Official Gazette for April 26, 1973: THE PRESIDENT sought a coordinated effort by the Government, management and labor to solve the country’s unemployment problem in order to complement the successful land reform and peace and order programs of the New Society. The Chief Executive, in addressing the opening session of the three-day tripartite labor congress, also cited the need for a corollary program to build the competitive edge in local products through better skills and craftmanship. In seeking for a new social contract wherein the individual, the laborer, the employe and the lowest class will be considered an important element in society, the President outlined the following policies: 1) All energies and resources of both Government and the private sector will be focused on the paramount goal of national development. 2) Employment is a top priority objective of social and economic planning. 3) Industrial peace will be maintained to make possible the fullest use of the productive energies of the people. 4) Efforts will be exerted to improve working conditions of employes and laborers.
THE GOVERNMENT has released P1.5 million for the “small fishermen’s credit fund.” An additional outlay of P10 million is also expected to beef up this non-collateral financial assistance to small fishermen. The release of the outlay came a few days after the President directed the creation of cooperatives for the country’s small fishermen. Under the experimental program, small fishermen have been able to avail themselves of loans (at an average of P5,000 each without collateral) after meeting two conditions, namely: 1) That the fishermen of an area organize themselves into a cooperative which would serve as their guarantor, collection agency and marketing outlets; and 2) That they will submit to close supervision by government technicians who would see to it that the loan proceeds are used properly. To finance the pilot scheme, the Government released a total of P3.5 million to initially form the small fishermen’s credit fund. The three government agencies which chipped in to raise the P3.5 million are the Department of rural banks of the Central Bank, the DANR and the Agricultural Credit Administration (ACA).
THE PRESIDENT called on the Asian Development Bank to establish multi-lateral forum to safeguard developing nations against the harmful effects of realignments among powerful currencies. He said that such a forum should be consulted before monetary decisions affecting world trade are made, and should also set up means for absorbing currency losses caused in the developing nations by such monetary decisions. The President made this appeal in welcoming more than 100 finance ministers and senior officials from 40 countries attending the 6th Annual Meeting of the ADB Board of Governors at the ADB headquarters in Pasay City. He said the development of the poorer nations is not the exclusive concern of these developing nations, but it is equally in the interest of the fully developed and affluent nations that the advancement of the poorer nations toward prosperity is accepted by them as a condition to world peace.
PHILIPPINE MEDICAL CARE Commission recommended the assignment of at least one government physician in every municipality in the country. PMCC Chairman Dr. Pacifico E. Marcos said that the recommendation should be embodied in the Rural Health Act as he observed that “there are many places where there is neither a private nor government physician resulting in the death of many people without the benefit of medical consultation.” In a meeting of the PMCC during the convention of the Philippine Medical Association, Dr. Marcos also recommended: 1) The activation of all ghost hospitals; 2) The organization of a lineal roster of all government physicians so that promotions in rank, place of assignment and areas of responsibility could be more systematically defined: 3) An inspection of services should be established in the Department of Health.
AIR TRANSPORT AGREEMENT between the Philippines and Indonesia for the operation o£ bilateral air services is now in effect. Foreign Secretary Carlos P. Romulo said the Indonesian Embassy has informed the Department of Foreign Affairs through a diplomatic note that the formalities required for the approval of the Air Transport Agreement have been complied with by the Indonesian government. The air agreement, signed in Manila on March 24, 1972, provided that each country shall have the right to designate one airline for the purpose of operating the agreed air services. Both countries agreed to operate weekly services from points in the Philippines to Jakarta with Singapore and Bangkok as points beyond for Philippine carrier and from points in Indonesia to Manila with Hongkong, Taipei and Tokyo as points beyond for the Indonesian carrier.
THE GOVERNMENT is set to clamp closure proceedings on mining companies that refuse to install anti-pollution facilities in vital agricultural areas in Benguet. Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources Secretary Arturo Tanco Jr. served this stern warning in the ultimatum following reports that several mining companies in Benguet have not complied with orders to treat or contain mining mill wastes or slime. Mr. Tanco said that the discharges
I sent off Bongbong and Irene to Caliraya to ski and swim. They are leaving for London soon (Bongbong on Saturday and Irene on Monday) and they have not had any outing to themselves.
We are now going to the 777 to sleep so that we wake up at Looc Cove tomorrow where we can ski early (8:00 AM) and come back after lunch for the merienda of the U.S. Congressmen at 5:00 PM.
This will give Imelda and I to be with Bongbong and Irene. I cancelled my appointments to go out on this outing.
9:00 AM—Tripartite Labor, Management and Government Congress.
10:00 AM—Opened the Asian Development Bank Board of Governors meeting.
11:00 AM—Conference on the Sulu Rebel leaders [Emmanuel and Samaban?] offer to organize a strike force at Tayungan, Luuk of 150 men.
Brought in the DND [Department of National Defense] and military so that there may be no crossed signals and mis-encounters.
This is the break through we are waiting for.
We gave Vice Mayor Akausa P50,000 for the slaray, food and requirements of the men who will initially be given P200 pesos each. P4.00 daily food rations, guns and equipment.
The situation of Davao Oriental is worse than we thought. There are two Muslim training camps and an estimated 80 armed men.
We have lost five KIA [killed in action], 1 missing and 3 [wounded in action]
And the reinforcements are not moving for lack of aircraft.
from the mills have poisoned irrigation water and killed rice crops in adjacent farm areas. He also stressed the importance of the cooperation of the mining companies in the anti-pollution campaign. The Government has so far undertaken the following: 1) The Bureau of Mines has instructed mining companies to implement the second phase of chemically treating affected rivers in the Benguet area. 2) The National Science Development Board has funded a study on the effect of mine tailings on marine and animal life in the disposal area.