Official Gazette for April 13, 1973: THE PRESIDENT assured the country’s inventors of a “new deal” that will extend them organizational and financial assistance—from both the government and the private sector—in the production and marketing of their worthwhile inventions. The Chief Executive, therefore, directed all government financing institutions and the private sector to immediately formulate a more intelligent and liberal policy to provide easy and reasonable credit to inventors. Speaking at the Maharlika Hall in Malacañang during the awarding ceremonies capping the celebration of Filipino Inventors’ Week, the President announced the blueprint providing fund support and incentives to inventors, whom he emphasized should be bailed out from the seeming apathy and neglect. The President enjoined the Filipino Inventors Society and the National Science Development Board to bring to his attention any government financing institution disregarding his order. The President said easier credit for inventors is also in consonance with the New Society’s aim to create a strong middle class which will not only be able to earn its living but to create and produce enough so that it can foster greater growth in the country.
THE FIRST LADY lauded the launching of the “Alay Lakad 73” as the beginning of a fine partnership between the government and the private sector for the cause of the country’s underprivileged youth. The “Alay Lakad ’73” is sponsored by the Philippine Jaycees with the support of other government and private entities. Speaking at the kick-off ceremony of the project at the Maharlika Hall of Malacañang, the First Lady declared that the campaign reaffirms the government’s commitment to the less privileged youths’ emancipation from poverty, indifference and ignorance and “his emergence as the new Filipino—strong in spirit, rich in ideals and staunch in heart.” She appealed to all concerned to help the government in its effort to improve the lot of the less fortunate Filipino youth and assured that she and the President will do their share in behalf of the less privileged members of society.
SECRETARY OF INFORMATION Francisco S. Tatad said the new graduates must gear their idealism and moral purpose in evolving a New Society. The secretary told the graduating class of the Philippine Women’s University that the government expects the youth to help imbue in their respective communities and the nation “a strong ethical sentiment and a serious moral purpose.” The secretary said that the basis of the highest type of genius is “the unity of thought and action: the ability to be thinker and doer at the same time.” He declared that the idealism of the contemporary leaders in the Philippines is also “unfailing practical and pragmatic.” Mr. Tatad said that forming a New Society involves a medium of personal sacrifice, obedience to the law and the much deeper unity of sharing the work and responsibility which living in a community entails, so that the comfort, health, welfare and security of those who live in the community are ensured.
THE PRESIDENT assured that every peso paid in taxes will be spent in infrastructure projects, social services and investments that will bring about the country’s growth and development. In stressing this point at the nationwide radio-tv program, “Pulong-pulong sa Kaunlaran”, the Chief Executive said, “we want taxes to become the direct expression of our collective will to progress.” At the same time, the President called on all Filipinos to file their income tax returns, noting that while government collection of income taxes has been increasing through the years, the number of income tax filers still remains far from ideal.
DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN Affairs announced that the 29th session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, held in Geneva, Switzerland, has adopted a resolution declaring and punishing apartheid as a crime against humanity. Foreign Undersecretary Jose D. Ingles, who was elected chairman of the working group that drafted the convention on suppression and punishment of the crime of apartheid, reported that the resolution is an important contribution to the development of international penal law. The Commission on Human Rights, which adjourned on April 6, adopted 24 resolutions (12 of which require action by the UN Economic and Social Commission). Among these were: 1) A resolution on the question of punishment of war criminals and of persons who have committed crimes against humanity. 2) A resolution on a Decade for Action to Combat Rascism and Racial Discrimination. 3) Resolutions on questions of violation of human rights in territories occupied as a result of hostilities in the Middle East. 4) Draft principles relating to equality in administration of justice. 5) A study of discrimination against persons born out of wedlock and non-discrimination in respect to such persons. 6) Realization of economic, social and cultural rights in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
SECRETARY OF FINANCE Cesar E. A. Virata issued the rules and regulations covering the release of internal revenue allotments to local governments, as provided for under Presidential Decree No. 144. The regulations provide for the release in full amounts of the respective shares of the local governments, thereby eliminating the
I have authorized Col. Alesseba to make a make-believe landing in Maimbung to draw the rebels occupying the town into the open to defend the beach and so they can be hit by naval gunfire and air strike.
