Praised the Sto. Niño at the balcony. Then mass on steps of Maharlika. And the great multitude was crying as the procession waded through mud and water Recto Ave., Dagupan (past Rizal Avenue) Sande, then to the church. People joined the procession, lined the streets carrying candles or placing candles on the window sills.
There must have been at least 50,000. And they were mostly in tears.
This faith and spiritual strength is what communism cannot conquer.
I kept repeating to myself—“when one has exhausted the physical resources available, then one must tap the spiritual sources of strength.”
And I do believe in miracles. I have seen too many happen in my lifetime.
The saving from the stabbing was another miracle.
And the waters are receding in Central Luzon and Pangasinan. The rains are less.
10:25 PM
August 3, 1972[1]
Thursday
The sun came out this morning, the rain stopped and the waters receded in all places. Although it rained this afternoon so I could not fly by helicopter to Central Luzon.
The talk of Manila is the miracle of Sto. Niño with a few sour grapes as was expected.
But it looks like I am not the only believer in miracles.
So we are now busy on the plans for reconstruction: the financing, priorities, action officers etc.
This morning I sent both Secs. [David] Consunji of Public Works and [Arturo] Tanco [Jr.] of Agriculture to Lingayen. Their field workers have not been too active in the field. In Pangasinan only 900 cavans of seeds (palay) is available. So we have the teams for certified seeds scouring the province as well as Nueva Ecija.
Then the Bued River Bridge is still unrepaired. Sec. Consunji is now meeting all engineers.
The Malacañan in the Field is active.
10:10 PM August 4, 1972[2]
Friday
Started the repair of Manila streets. Inspected Rizal Avenue worked upon by the Armed Forces and the Com. on Highways at 3:00 PM.
At 6:00 p.m., met the representative of the American president on our calamity—Mr. Frickkel [sic] [Jarold Keiffer] and Mr. [Russel] McClure with Amb. [Henry] Byroade and Tom Niblack.
Then met the private contractors, Com. on Highways, Sec. of Nat. Def., Gen. [Amado] Santiago of the 51st Eng. Brigade on the large scale effort to repair the roads and to concrete 100 kilometers of Manila streets and 1,000 kilometers of national roads.
Amb. Byroade told me that their experts are almost sure that the M-14’s that were captured in Digoyo were manufactured in Taiwan. They may have been airdropped in the Chinese mainland for the underground against the Communists, the Communists may have captured them and now deployed them to the Philippine Communists.
Gen. Huang, Deputy Chief of Intelligence of the Nationalist government is here, saw me at 1:00 PM. With the information of Amb. Byroade I will see him again tomorrow at 12:00 AM.
10:50 PM August 5, 1972[3]
Sunday
Cabinet meeting with Congressional leaders, civic groups, religious leaders, private contractors, agriculturists etc. at 10:00 AM.
Then Press TV and Radio interview at 4:00 PM.
In both I emphasized:
The estimate of damage to infrastructure of about P404 M is understated.
It is actually about P2 billion.
That there is no cash provided for by Congress even for the Calamity Fund.
That to fund the almost P2 [billion] rehabilitation program we must draw on:
Taxes · P516M.
Borrowings local and foreign—Japanese Commodity Loan 1972 and 1973.
Savings. The forcible savings from the budget of 10% will mean P500 M.
“And everybody must participate. Government cannot do it alone. Every man, woman and child must labor—manual labor if you will—but labor each one must if we are to survive.”
“Our friends will help us but only we ourselves can save our people and our country.”
“So let us go into the mud and the dirt and start working.”
10:50 PM August 6, 1972[4]
Sunday
Ordered fuel (gas, kerosene, bunker, crude etc.) and oil included among the items that can be commandeered in the flooded areas.
And I announced today that the Secretary of Justice has issued a ruling that constructions in esteros, river beds and banks are nuisances per se and can be recovered without a judicial order.
And that we would call a meeting of local executives for the purpose of implementing it.
More rich people are violators than the poor.
I also announced the decision to reprogram the P1.5 billion set aside by the 5 year economic development program for infrastructure so that the projects for the calamity may be given priority.
We visited the Purita Hydraulic model and topographical map at 5:00 PM (with Dir. [Alejandro] Deleña and press boys) to reassess the flood requirements. Took the boat.
Repair existing dikes
Put roads on top
Finish dikes system
Canals
Manila Flood Control
Am going to Baguio with the family tomorrow.
