both music and lyric. All entries must be submitted to the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Roxas Blvd., Manila. The deadline for the submission of entries shall be 12 noon on Friday, May 10, 1973. THE PRESIDENT has proclaimed some 1,590 hectares of public land in Guadalupe, Agusan del Sur, as a Manobo civil reservation to protect the minority group from encroachment by other settlers. The area is bounded by the Agusan del Sur municipalities of Simamagat and Guadalupe, the Davao- Agusan national road, the Bayugan and Labao rivers and the Tagminiang creek. The presidential proclamation would benefit the Manobo tribes scattered all over the affected area. BUREAU OF CUSTOMS registered a total collection amounting to P171,291,403 which was P34 million or 25 per cent more than last year ’ s February total. Customs Commissioner Rolando Geotina reported. Last month ’ s collection boosted to P133 million the increase in collection from July to February this year as compared with the same period in the previous fiscal year, based on comparative gross general fund receipts. The bureau collected Pl,242,133,599 from July 1972 to February 1973, which was 11.9 per cent more than the P1,109,128,688 collection from July 1971 to February 1972. The customs commissioner said that the volume of imported cargo dropped last month in the port of Manila due to the reduction in crude oil imports by 22.7 per cent and bulk wheat by 40.4 per cent. Manila, like four other ports, chalked an increased collection of P9.414 million or 3.8 per cent over that of February last year. The Manila port was credited with 80 to 85 per cent increase in the customs ’ overall collections.

[2] Official Gazette for March 16, 1973: THE PRESIDENT has promulgated Decree No. 152 prohibiting the employment of the use of share tenants in complying with the requirements of the law regarding entry, occupation, improvement and cultivation of public lands under the provisions of Commonwealth Act No. 141 (the Public Land Act). The decree was issued following reports that applicants for, or holders of, lands of the public domain do not occupy and cultivate the lands themselves but have resorted to the pernicious practice of employing or using tenants for the purpose of complying with the entry, occupation and cultivation requirements of the Public Act. The decree provides that it shall be an essential condition in every application for, or grant of, agricultural lands of the public domain, under the Public Land Act, that the applicant or his transferee shall enter the work upon, improve and cultivate the land himself within the period prescribed for the various modes of concession under the said Act. The employment of the use of share tenants in whatever form for the purpose of complying with the requirements of the Public Land Act is prohibited and any violation hereof shall constitute a ground for the denial of the application, cancellation of the grant and forfeiture of improvements on the land, in favor of the government. JUSTICE SECRETARY Vicente Abad Santos stated that there is no provision in Republic Act. No. 2056 or in the Letter of Instruction No. 19 from which may be inferred that the removal or demolition of a prohibited construction would extinguish or remove the criminal liability of those responsible for the illegal construction. He issued the legal opinion in reply to a request from the Department of Public Works, Transportation and Communications on whether it can still criminally prosecute a person under Sec. 3 of RA No. 2056, after his illegal construction on esteros and river banks have been ordered demolished pursuant to Letter of Instruction No. 19, dated October 2, 1972, of the President. He stated that he is not aware of any law or legal principle supporting the proposition that the criminal liability of the persons responsible for the illegal construction is extinguished after the demolition or removal of such illegal construction. He added that remedies against public nuisances, like these illegal construction in question, namely, criminal prosecution, civil action or abatement, are cumulative and do not exclude one another. THE PRESIDENT conferred the ancient Order of Sikatuna , rank of datu , on Dr. Goh Keng Swee , defense minister of Singapore, for “ outstanding achievements ” in the enhancement of close and friendly relations between his country and the Philippines. Before a large gathering of high government officials, RM awardees and members of the Ramon Magsaysay Foundation board of trustees, the President described Dr. Goh as a man who has gained distinction in Asia and the world not only through his counter-insurgency lectures but also through his courage and ingenuity in breaking the communist threat in his country. The awardee was also cited for being largely responsible in the orderly and systematic development of the various projects in Singapore which have made the city-state a model and source of pride for many countries in Asia today. The President said that through his dedicated efforts, Dr. Goh has helped strengthen friendship and enhance understanding between his country and the Philippines through an exchange of know-how in economic, education, social services, and defense planning. SOCIAL SECURITY COMMISSION has ruled that as of March 7, 1973, Social Security System sickness allowances shall be paid to the employees entitled thereto only after their company sick leave (with full pay) shall have been exhausted. SSS Resolution No. 203, dated March 7, 1973, supersedes paragraph (d) 2 of SSS Circular No. 91–T which provided that any current company sick leave pay paid to the employee during his confinement shall form part of the employee ’ s sickness benefit and the employer shall be reimbursed by the SSS to the extent of such payment not exceeding the sickness benefit allowed under the circular. In view of the recent SSS resolution on the payment of sickness benefit, SSS sickness allowances shall be paid to qualified member-employees only after their company sick leave with full pay shall have been exhausted.

