The rains brought about by Typhoon Roning that sucked the Southwest monsoons towards the western part of Luzon, have continued for seven days and threatens to bring about floods as high as the floods of 1972.
The central point of Sullipan near Apalit on the Pampanga River reports the water at four meters high. The 1972 height was 5.3 meters.
Sent Secs. [Alejandro] Melchor [Jr.] and [Juan] Ponce Enrile to survey the area of Central Luzon and report back. The rain and winds are too strong and they could not go beyond Sullipan. So I directed them to come back.
The Air Force would not let me fly either by plane or helicopter. So I went by Larc around the Greater Manila area from 3:00 to 5:00 PM with the children. Imelda is still suffering from a cough so did not come.
The entire Manila area (or almost all) is under water.
I have released P2 million for the Department of Social Welfare and P 5 million for the Department of Highways.
Official Gazette for August 17, 1974: THE PRESIDENT called a meeting of the National Disaster Control Committee in view of the extensive floods in Luzon provinces caused by the intermittently heavy rains the past few days. He also sent Executive Secretary Alejandro Melchor, Jr. and Defense Secretary Juan Ponce Enrile to make an on-the-spot inspection in Central Luzon. In other moves, the President ordered the release of P2 million to the Department of Social Welfare for the extension of relief aid to flood victims. Likewise, the President released P5 million from the Special Highways Fund for contingencies.
GOVERNMENT Service Insurance System disclosed that its assets hit the P4 million mark in Fiscal Year 1973-74. The figure is 10 percent more than the preceding year’s total of P3.4 million, or an additional amount of P393 million earned during the period in review. GSIS General Manager Roman Cruz Jr. said that the increase in assets is due to the full implementation of reforms in GSIS finances, operations and services. As a result of the increase in the total assets, correspondingly the total investments rose from the 1972-73 figure of P2.5 million to P2.8 million or an increase of 9.7 percent during the period in review. Bulk of these investments were in the form of service loans extended to members. Also, the GSIS financed low cost housing projects.
BUREAU of Customs adopted the concept of one arrastre contractor per pier at the North Harbor to pinpoint responsibility and increase efficiency. This is the second part of a three-phase move conceived last year by labor and customs officials in a bid to have the entire Manila domestic port serviced by a group of new arrastre contractors. Customs Com missioner Rolando Geotina, who signed the contract papers of the arrastre firms said the eight contractors will service the eight piers of North Harbor with a 10,000-man labor force. Commissioner Geotina, In signing the contract, warned that the bureau would cancel the efficacies of the instrument should it discover that the arrastre and stevedoring firm violate any of the two-point conditions set. He said “these are the rendition of an efficient and effective service and the full satisfaction of what is rightfully due the 10,000 waterfront workers and laborers at the North Habor.”
I have delayed the proclamation of national emergency to tomorrow when we get more details of the flood.