Inducted into office Justice of the Supreme Court Felix V. Makasiar and the new Secretary of Justice Dean Vicente Abad Santos at 4:00 PM before a large crowd including some tourists. The Madrigals (Tony, Beleck and Vicky) were there.
Met the wife of Manolo Mariano whose manager now says that the land they bought in Davao are [sic] separated into numerous lots which are connected by bad roads and hard to farm in the rainy season.
Spent the whole morning playing golf at Wack Wack—up to 1:00 PM.
Prepared the plans for the reorganization of the government and the veto of the objectionable parts of the Appropriations Act.
I will devote the next week on the priority projects.
Official Gazette for August 2, 1970: President Marcos, in keeping with an agreement reached with congressional leaders earlier, called Congress to a third special session starting 10 a.m., September 7.
The President agreed with leaders of Congress to give priority to 12 “must bills” among which are those:
1) Giving the President authority to borrow from foreign sources. 2) Providing for a peace and order fund. 3) Authorizing the sale of certain military camps. 4) Amending the tariff and customs code. 5) Providing for a system of developing cooperatives. 6) Increasing the capitalization of the Philippine National Bank. 7) Consolidating and revising the charter of the National Power Corporation. 8) Abolishing the National Waterworks and Sewerage Authority.
The President and Congress leaders have also agreed that the congressional recess will be devoted to exhaustive studies of the must bills, and that there will be periodic caucuses to discuss the measures.
Except for former Secretary of Justice Felix V. Makasiar and Dean Vicente Abad Santos whom he inducted as associate justice of the Supreme Court and secretary of justice, respectively, the President did not receive any other callers. The appointment of Justice Makasiar has been confirmed by the Commission on Appointments. The incoming justice secretary was extended an ad interim appointment by the President. The oath-taking ceremonies, held at the Malacañang reception hall, were witnessed by, among others, congressional leaders headed by Senate President Gil J. Puyat, justices of the Supreme Court led by Chief Justice Roberto Concepcion, other officials of the judiciary, members of the Cabinet, close kin and relatives of the inductees and prominent members of the Philippine bar.
Among other actions, the President ordered that studies be made on the feasibility of relocating all squatters and illegal occupants along esteros and river banks, especially along the Pasig River, as a means of meeting the pollution problems.
At the same time, the President asked Budget Commissioner Faustino Sy-Changco to provide the necessary funds for the dredging of the Pasig River, from its mouth on Manila Bay to the San Juan River junction, as a necessary measure to control pollution of the said river. In relation to this, the President also directed Public Works Director Alejandro Deleña to prepare a program of priorities for the dredging of the Pasig River.The President also created a committee to study, formulate and implement plans for flood control in the Greater Manila area.He gave the committee headed by Secretary of Public Works and Communications Manul B. Syquio, the responsibility of finding ways and means of solving the recurrent problems of flood control.
I will have to put a new PACD [Presidential Assistant on Community Development] secretary. It was promised to [Antonio] Tony Raquiza but the odoriferous investigation of the Public Works scandal may not have dissipated yet.
Then put a little steam on the electrification program.
Our bullet reloader at the Supply Center reloads only .45 and carbine .30 ammo. We have to procure conversion parts by reparation so it will reload .30 Garand 7.62 and .223 M-16 ammo.