The Mansion, Baguio
9:30 PM August 7, 1972[5]
Monday
Arrived here by car from Poro Pt. San Femando, La Union where we landed by Fokker plane at 9:30 AM. We could not use the helicopters for Baguio as the visibility was apparently limited.
However for the first time since July 4th, the sun came out in Baguio today. The people came out of their rain soaked houses to wave happily at us notwithstanding the tragedy of the landslide that took the lives of 26 who were buried alive, some of them still in bed (the landslide occurred at 6:00 AM).
Of course the people think we brought the sun with us.
Imelda and the children are with me.
Held a conference with the people at the City Hall upon arrival at 11:30 AM. Then at 3:30 PM after lunch, a one hour nap and a visit to the Pines Hotel landslides and Aurora Hill tragedy.
Explained the suspension of authorization of loans for a year, more crop loans to farmers without collateral by PNB [Philippine National Bank] (P2,000 for lease-farmers, P5,000 for owner-farmers payable in 6 months), distributed vegetables seeds from the Green Revolution (some of them donated by China) and then went to Teachers Camp for distribution of blankets (woolen ones) to the homeless and P20 per family, P40 if with a small baby.
Baguio is turning into a slum city. So I have ordered that the city authorities adopt a city development plan. And reforestation must now be intensified.
It is cold and while Imelda and the children have gone to [Jose] Joe Campos’s house, I have stayed in the Mansion so I can put in a good night’s sleep. For I start tomorrow at 6:30 AM for Poro where I take the helicopter for Bued River Bridge and Lingayen.
I hope to be back in Poro by 12:00 noon to fly either to Manila or to Ilocos Norte.
12:00 PM August 8, 1972[6]
Tuesday
Tired out; so slept last night at 10:30 PM but woke at 3:30 PM after five hours, then catnapped till 6:00 PM.
Imelda woke up and had bladicardia [sic] [bradycardia] higher blood pressure of 120/80 when her regular blood pressure is 100/70. And she could not sleep. It turned out she had taken two cups of black coffee the night before and she does not take coffee.
So I directed the nurse to give her a tablet of ______.
Left by car at 6:45 AM on the car of the mayor which was all shot from the bad road. Arrived at San Fernando Airport at 8:30 AM. Helicoptered to Bued River with Sec. D. [David] Consunji. Arrived at 9:30 after a 30 minute flight. Eng. Anolin promised the bailey bridge up by tomorrow afternoon. They were still driving steel 1-beams or piles with a pile driver with a crane.
Ordered the grouping of all engineer equipment and personnel to concentrate on the projects by priority.
Helicoptered to Lingayen at 9:50 AM. Arrived 10:05 AM. Distributed palay seeds as well as vegetable seeds. The tents were too hot even with the flaps up.
Sec. E. A. [Estafania Aldaba] Lim arrived from Nueva Ecija by helicopter.
Left Lingayen at 11:30 AM. Arrived at San Fernando at 12:00 AM. Imelda was not yet there. Retired to the Poro Resthouse for lunch. Imelda arrived at about 1:30 PM.
We decided to stay so we could see the beach house at Paratong (or Sta. Rita) Agoo, La Union. When I woke from my nap Imelda had gone to San Fernando to start the inoculation program. After looking around for a guide to the beach house, I took the helicopter for Agoo. Col. Lapeña knew the place. I landed on the beach which is a five wide although black-sand or iron sand beach. Sent back the helicopter to San Fernando at 6:00 PM and I was going to wait for the family at Cong. [Jose] Aspiras’s house at the beach.
The beach house that Imelda asked to be built near Jose Aspiras’ house is supposed to be my birthday gift in Sept. 11th. It is a small nipa house of bamboo walling. The madre cacao posts that do not rest on the ground but on cement foundations are beginning to sprout leaves.
It is half finished, the rains having stopped the work. But it looks charming and comfortable.
I like the beach as it is wide. It is about 100 meters of clean level sand from the house to the water’s edge. The water is a meter high for a hundred yards out to the sea. This may make it difficult for the deep keel boats to approach the beach.
Mayor Sergio Osmeña’s [Jr.] plane crashed in Cebu and he suffered minor injuries.
The people in Baguio are still wondrous about the sun that we brought to the city.
It has been sunny the whole day even in Baguio.
Batac, Ilocos Norte
2:00 AM August 9, 1972[7]
Wednesday
Helicoptered to Paratong (Sta. Rlta) to see the nipa house on the beach again with Imelda at 8:00 AM. Returned to the airport at 9:10 AM.
Took off for Laoag at 9:30. Landed at 9:55 AM.