[3] Official Gazette for March 17, 1973: THE PRESIDENT promulgated two presidential decrees aimed at providing delinquent taxpayers all the liberalization and the facilities to enable them to settle their obligations with the government voluntarily and without suffering the penalties imposed on tax evasion. Presidential Decree No. 156 was issued by the President to encourage self-declaration of hidden or untaxed wealth and acquisitions up to last year. Presidential Decree No. 157 was issued providing amnesty for unrecorded or undeclared acquisitions made in 1972. To guarantee the confidential nature of the taxes paid under these decrees, the President issued Letter of Instruction No. 65, directing all heads of departments, bureaus, agencies and instrumentalities of the government, to observe the secrecy of the taxpayers ’ declarations made pursuant to the decree and to hold them “ forever inviolate. ” THE PRESIDENT issued the following message on tax amnesty on unexplained wealth: “ The period for tax amnesty will expire on March 31, 1973. One who avails of this amnesty by making a voluntary disclosure of any previously untaxed income and/or wealth and pays the 10 per cent tax due thereon will be relieved of all civil, criminal, or administrative liabilities arising from or incident to such disclosure. I assure you that all such statements or disclosures, as well as the payment of the amnesty tax, will be held in strictest confidence and shall forever be kept inviolate. They cannot be the subject of any inquiry, examination, and verification nor could they be used as evidence against, or to the prejudice of, any declarant in any proceeding before any court of law or body, whether judicial, quasi-judicial, or administrative, in which he is a defendant or respondent. Let this be the solemn covenant between the taxpayers and the State, upon which I ask the people to entrust their confidence in the integrity of the government ’ s commitment. ” SECRETARY OF PUBLIC Information Francisco S. Tatad called on the Filipino Boy Scouts to bring the message of national discipline to the remotest areas of the country to the end that discipline would become a way of life for all our people. The DPI secretary made this appeal at the grand opening of the third regional boy scout jamborette in the Bicol region which opened in Legazpi City with about 6,000 boy scouts from the region attending. National discipline, Mr. Tatad said, is the key to the transformation of the nation. The DPI secretary took account of the fact that all over the country, national discipline was gradually taking root, and that “ among the humblest of our people, there is now a growing of pride in what they are, in what they can do, in what they can become. ” THE PRESIDENT made a short flying trip to Mindanao and Sulu to make an on-the-spot survey of the area where government forces had to turn back Maoist-led attacks on government outposts during the past few days. The President found the situation in Cotabato, Basilan, Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga del Norte to be under control. Insurgency has practically been crushed, and the insurgents are on the run, the President noted. He also noted the morale of the government troops and the Muslim and Christian civilian population in these areas to be “ extremely high. ”

[4] Official Gazette for March 18, 1973: THE PRESIDENT promulgated Presidential Decree No. 158 extending to April 15, 1973, the deadline for the filing of applications for amnesty to all persons covered by Presidential Decree Nos. 95 and 124, The decree states that in view of the limited period within which to disseminate fully the details of the said presidential decrees (Nos. 95 and 124), especially in the remote areas of the country, many of those who could have availed themselves of the benefits of amnesty therein proclaimed were unable to file their applications on time. It further notes that reports from the field units of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the feelers from leaders of misguided elements revealed that many have signified their intention to surrender to the military authority and avail of the amnesty in accordance with the said presidential decrees. BOARD OF TRANSPORTATION and the Land Transportation Commission have issued regulations for the licensing of “ colorum ” public utility vehicles. The regulations are aimed at legalizing a big number of clandestine public motor vehicles before the deadline on July 17, 1973, in line with the government’s policy of “maximum utilization of existing public motor vehicles.” The regulations are: 1) The applications will be filed with the LTC agency in whose territory the “ colorum ” or “ kabit ” operator operates, where his base of operation is situated, or where the motorized tricycle applicant proposes to operate. 2) The applicant must present the certificates of registration with the corresponding official receipts of payment of registration fees of the motor vehicles for the year 1972 in his name. 3) The applicant will be required to submit an authenticated copy of the PSC decision or order issued to the authorized operator, showing the existence of the line or zone of operation where the “ colorum ” operator should want to operate. 