Official Gazette for August 17, 1973: THE PRESIDENT urged that the anti-tuberculosis campaign should be spread throughout the country, down to the barrio level, including the Muslims m the South, in order to eradicate once and for all this dreaded disease which continues to take a heavy toll among Filipinos. In a speech at the kick-off ceremonies of the 1973 Anti-TB Educational and Fund Campaign held at the Maharlika Hall of Malacañang, the President called upon all Filipinos to involve themselves in the fight against tuberculosis which, he said, is a symbol of degeneracy in society.
BUREAU of Internal Revenue has suspended tax clearance requirements of overseas Filipinos travelling to and from the Philippines during the “Homecoming Season” from September 1, 1973 to February 28, 1974. The move of the BIR was in line with the President’s letter of instructions giving a temporary “tax holiday” for overseas Filipinos visiting the country during this period. The tax holiday is one of the incentives being offered under the current drive, spearheaded by the Department of Tourism, to bring home an estimated 700,000 Filipinos residing abroad during the coming Christmas season through 1974. Another incentive is a drastic reduction of the air fares from the United States to Manila.
THE PRESIDENT has authorized the initial release of 95- million to start off the Pasig River Development Project designed to cleanse and beautify the historic river and its tributaries and to turn them into one of the major tourist attractions of the country. Ah expansion of the beautification and cleanliness drive of the First Lady, the project calls for the dredging and removal of all derelicts, the building of roads, parks, lagoons and promenades in certain areas, the installation of ornamental lights and railings, and the planting of trees along both sides.
THE PRESIDENT called for a more lasting unity between the Philippines and the Muslim countries as a means of assuring the dignity of “our respective peoples in their respective regions.” In brief remarks delivered during a dinner tendered in honor of the Islamic mission members, the Chief Executive emphasized that though the Philippines and the Muslim countries are “bound by the double tie of common origin and common destiny,” this unity has been broken in the past because of long years of colonization. In response, the mission members, through Foreign Minister Ommar Sakhaf of Saudi Arabia, said that they came to the Philippines with “open minds and open hearts,” ready to help the Philippine government in whatever way they can for the benefit of Muslim Filipinos.
THE PHILIPPINES’ application for provisional accession to the General Agreements on Tariffs and Trade has been unanimously approved by the GATT Council. In effect, the Philippines can now enjoy all the rights and privileges of a member of the GATT, except the right to vote Secretary of Trade Troadio T. Quiazon Jr. said that with the Philippines’ membership in GATT, the country will now enjoy the MFN (most favored nation) tariff rates among GATT members of which more than 80 per cent of Philippine trade is conducted. The membership will also open additional foreign markets for Philippine products in addition to her traditional markets.
POSTMASTER General Felizardo R. Tanabe exhorted the role of postal employes in the reform-oriented New Society during the closing rites of a two-day seminar on postal matters at the Postal Training Institute. In his speech, the postmaster general emphasized the importance of devotion to one’s responsibilities in order to achieve the maximum objective that the Government has conceived for the public. He further stressed the need for self-discipline and diligence in work performance to attain a highly efficient postal service. Mr. Tanabe also announced that the Bureau of Posts has outlined a program of information dissemination which includes the holding of a series of seminars for both postal officials and employees and making use of the newspapers, radio and television.
DEPARTMENT of Finance has adopted a new system in the remittance of national collections to minimize or eliminate malversation of government funds by collecting or disbursing officers. Finance Secretary Cesar E.A. Virata said that the new system involves the remittance of national collections through direct deposit to the Philippine National Bank or its branches by the revenue collecting officers concerned. The revised remittance system applies to all government departments, agencies, corporations and others concerned in depositing national collections in all PNB offices and agencies for credit to the account of the national treasurer.
I have prepared the offer to the Saudi Arabian government of 30% of Filoil refinery. Minister Omar Alsakaff came earlier than the rest at 2:30 PM. The others return tomorrow at 11:30 AM from Marawi.
So I meet Minister Alsakaff tomorrow at 11:30 AM. And the others at about 12:00 AM before the lunch to be given by Sec. [Francisco] Tatad.
The morning I spent with the jump-off of the Anti-Tuberculosis Educational Campaign.
And studying the cattle and meat problem.