Ablan Day. Lunch at Cong. [Roque] Ablan [Jr.] house.
Currimao for a beach house at Laoag. Imelda get all [drenched?] and walks in the surf. I will build a simple nipa hut there like in Paratong, Agoo.
Mayors at Batac. Capitanes del barrio.
Imelda goes to Laoag (Inoculation) and Sarrat—the funny tourist guide at the old Sarrat house. ·
Nocturnal survey of possible memorial sites for father and for a house.
1. Beside the Hospital 2. Billoca 3. Lipit
The Chua’s have bought up all the nice places in town! Bantay Batac! Near the hospital! Lipit! Name it. They have it.
1:00 AM August 10, 1972[8]
Thursday
Arrived from Ilocos Norte by Fokker at 11:10 AM.
Press Interview at 1:00 AM [sic].
Bued River Bridge opened to traffic at 9:00 AM. By 12:00 AM [sic] about 1,000 trucks had passed the bridge.
Ordered air photography and physical survey to determine the encroachments on the river and estero beds. These encroachments should be removed after receipt of notice—including those belonging to big corporations.
Squatters (poor homeless displaced persons) will be resettled in the Carmona area or in the new Agri-Industrial area to be set up after Marquina-Infanta East West Road has opened up the virgin areas.
Sugar is still scarce in the market. I am ready to order the confiscation of all stocks.
Weather good. Played golf but brownout stopped the game after the first five holes.
A low pressure area building up east of Catanduanes.
I insert Intelligence Reports in Envelope XXXIV-C and D.
12:00 PM August 11, 1972[9]
Friday
The budget was approved last night.
The Progressive Car Manufacturing Program should be decided soon. We stick to five but quietly give Universal a chance to prove itself by a Central Bank allocation to see if it can comply with its offer. We retain the option to cancel all privileges of those who do not.
I have told [Vicente] Ting Paterno and [Angel] Angie Limjoco [Jr.] this.
We must push through the Greater Manila Food Terminal Market.
In the meeting with Sugar man Fred Elizade and Adi Sison as well as [Roberto] Bobby Benedicto I told them I was sad about the fact that the sugar people still demand P68 per picul when all they were demanding through [Alfredo] Piding Montelibano [Sr.] was P58 from P49 of the PCC [Price Control Council]. Tony [Antonio] Roxas Chua wants a 25% increase from the 90 centavos price for brown sugar set by PCC. I am studying this.
There is a cry for sugar everywhere. Imelda who has just come from Laguna de Bay (including Rizal, Pasig and Pateros) says this is also the cry of the people there.
And we must decide if we will renounce part (150,000 tons?) of our quota. If we will have a shortage next year, this year would be the time to renounce it as we have a valid reason—the floods.
I also reminded Adi Sison and Bobby Benedicto of the promise of the Fertilizer Institute that it would lower the fertilizer prices if the PNB [Philippine National Bank] restructured its loans which the PNB did.
Tonight at 6:15 PM, we were able to list down about a billion pesos of local and foreign sources for our rehabilitation program.
I have ordered the release of the funds needed for August.
I told Bongbong and Irene the situation in which we are—the fact that we are now fighting for survival; that whether I retire or not our family is in danger of liquidation from either the communists or our political enemies; that if I retire I would be forced to fight for our lives because the communists are growing stronger and would be much stronger without me as President; rather than fight a defensive or losing battle later, I would rather fight now by taking over the government by a proclamation of Martial Law; but that such a proclamation would succeed if the people are with us and the people will be with us if the new government is a reform government and we are all exemplars of the new society; so they, the children, must so conduct themselves that they will not antagonize the people.
The arrests in Angeles City farther confirm the support of the local Communists by the Red Chinese government.
The literature discovered could have been printed only in the mainland.
12:30 PM August 12, 1972[10]
Saturday
Ordered the confiscation of sugar in Luzon sugar mills and warehouses.
I attach copy of order.
Bongbong today started weight-lifting under the tutorship of Mr. Elpidio Doroteo, head of the Phil. Weightlifting Asso. He started out with 5 pds but the bar alone is 20 pds.
The CC [Constitutional Convention] delegates pledge they will finish the constitution by December. I attach their proposed plan.
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Ford contributed $37,000 to the Calamity Fund. Tony Florendo of the [TADECO] contributed P30,000.
Order reforms in the BIR [Bureau of Internal Revenue] and Com. of Customs as well as the PNB [Philippine National Bank].
China has given more than P7 million of aid.