4) Submission of notarial deed of transfer of the motor vehicles from the authorized operator to the “ kabit ” operator; and the sketch of the line proposed by the applicant, showing all the streets and roads traversed by the line. 5) The LTC will assign in chronological order a case number to each of the applications accepted for filing. A filing fee of P30 will be charged by the Board of Transportation. AGRICULTURAL CREDIT Administration collected over P21.9 million during the first five months and nine days of Martial Law (Sept. 22, 1972 to Feb. 28, 1973), a record it has never achieved before as a credit instrument for land reform. This record collection topped by P4.3 million, or 50.25 per cent, the collection of P8,637,000 during the same period in fiscal year 1971–1972. Administration of the ACA is unique because the credit for production loans is extended without collateral. Poor, often propertyless, farmers are the principal clients and the individual loans are small and therefore risky. BRIG. GEN. Fidel V. Ramos and Col. Hamilton Dimaya , PC judge advocate and concurrently director for amnesty, reported that a total of 1,550 persons applied for amnesty as of now under Presidential Decrees Nos. 95 and 124. Col Dimaya told Gen. Ramos that 329 persons applied for amnesty under Presidential Decree No. 95, while 1,221 have applied under Presidential Decree No. 124.

[5] Official Gazette for March 19, 1973: THE PRESIDENT enjoined all certified public accountants to continue cooperating with the government in the pursuit of prosperity for the people, stressing that accounting services are imperative in the government’s programs since these necessarily involve planning, financing and reporting. The President pointed out that the government, as the country’s biggest business and largest employer, has been availing itself more and more of the services of the CPAs in its accounting, auditing, budgeting and financial agencies. He said the revitalized scheme of government operations provides for each agency three essential services, which are planning, financial management, and administration. In calling upon the accountants to continue cooperating with the government, the President expressed confidence that the CPAs are in a position to contribute to the realization of the multiphased projects that the government has embarked upon for the well-being of the nation, particularly for the less fortunate among our population. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ruled that benefits under Sec. 699 of the Revised Administrative. Code (The Workmen’s Compensation Act) and the Medicare Act may be recovered simultaneously and the benefits under anyone or two of them are not deductible from the benefits collectible under the other or others. Justice Secretary Vicente Abad Santos issued the legal opinion in reply to a request from the Department of Public Works, Transportation and Communication, in connection with the claim of Jerimias C. Apolinar of the Apayao Engineering District for reimbursement of his medical expenses under the Workmen’s Compensation Act. He explained that the benefits under the Medicare Act constitute medical care expense benefits for any sickness suffered by members of the Social Security System or the Government Service Insurance System payable from the Health Insurance Funds of the SSS or GSIS, as the case may be. The benefits under the Workmen’s Compensation Act covers compensation to be paid by the employer to the employee on account of employment-connected injury or illness suffered by such employees while the benefits from Sec. 699 of the Revised Administrative Code refers to “allowances to be paid by the government in case of death or sickness incurred by a government employee in the performance of duty, in consideration of the past services and efficiency.” SECRETARY OF Public Information Francisco S. Tatad asked the country’s police forces to use “the force of good example in winning back public confidence and in seeking to establish a reasonably crimeless society.” The secretary made these remarks during the opening clay session of a three-day special information seminar sponsored by the Department of Public information for policemen. The seminar is heavily attended by police participants from the Greater Manila Area. In his keynote speech, the chief spokesman of the government said citizen-police cooperation should not be limited to the prevention and solution of crimes, but should extend to the actual effort of trying “to destroy the ecology of crime.” The secretary added that “the duty of policeman is to contribute towards the building of a society where the citizenry will have no need to be constantly reminded of the presence of the police because they themselves will be checking themselves to do only what is right and just, by the standards of a good society.” EXECUTIVE OF A Taiwan textile firm have been impressed with the policies adopted by the government to attract foreign investors to the country in the development of the national economy. John Hsu and Paul Hsu, president and legal counsel, respectively, of the Far Eastern Textile Ltd., of Taiwan came over to Manila last week to look over investment possibilities. Mr. John Hsu informed the President during a courtesy call at Malacañang, of his desire to enter into a joint venture with a local firm for the manufacture of men’s garments for the American and European markets. The venture will generate $600,000 in earnings and 1,000 new jobs annually, with the Taiwan firm providing the technical knowhow in the manufacture and marketing of the product. CIVIL SERVICE Commission’s board of examiners for chemists announced that the examination for the practice of chemistry will be given in Manila beginning May 21, 1973. Applicants must file their applications with the office of the Board of Examiners located at P. Paredes–Nicanor Reyes, Sr. streets, Sampaloc, not later than May 11, 1973.

