Could not play golf nor exercise because have contracted a cold and seem to be feeling a general malaise symptomatic of the flu.
Took two pills of Decolgen yesterday morning and a pill of Decolgen and one pill of Tylenol three times a day until today.
But met my visitors anyway.
11:00—Frank Bertol the UN [United Nations] Disaster Coordinator
Official Gazette for August 16, 1972: THE PRESIDENT conferred with Congress leaders on vital administration measures which he had earlier certified to the third special session of Congress.
The President called the meeting to determine as well the monetary policy the country should adopt in view of the discussions of the National Economic Recovery Bill in Congress.
The President said that the bill pending in Congress has something to do with matters so fundamental that they would require changes in other policies of government because almost all policies spring from the monetary exchange policy.
Present during the conference were Senate President Gil J. Puyat, Speaker Cornelio T. Villareal, Speaker Protempore Jose Aldeguer, Finance Secretary Cesar E. A. Virata and Central Bank Governor Gregorio S. Licaros.
In the course of the day, the President thanked the United Nations for the assistance extended to the flood victims and at the same time urged the UN to work out an organization which would moderate typhoon and weather conditions in general.
The President conveyed the gratitude of the entire people of the Philippines to the UN through Faruk N. Berkul, UN coordinator for disaster relief, who had been sent to the Philippines to survey the extent of the catastrophe.
“We are glad that the world in general, and now the United Nations, had taken note of the pervasive nature of this disaster and we are also heartened by the fact that relief has come from all sectors, large and small nations,” the President said.
“But more than this,” the President said, “I hope the United Nations will look into the Question of a more systematic and scientific approach to typhoon and weather moderation as a long-range plan.”
The UN official assured the President that this was one point he had taken account of “and will keep under active consideration.”
The UN official also said that he would coordinate the relief activities of the UN agencies and donor countries for the Philippines.
Mr. Berkul was accompanied to Malacañang by William Harding, UNDP resident representative; and Ambassador Hortencio Brillantes, Philippine envoy to Geneva.
Also present during Berkul’s call were Senate President Gil J. Puyat, Speaker Cornelio T. Villareal, Senator Ambrosio Padilla, Executive Secretary Alejandro Melchor, Jr., and Assistant Executive Secretary Roberto V. Reyes.
Among other actions, the President ordered the establishment of a national office to handle garbage and waste disposal. He:
(1) Asked the local executives in the Greater Manila area to meet and agree on a general program on waste disposal.
(2) Designated Public Works Director Alejandro Deleña as coordinator of the task of setting up an integrated waste and garbage disposal program.
(3) Directed Chairman Reynaldo Lesaca of the Anti-Pollution Commission to look into the pollution aspects of garbage and waste disposal and to make the necessary recommendations.
(4) Ordered a study on the possibility of draining the Laguna de Bay of floodwaters by widening the Napindan River, which is the only outlet.
11:30—I asked Sen. [Ambrosio] Padilla to decrease the number of those going to the Munich Olympics. As of now there are 68. I would like to cut this by half.
11:45—Speaker [Cornelio] Villareal at 69 is old and intemperate of speech. He called Gov. [Gregorio] Licaros of the Central Bank a “liar” to his face and in a high voice.
This was during the conference on the Recovery Act of 1972 so called.
12:00 AM [sic]-2:15 PM—Received the congressmen and told Cong. [Indanan] Anni that he was in the Interpol list of drug carriers.
This evening I met Com. [Jose] Evangelista who is suspected of corruption with his sons. I warned him and frankly told him I would have to remove him.
Then Delegate [Gilberto] Bibit Duavit.
And Cong. [Pablo] Roman, Joe [Jose] de Venecia [Jr.] and d’Andres of Western Oil who are preparing to drill in the Sulu Seas.
Chito Santos on sugar. He owns the Carebi [Central Azucarera-Refineria de Bataan].
Gen. [Romeo] Espino. I place his reports in Envelope XXXIV.