The Fertilizer Institute offered to reduce their prices by one peso per bag. And offered to participate in the grant of available government credit under the Agricultural Loan Fund through some commercial banks and the Institute’s 200 outlets.
10:25 PM August 13, 1972[11]
Sunday
All the sugar warehouses and mills in Luzon have been sealed. We estimate we have 25,000 tons of refined sugar and another 25,000 tons of refined sugar, from centrifugal sugar in the mills and warehouses.
The INSUREFCO [Insular Sugar Refining Company] will start discharging sugar to the market tomorrow morning. I have directed Sec. [Troadio] Quiazon [Jr.] and Atty. Jose Unson to work on this.
Tomorrow we start working on the garbage problem. Then on the sewage problem in greater Manila.
Pres. Suharto sent his Chief Security Officer, Maj. Gen. [Tjokro Pranolo], to deliver ten tons of powdered milk manufactured in Indonesia. I received the crew of the Crusader plane they used (a trip of six hours) at 4:00 PM.
The powdered milk is partly from coconut. We must analyze it to see if our own experiments on powdered milk is [are] better than theirs.
Another U.S. CH 46 helicopter crashed at San Simon, Pampanga and burned, one the seven members of the crew, slightly injured. This is the second crash.
Gen. [Fidel] Ramos (Chief of PC [Philippine Constabulary]) reports landing in Cam. [Camarines] Sur of 60-70 rifles by motorized banca from Northern Luzon several weeks ago.
There is a report of an attack on San Vicente Port NE part of Cagayan. And the barrios on the east coast of Cagayan province have been taken over by the NPA [New People’s Army].
The communists are tenaciously holding on to their Pacific coast camps.
The ploy may be to cause a diversion in the plains west of the Sierra Madre but return to the Digoyo and Digollorin area to recover the arms they must have cached in some old camp or possibly a cave.
Although I think that they were able to escape from Digoyo, Digollorin and Divinisa with a substantial number of firearms.
And they may have been able to infiltrate them into Manila.
So we are preparing for the efforts at sabotage, terrorism and assassination in the city planned by the communists for the month of August and September as shown by captured documents and testimony of prisoners.
8:30 PM August 14, 1972[12]
Monday
Imee left for the U.S. with [Virginia] Nena Nable to check what schools she can go to—the National Cathedral or Wellesley and some others before Princeton next year. [Benjamin] Kokoy Romualdez left yesterday to prepare her schedule.
We decorated Lt. Gen. Marvin L. McNickle Commander of the 3th U.S. Airforce with the Philippine Legion of Honor (Commander) and the Presidential Unit Citation Badge to 23 U.S. units including the Manila Disaster Control Unit of the U.S. Embassy.
Tried out the swamp boat and saw the model of the hectapod. The boat with the airplane engine and prop was slow.
Press TV-Radio interview at 4:00 PM to 4:45. Barely reached the MIA [Manila International Airport] before the departure of Imee by PAL [Philippine Airlines] at 5:20 PM.
10:00 PM August 15, 1972[13]
Tuesday
Kokoy [Benjamin Romualdez] excitedly cabled by long distance from San Francisco to report that he has solved the problem of Imee’s pre-Princeton school. It is Monterrey, the best Catholic School for girls in the U.S. two and a half hours away from San Francisco by car and half an hour by plane.
Earl Mazo helped locate it. Bob Flanagan helped. He is one of the closest aides of Pres. [Richard] Nixon and a graduate of Princeton.
And Kokoy says it is as beautiful if not more so than any beach resort he knows—“Baguio and Leyte combined does not match it.” It has a high scholastic standard and he can get a 65 year old former teacher living in Monterrey at $3,500 a year to attend to the needs of Imee and escort her when she is allowed out of the school once a month.
And Imee seems to like it as she has always preferred to stay in the U.S. West Coast.
She is coming back after she visits the school. And shops a little. But her classes start Sept. 4th.
Played only 5 holes this morning as I seem to have caught a severe cold and am feeling below the weather. It also started to rain.
After goodbyes of Amb. and Mrs. John Curle of the UK I formally opened the convention of the Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor, met Gen. Manager [Roman] Cruz [Jr.] and Bert [Gilberto] Teodoro on the GSIS and SSS housing projects in the flooded areas. And Leon O. Ty of DBP [Development Bank of the Philippines].
Slept 3½ hours in the afternoon. Decolgen always makes me drowsy.
Played around with Irene who also pulled out some of my gray hair which is increasing.