[6] Official Gazette for March 20, 1973: THE PRESIDENT has approved the resolution of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) limiting the scope of price control to basic commodities that are consumed by the low-income groups to enable a more effective supervision of price control activities. The NEDA explained that government regulation of prices must not necessarily choke business into an intolerable cost price squeeze. It also said .that price fixing is being utilized at present merely as an interim measure. In the long run, prices can only be reduced or maintained at tolerable levels by expanding production and improving the distribution system, it added. The commodities included in the scope of price control are food—rice, corn, wheat flour, some basic cuts of meat (fresh), canned fish, sugar, condensed milk, evaporated milk, infant dietetics and cooking oil; Clothing—ordinary fabrics, fuel arid light, kerosene and some oil products; Medicine—antibiotics and some selected drugs and medicines; Household supplies—laundry soap, construction materials, cement, fertilizer and animal feeds. SECRETARY OF JUSTICE Vicente Abaci Santos suggested to the insurance commissioner the filing of a plea with the proper court—together with the surety firm’s motion for approval and acceptance thereof as an amendment to the existing bail bond—to comply with a directive in Letter of Instruction No. 40 which recalls all existing bail bonds. Letter of Instruction No. 40 provides that every bail bond for the provisional release of the accused in every criminal case shall contain a stipulation that the surety firm and the accused agree that, in case the accused jumps bail or fails to appear for trial despite due notice to his bondsman, his absence will be deemed an express waiver of his right to be present. He pointed out that the directive that all existing bail bonds shall be recalled does not require that all such bonds be detached from the “ expediente ” (records) of the case so that it can be returned to the surety firm for amendment. He said that the existing bail bond shall remain in the records and a new one containing the stipulation in question, with the conformity of the surety firm and the accused, should be filed. MALACAÑANG released the official text of Presidential Decree No. 154 providing that “no stockbroker using the facilities of any stock exchange shall charge, collect or receive a commission of a more than one per cent of the value of each transaction, whether a purchase or sale, but in no case shall the commission be less than P20 for a transaction.” The Securities and Exchange Commission shall have the power to study and adjust from time to time the rate of commission established by the decree to conform with the prevailing conditions when the same is necessary in the public interest, but in no case shall the change of rate be more than once a year. The decree takes effect immediately and modifies or repeals accordingly, any law, executive order, rule or regulation in conflict or contrary to it. BUREAU OF CUSTOMS issued an ultimatum to delinquent importers, exporters, and shipping companies to settle their accounts within the prescribed deadlines. Shipping companies which have arrears in tonage , berthing, storage and other fees are given up to May 31, while big time importers and exporters were given up to June 30 to settle delinquent taxes and duties. The bureau warned that those whose schedule of payments are approved but who fail to show “appreciable interest” in paying their accounts will be immediately charged in court. All port collectors were ordered to report progress of all pending seizure and protest cases from which the government is expected to earn more revenues. THE PRESIDENT has issued Proclamation No. 1122 declaring some 1,590 hectares of public land in Guadalupe, Agusan del Sur, as a Monobo civil reservation, to protect the minority group from encroachments by other settlers. The area—one of the many scenes of conflict between minority groups and Christians—is bounded by the Agusan del Sur municipalities of Simagat and Guadalupe, the Davao– Agusan national road, the Bayuga and Labao rivers and the Tagminiang creek. The presidential proclamation would benefit the Manobo tribes scattered all over the affected area. The reservation is subject to valid private rights existing at the time the proclamation is issued, if any there be, under the administration of the commissioner of National Integration, in accordance with existing laws and regulations. CIVIL SERVICE examinations for junior and senior stenographers scheduled in Manila on May 6 will also be given in Cebu City and Davao City on the same date, it was announced by the Civil Service Commission. Cebu City and Davao City examinees should file their applications with the local examining committees in those cities not later than April 18. For Manila examinees, applications must be filed with the Civil Service Commission, E. Rodriguez Sr. ave. , Quezon City, not later than March 30.