I attach copy of instructions to Chief of Staff.
It seems that Indanan has been occupied after Maimbung. Parang is under threat and South Ubian, an island to the south, has also been occupied.
incurrence of deficiencies in allotments commonly experienced under the old procedures. The Bureau of Internal Revenue will now determine the amount of monthly internal revenue allotments of provinces, cities and municipalities. The rules and regulations further provide: 1) That 20 per cent of such collection shall accrue to the local governments to be distributed among provinces, cities and municipalities as follows: 30 per cent to provinces; 45 per cent to municipalities; and 25 per cent to cities. 2) The share of each local government unit shall be apportioned as follows: 70 per cent on the basis of population as shown by the latest official census; 20 per cent in proportion to the land area; and 10 per cent to be apportioned equally among municipalities, cities and provinces. 3) The basis of internal revenue allotments shall be the national internal revenue taxes, not otherwise accruing to special funds and special accounts in the general fund, collected during the third fiscal year preceding the current fiscal year. For fiscal year 1974, 1975 and 1976, the annual allotment of any local government shall not increase by more than 15 per cent nor be decreased by more than 50 per cent of its actual allotment during the fiscal year 1970-1971. Beginning July 1, 1973, the actual collections in the locality will no longer be a factor determining the amounts of internal revenue allotments to be released to each local government unit. Instead, at the end of every month, the treasury field cashiers shall draw check equivalent to the authorized 1 12 animal allotments as determined by the BIR prior to the beginning of the fiscal year.
CENTRAL BANK announced that the country’s international reserve has increased to an unprecedented $462.5 million at the end of the first quarter of the year along with a general improvement in all sectors of the economy. This was reported by Central Bank Governor Gregorio S. Licaros to the President in his assessment of the performance of the economy during the first three months of 1973. Mr. Licaros reported that, after the unusual stresses encountered in the first nine months of 1972, the economy started to recover soon after Martial Law was proclaimed and continued to improve considerably through January-March, 1973. During the period under review, the CB governor also noted the strong performance of the external sector while developments in the monetary and fiscal sectors resulted in the growth of domestic credits of the monetary system and the improvement in the cash position of the national government. There were also indications, he added, of relative stability of domestic prices particularly during the early part of the quarter.
AFP CENTRAL MINDANAO Command has reported that demoralized rebel forces in Cotabato are now sending feelers to the Government for possible surrender under the extended amnesty decree for outlaws in Mindanao (Presidential Decree No. 95). This was revealed by Brig. Gen. Fortunato Abat, Cemcom commander, in a report to Brig. Gen. Cicero O. Campos, PC deputy chief of staff for home defense, during the latters three-day survey of peace and order conditions in the insurgent-infested areas in Mindanao. Gen. Abat said that the insurgents in Cotabato are now surrounded in one area by military forces, adding that their proposed surrender is now the subject of a series of conferences between military officers and Cotabato Muslim leaders. The Cemcom commander also revealed that the rebels, after being driven to the hills by military forces with the determined support of civilian home defense units, “now realize that they cannot even win the sympathy of the civilian populace.”
NATIONAL MANPOWER and Youth Council has announced the recruitment of trainees for the second basic pre-employment course at the National Manpower Skills Center in Fort Bonifacio, Rizal. Entrance examination will be conducted at 9:30 a.m. daily from June 4 to June 8, Out-of-school youth and unemployed adults who are 17 years old and above and who have at least finished high school are qualified to take the test. The basic pre-employment course, which will start in July, will train some unemployed young adults in machine-fitting, automotive mechanics, electronics, and electricity to prepare them for created employment. Training will be conducted for the first six to ten months in the center followed by another two to eight months on-the-job training in selected industries where trainees may be employed after the training period.
But we cannot mount an attack with only three battalions in Sulu. The 2,000 special policemen are not ready. They are mostly armed with carbines. And no match to the rebels.
So we keep feinting and hitting the revels with many guns and airplanes when we can them out in the open away from the civilians.
Luncheon, awarding and speech for the inventors at Maharlika.
Pledge of support and financing for the inventors.