Then met Com. [Rolando] Geotina on smuggling, Sens. and Cong. Lorenzo Teves and [Herminio] Miniong Teves on the Tanjay Tulong road and sugar in BAIS, Neg. Or. [Negros Oriental] as well as Del. [Delegate] Goding [Godofredo] Ramos and Col. Baylon, Deputy Commander of the Supply Center of the AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines].
Have finished my outline of the development in military and defense policies of the Philippines.
12:30 PM August 16, 1972[14]
Wednesday
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
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.
10:40 PM August 17, 1972[15]
Thursday
The Sugar conference—Traders, refiners and planters at 10:00 AM—with Sec. [Troadio] Quiazon [Jr.] and Sugar Quota Adm. Jose Unson.
Ordered 270,000 piculs of raw sugar to be refined. This plus the 900,000 bags of refined sugar is equivalent to four months of domestic supply. Thus there will be no shortage. But the export sugar so taken to be refined will be replaced with sugar from the Visayas where the milling starts Sept. 1st, barely two weeks away.
Then asked the Traders to put all their vehicles of about a hundred (Sec. Quiazon has only 20 Army trucks at his disposal), their facilities and outlets at the disposal of the Sec. of Commerce. So that there may be proper distribution of the available sugar.
And ordered the continuation of the enforcement of the PCC [Price Control Council] prices. Yesterday 50 retailers were arrested for selling beyond PCC prices.
Then met the PAAF [Philippine Amateur Athletic Federation] under Sen. [Ambrosio] Padilla on my suggestion that the delegation of 68 to the Munich Olympic games.
I ended by ordering that the government money from the PCSO [Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office] be not spent for the delegation and that the PAAF limit itself to only P300,000 and no government money to be spent.
And it looks like the chances of the delegation to win a medal is limited to weightlifting in the lightweight division, boxing and possibly wrestling—the combative sports.
Asked the Davao City Councilors to delay for one year the increase of their salary from Pl2,000 annually to P18,000. As I am going to ask the postponement of all increase in salary.
Mel [Ismael] Mathay [Jr.] and Delegate Carlos Valdes came to see me about helping [Felipe] Baby Ysmael whose every act has caused a scandal.
And Gov. [Manuel] Solidum of Romblon.
Took lunch at 3:30 PM with [Roberto] Bobby Benedicto conferring on accounts—and rice and the commodity loan from Japan.
[1] Official Gazette for August 3, 1972: THE PRESIDENT declared a moratorium on the sending of Philippine delegations to international conferences abroad as one more means of cutting down the spending of valuable foreign exchange, for the duration of the national rehabilitation program. At the same time, the President instructed the Department of Foreign Affairs to seek a deferment, if not a cancellation, of international conferences scheduled to be held in the country for the duration of the rehabilitation program. Not included in the presidential edict were the United Nations General Assembly session in September, scheduled to be attended by Secretary of Foreign Affairs Carlos P. Romulo, and vital economic conferences including those connected with government efforts to raise assistance for its rehabilitation program. Among other actions, the President ordered the prompt restoration of normal vehicular traffic leading to the Ilocos provinces, which was cut off when the approaches of the Rosario bridge across Bued River along the highway in La Union were washed out by the flood.
[2] Official Gazette for August 4, 1972: PRESIDENT MARCOS, ordered the fielding of more men from the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources in Bulacan, Pampanga and Nueva Ecija to see if the farmers could start replanting. The President, expressed concern over the delay in replanting because it takes ordinarily one month for the seeds to mature as seedlings and three months for the seedlings to grow and produce grains. The President earlier directed the DANR to procure at least 100,000 sacks of palay seeds so that they could be loaned to farmers at the rate of one cavan per hectare, payable from their harvest. The President likewise, directed the DANR to: (1) Look into the feasibility of utilizing the three government rain-making planes in the southern provinces, particularly in Cotabato and Davao, where a drought has been reported. (2) Organize an anti-rat infestation campaign as well as a drive on the increased use of fertilizers to at least partially minimize the expected rice shortage as a result of the typhoons and floods. Among other actions, the President consented to the sending of a delegation by the Philippine Amateur Athletic Federation to the Munich Olympics “provided it is a ‘token delegation”, no government money would be spent for it, and the per diems of the members of the delegation would be reduced from $15 to $5. Later in the day, the President received Jarold Keiffer, assistant USAID administrator, and Russel McClure, USAID disaster coordinator, who arrived; from; Washington to find out first hand the extent of damages caused by the flood and to determine how their government could be &f further assistance to the Philippines. The USAID officials were accompanied to Malacañang by U.S. Ambassador Henry Byroade. In the evening, the President held preliminary discussions with Felipe F. Cruz, representative of the Philippine Contractors’ Association, as well as with government officials involved in rehabilitation work, on the financing aspects of various rehabilitation projects, including a crash program to cement 100 kilometers of roads in the Greater Manila area, and 1,000 kilometers of national highways. Also present at the conference were Executive Secretary Alejandro Melchor, Jr., Defense Secretary Juan Ponce Enrile, Budget Commissioner Faustino Sy-Changco, RCA Chairman-General Manager Eliseo Villamor, Public Highways Commissioner Baltazar Aquino, and Brig. Gen. Amado Santiago, commander of the 51st Engineering Batallion. In the afternoon, the President conducted an ocular survey of the roads damaged by the floods in the city of Manila and checked on repair work being done by men of the Bureau of Public Highways and AFP engineering batallion. Back in Malacañang about 6:30 p.m., the President met with members of the Malacañang Press Corps.