[7] Official Gazette for March 21, 1973: MALACANANG issued Memorandum Circular No. 627 clarifying the new schedule of office hours for government offices in the Greater Manila area, on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. The circular provides: 1) There must be a skeletal staff in the offices of the department secretary and bureau director which shall be composed of one key official and two or three staff members who shall attend to urgent official transactions. They shall also monitor and transmit messages or directives coming from higher authorities for implementation or summon the proper officials who shall act on the matter. 2) Whether or not a skeletal staff should be maintained in the subordinate level is left to the sound discretion of the heads of offices bearing in mind the nature and volume of work of their offices and the number of people expected to transact urgent official business. 3) Service on such day need not be eight hours. Some employees may be assigned to the morning shift while others to afternoon duty for which they shall be provided with meal allowances. 4) Full time service rendered on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays may entitle the employees concerned, with off-duty the following working day. SECURITIES AND Exchange Commission has reported that 1,439 corporations with P360,191,103 in subscribed capital, of which P134,371,420 is paid up, have registered during the first six months of the Martial Law on account of the incentives offered by the government to foreign and local investors. The acceleration of capital investments was first noticed during the last quarter of last year when the SEC recorded a total of P79,669,896 in paid up capital of corporations, representing a P9,715,048 increase over the P69,954,848 paid up registered in the third quarter. The increase of capital investments perked up the stock market. The SEC commissioner said the favorable market reaction was encouraged further by the government policies reducing the stock transfer tax from two per cent to one-fourth of one per cent and the policy allowing repatriation of capital and profit without time restriction on all foreign investments which came to the Philippines after March 15, 1973. THE PRESIDENT conferred the Presidential Merit Medal on an American citizen who helped train top Filipino executives in management and, posthumously, on two distinguished public servants who died in line of duty. Awarded the Presidential Merit Medal were: Dr. Harry L. Hansen, who served as an extension of the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration in the establishment of management training in the Philippines, the forerunner of the Asian Institute of Management; and, posthumously, the late Director Vicente Valdellon of the Bureau of Lands and the late Director Alejandro B. Deleña of the Bureau of Public Works. SECRETARY OF Information Francisco S. Tatad said that local and foreign tourists have responded favorably to the administration’s program to develop the country into a tourism center under the stable peace and order condition brought about by the imposition of Martial Law. The secretary told members of the Skal Club of the Philippines, in a speech at the Hotel Intercontinental in Makati, that more local tourists are now seeing the Philippines first, driving to mountain resorts and hitherto undeveloped beaches. Among the rich, there is a high rate of buying and development of beach and resort houses in remote places and isolated islands, he added. This has been supplemented by the arrival of foreign tourists including businessmen and nature lovers who had sought and found scenic places in once unexplored and unnoticed areas of the country, the secretary said. DEPARTMENT OF Finance ordered provincial, city and municipal treasurers to intensify the collection of delinquent realty taxes which amount to P108,401, 209 as of calendar year 1971, even as acting Secretary of Finance Alfredo Pio de Roda also reminded the public that first installment of payment for real property taxes is on March 31. Real property taxes are paid on quarterly basis: Sec. De Roda also directed the provincial, city and municipal assessors to provide assistance to taxpayers who are filing sworn statements of the true value of real properties pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 76. The sworn statements are to be submitted to the assessors on or before June 30, 1973. DEPARTMENT OF Finance issued the procedures in filing protests against tax ordinances as provided under Presidential Decree No. 145 which amended Republic Act No. 2264, otherwise known as Local Autonomy Act. Presidential Decree No. 145 empowers the secretary of finance to review tax ordinances and to suspend their effectivity if the taxes levied, or imposed are unjust, excessive, confiscatory or contrary to declared national economic policy. Formal protests against tax ordinances enacted by the municipal or district councils must be filed with the respective provincial treasurers while protests against ordinances enacted by city councils and municipal boards must be filed with the respective city treasurers. In both cases, a formal protest may be filed within 120 days after the passage of the tax ordinance provided that the secretary of finance shall have 60 days, after the receipt of the protest, to decide the case. Protests, relying on joint or multiple grounds of illegality and unreasonableness of the rates of imposition or levies, will be administratively resolved by the secretary of finance insofar as the grounds provided under Sec. 2 of RA No. 2264, as amended, are concerned. BUREAU OF Internal Revenue issued a clarification for the guidance of taxpayers who wish to avail themselves of the tax amnesty grants. The clarification: Presidential Decree No. 23, as amended by Presidential Decree No. 67, refers to untaxed income or wealth as of Dec. 31, 1971 and back years and provides that, upon payment of 10 per cent on such untaxed income, all increments and penalties incident to non-payment as well as all criminal and civil liabilities under the National Internal Revenue Code, the Revised Penal Code, the Anti–Graft and Corrupt Practices Act or any other law applicable thereto are condoned. Presidential Decree No. 157 covers the hidden income or wealth for 1972. This decree grants the same immunities afforded taxpayers under Presidential Decree No. 23, as amended. However, the tax to be paid under Presidential Decree No. 157 shall be the amount shown on the return filed or of an amount equal to the income tax paid for the taxable year of 1971 plus 40 per cent thereof, whichever is higher. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH warns against the use of anti-rabies vaccine which could have negative effect on the brain. The department directed its warning to parents since school children would be subject to greater exposure to rabies due to dog bites during the summer vacation. Dr. Jacinto J. Dizon , chief of the Disease Intelligence Center of the Department of Health, bewails the practice of people who immediately try to obtain anti-rabies vaccine for their use without the advice of a doctor, after being bitten by a dog. The safest way, he said, is to consult a doctor or go to the nearest government health center. The common vectors of the rabies in the Philippines are the dogs, cats, pigs, monkeys, bats. In case a dog bites, do the following emergency measures: 1) Wash wound with soap and water. 2) Apply any available antiseptic solution. 3) Observe the dog for 14 days for rabid signs. 4) Consult a doctor, or go to the nearest government health center.

[8] Official Gazette for March 22, 1973: THE PRESIDENT announced the adoption by the military of the kamagong concept—proven to be very successful in combat operation in Mindanao—as the nucleus of the citizens army envisoned in the new Constitution. The President, in his brief remarks at the 76th anniversary celebration of the Philippine Army at Ft. Bonifacio, Rizal also announced amendments to the Trainee Utilization Law (RA No. 4091). The amendments provide that: 1) A trainee, on completing his basic military instruction, may be drafted into the selective emergency service for a specified period of time; 2) Once drafted, he will be employed in the same manner as any regular enlisted personnel and will be entitled to the same pay and allowances a private receives; and 3) The trainee, upon completion of the prescribed tour of service, will be entitled to one month separation gratuity and given preferential employment in the government service, commensurate with his training, experience and education qualifications. Under the kamagong concept—which revolves around the employment of 20-year old trainees side by side with the regulars in actual military operations—the reservist gets an opportunity to apply the skills he acquires in basic military instruction in the actual field manuever , giving valuable field experience. CENTRAL BANK announced that it has issued a circular liberalizing extensively its regulations on new foreign investments and repatriation of investment withdrawals, as well as lifting the limitations on remittances of profits and dividends. CB Governor Gregorio Lecaros said this action of the Monetary Board embodied in Circular 365 gives full meaning and effect to the several policy pronouncements of the President extending full support and incentives to foreign investors. It also provides the necessary assurances to American investors who may be affected by the termination of the Laurel–Langley Agreement in 1974. The circular treats separately foreign investments existing as of March 15, 1973, arising from direct inward remittances in cash or in kind, as well as those generated out of reinvestments of peso earnings from original investments, are assured of repatriation in varying degrees depending on whether the enterprise invested in is a) export-oriented, b) BOI-registered and c) others. DEPARTMENT OF TRADE and Tourism said the Price Control Council is empowered to check the prices of basic consumer commodities excluded from the controlled list if it finds out that their prices become unreasonably high. The DTT made this clarification as it issued the complete lists of items whose maximum price ceilings remain effective and those already removed from the controlled list. The rationale for limiting the scope of price control was to enable a more effective supervision of price control activities that will lead to a greater impact on prices and commodities. Price fixing is being utilized merely as an interim measure, the DTT said, adding that prices can only be reduced or maintained at tolerable levels by expanding production and improving the distribution system. As of March 21, 1973, the commodities under PCC control are rice, wheat flour (hard and soft), meat (some basic cuts), canned fish (salmon, mackerel, sardines in tomato sauce and squib). THE PRESIDENT expressed gratification over the role of the churches in helping bring about the regeneration and reformation which the government is seeking to institute in this country. The President pointed this out during the call of Archbishop of Canterbury and Mrs. Michael Ramsey. He said that the change the country is seeking is “a change of the heart and spirit” and the churches are best qualified to help bring about the change. Archbishop Ramsey on the other hand thanked the President for the “great interest” shown by the people in his visit, despite the fact that the Philippines is a predominantly Catholic country.

[9] The last page of this diary entry is missing.

[10] No Official Gazette entry for this day.