[3] Official Gazette for August 5, 1972: THE PRESIDENT made a nationwide radio-television report to the nation, even as he called on the entire Filipino citizenry to take an active individual share in the reconstruction of the country. Pointing out that government would not be able to do the job of reconstruction and rehabilitation alone, he appealed to the citizenry “to now take it upon yourselves to participate in this rebuilding program. Let it be a program of love, let it be a program of work, manual work, if necessary. Let every man pick up a shovel or fork or any instrument of work and participate-in the effort to rebuild our country once again,” Earlier in the evening, the President had a three-hour meeting with the Cabinet, leaders of Congress, and representatives of all sectors, including religious and civic leaders, media, loggers, producers and contractors. During the meeting, the President gave the go-signal for the implementation of the national reconstruction and rehabilitation program after being assured that there were available funds for the purpose. The President also ordered: (1) Implementation of the plan to set up a “green belt” around Manila. (2) Priority be given in the distribution of relief goods to the towns bordering Candaba swamp, which were the hardest hit. (3) The assignment of army pilots to fly the three government rain-making planes to Davao and Cotabato. (4) The Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources to remind the Fertilizer Institute of its” pledge to lower the cost of fertilizers after its loans had been restructured by the Philippine National Bank. (5) Budget Commissioner Faustino Sy-Changco to release immediately P8 million to the Department of Health, Fl million to the Presidential Arm on Community Development, and F50,000 to the Department of Education. (6) The Development Bank of the Philippines and Highways Commissioner Baltazar Aquino to study the linkage system in connection with the need for cement in the reconstruction program. (7) The increase of forest guards from 900 to 4,000. (8) The continued suspension of classes for another week in the Greater Manila area, Pampanga, Tarlac, Pangasinan and Nueva Ecija, and the towns of Hagonoy, Paombong and Calumpit, Bulacan, on recommendation of acting Education Secretary Narciso Albarracin. Among those present at the meeting were Senate President Gil J. Puyat, Speaker Gornelio T. Villareal, Senate President Protempore Jose J. Roy, Speaker Protempore Jose Aldeguer, Senate Majority Floor Leader Arturo M. Tolentino, House Majority Floor Leader Marcelino Veloso; Secretary of Foreign Affairs Carlos P. Romulo, Finance Secretary Cesar E. A. Virata, Health Secretary Clemente Gatmaitan, Justice Secretary Vicente Abad Santos, Labor Secretary Bias F. Ople, Agriculture Secretary Arturo R. Tanco, Jr., Social Welfare Secretary Estefania Aldaba-Lim, Defense Secretary Juan Ponce Enrile, Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella, Press Secretary Francisco S. Tatad, Budget Commissioner Faustino Sy-Changco, Assistant Executive Secretary Roberto V. Reyes, Acting Education Secretary Narciso Albarracin; General Services Secretary Constancio Castaneda; Chairman Gerardo Sicat of the National Economic Council; Chairman Eliseo Villamor of the Rice and Corn Administration; Director-General Apolinario Orosa of the Presidential Economic Staff; Chairman Florencio Medina of the National Science Development Board; Governor Gregorio Licaros of the Central Bank; SSS Administrator Gilberto Teodoro, GSIS General Manager Roman Cruz, Jr., OEC Administrator Eduardo Rodriguez; P’NB President Eusebio Villatuya; Senators Ambrosio Padilla and Helena Z. Benitez, Rep. Rogelio Tiglao of Pampanga, Mons. Mariano Gaviola, Jr., Florentino Cayco, representing the fishing industry; Eduardo Escobar and Felipe Cruz, representing private contractors; and Ady Sison, representing Alfredo Montelibano.
[4] Official Gazette for August 6, 1972: PRESIDENT MARCOS ordered the inclusion of oil and its derivatives in the list of prime commodities previously authorized for requisitioning and immediate distribution to flood victims in disaster areas even as he kept tabs of the rehabilitation works in the flooded areas of Central Luzon and the Greater Manila area. Included under the new order were gasoline, kerosene, crude oil, bunker fuel and lubricants. The President issued the order upon receiving reports of fuel shortages in the flood-stricken provinces which threatened to paralyze transportation, industries, communications and other essential facilities requiring oil products. In the afternoon, the President visited the hydraulic laboratory and research projects of the bureau of public works where continuous studies on flood control and drainage problems, particularly in Central Luzon, were being made. Accompanied by Public Works Director Alejandro Deleña, the President boarded a launch on the Pasig river beside Malacafiang shortly after 5 p.m., and sailed upstream to Punta, Sta. Ana where the research project was installed. The Chief Executive said that high priority would be given to the clearing of esteros so as to minimize the flooding in Manila and suburbs. The President returned to Malacafiang at 6:30 p.m.
[5] Official Gazette for August 7, 1972: THE PRESIDENT, together with the First Lady, left for Baguio, on the first leg of their visit to Northern Luzon areas damaged by flood. The First Couple left Manila by plane at 8:30 a.m. and landed at the San Fernando airport in La Union due to poor visibility at the Loakan airport in Baguio. From San Fernando, they boarded cars and motored up to Baguio, proceeding directly to the city hall for a conference with local officials actively engaged in relief and rehabilitation work. In the course of the conference, the President declared a moratorium on all loans contracted by disaster victims with government financing institution. The President also informed the local officials of his order for the release of P20,000 for Baguio and P30,000 for Benguet for the local purchase of relief supplies for immediate distribution to destitute families. The First Lady for her part asked the farmers to prepare listings of their seed requirements as well as fertilizers and pesticides. She pointed out that foreign governments have always indicated their readiness to help out the Philippines and would only be too willing to extend assistance. The First Lady, on arrival in Baguio, immediately launched an inoculation program. Among those present at the conference were Gov. Juvenal K. Guerrero, Reps. Jose D. Aspiras and Joaquin Ortega of La Union, Gov. Benjamin Palispis and Rep. Andres Cosalan of Benguet, Mayor Luis Lardizabal, Public Works Secretary David M. Consunji.
[6] Official Gazette for August 8, 1972: PRESIDENT MARCOS formally launched the nation’s massive rehabilitation program designed to head off serious dislocation of the economy following one of the most-destructive floods to hit the country in years. The President returned to his Malacañang-in-the-Field headquarters in Lingayen, Pangasinan where he personally distributed palay seeds as well as seeds of assorted short-time crops to farmers whose fields had been wiped out by the floodwaters. Work on the repair and reconstruction of damaged roads, bridges and other public installations also went into full swing all over the disaster areas with the view to restoring transportation arteries and expedite the return to normalcy of these localities. “Unless the normal flow of traffic is restored there are bound to be shortages in essential commodities and people in the affected areas would continue to suffer,” the President said. Taking a helicopter, the Chief Executive went around La Union and Pangasinan towns urging public works engineers and government agricultural technicians in the field to hurry up the reconstruction of damaged installations and the extension of assistance for the rehabilitation of agricultural farms. The President also directed the fieldmen of the Bureau of Plant Industry to cut down the red tape in the distribution of palay seeds to farmers; whom he found were made to sign a number of forms before being given their share of seeds for replanting. In Lingayen, the President also held a series of conference with various officials from the ravaged provinces. The President returned about 1 p.m. to San Fernando, La Union where he had lunch at the Philippine Navy base in Poro Point. He then resumed his conference with local officials over the progress of relief and rehabilitation work in their respective jurisdictions.
[7] Official Gazette for August 9, 1972: PRESIDENT MARCOS decided to fly to Ilocos Norte before returning to “Manila following their visit to Baguio, the mountain provinces, Pangasinan and La Union. Arriving in Laoag about 10 a.m. from San Fernando, La Union where they spent the night, the First Couple was met at the Gabu airport by large delegations from Ilocos Norte and nearby provinces. At the airport, the President found two helicopters of the Chinese Air Force, which where part of a fleet of 30 planes, consisting of 25 cargo planes, two P-123 troop carriers, two helicopters and one C-47. The President and the First Lady met the crewmen during which they were informed that their fleet ferried 100 tons of relief goods, including: canned goods, preserved meat and C-rations. From the airport, the First Couple together with their children Imee, Bongbong and Irene, headed a long motorcade to the city cathedral for Te Deum. Then they proceeded to the local Divine Word-College where they-attended a memorial program for the late Gov. Roque Ablan, Sr. on the occasion of the 66th birth anniversary of-the late governor. The President spent the rest of the day conferring-with-local-executive of Ilocos Norte and other provinces.
[8] Official Gazette for August 10, 1972: PRESIDENT MARCOS congratulated government highway engineers for the speedy repair of the Bued river bridge in Rosario, La Union which was reopened to general traffic. It is the only road artery to the Ilocos region. In a message flashed from the Presidential plane en route back to Manila from Laoag, Ilocos Norte, the President at 10 a.m. told the engineers: “Congratulations for the fast restoration of Bued river bridge to general traffic. People from the North certainly are grateful. Keep up the good work.” Upon arrival in Malacañang, the President ordered the mapping, by aerial photography of rivers in Manila and Central Luzon, even as he directed the Department of Public Works and Communications to get old maps of these rivers with the view to determining the illegal constructions thereat. The President likewise ordered the removal of said illegal constructions should the owners themselves fail to remove them. He directed the Secretary of Public Works and Communications to coordinate with the Philippine Air Force and the Bureau of Lands on the taking of aerial photographs, starting with the Pasig River, and to pinpoint to him who are squatting “whether they are big or small.” In issuing the order, the President also appealed to corporations and persons concerned to cooperate with the national government in its efforts to prevent floods in Manila by clearing the channel of the Pasig River and the esteros. The President also directed the Department of Public Works and Communications to start the dredging of Bulacan River and the clearing up of a channel to provide an outlet for the floodwaters. The President continued devoting most of his time to the urgent task of relief and rehabilitation. Among the reports he received was that of the Infrastructure Operations Center on road repairs being undertaken in the Greater Manila area by the Bureau of Public Highways and army engineers.
[9] Official Gazette for August 11, 1972: PRESIDENT MARCOS had a two-hour conference in the afternoon with financial and technical advisers to explore possible sources of funds for rehabilitation and revise the infrastructure program of the government so as to give emphasis on rehabilitation projects. Among those present at the conference were Budget Commissioner Faustino Sy-Changco, Executive Secretary Alejandro Melchor, Jr., PES Director-General Apolinario Orosa, CB Governor Gregorio Licaros, Highways Commissioner Baltazar Aquino, Assistant Executive Secretary Roberto V. Reyes, Public Works Secretary David M. Consunji, and Finance Secretary Cesar E. A. Virata. Also present at the conference were Agriculture Secretary Arturo R. Tanco, Ambassador Roberto Benedicto, Public Works Director Alejandro Deleña and Irrigation Administrator Alfredo Juinio. The President continued focusing on the progress of relief and rehabilitation work as he spent the whole morning going over reports from-government agencies involved in the program. Following his afternoon conference, the President directed the use of Philippine Navy boats in the distribution of relief aid in the bayshore towns of Laguna de Bay. Then the President had an interview with Malacañang newsmen early in the evening.
[10] Official Gazette for August 12, 1972: THE PRESIDENT declared a state of public calamity in nine Visayan and Mindanao provinces which had experienced long periods of severe droughts. Covered by the proclamation (Proclamation No. 1060) were the provinces of Leyte, Bohol, Capiz, Cotabato, South Cotabato, Davao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Iloilo and Surigao del Norte. The President also ordered the seizure and confiscation of all sugar stocks stored in warehouses, refineries, sugar mill premises and other establishments in the entire island of Luzon, including the Greater Manila area, and their distribution through legitimate outlets to the general public and industrial users at prices fixed by the Price Control Council. The directive was issued to the Secretary of National Defense, the Secretary of Commerce and Industry, the chief of the Philippine Constabulary and the Sugar Quota Administrator. The President issued the order after domestic sugar continued to be scarce in the market, amidst the raising clamor from the nation’s housewives for the commodity which is essential to the health of every man, woman and child. In the course of the day, the President, together with the First Lady, Mrs. Imelda R. Marcos, received; (1) Officers of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce who presented a donation for the flood victims. With them in calling at Malacañang was Chinese Ambassador Liu Chien. (2) Theodore H. Mecke, Jr., vice president for public affairs of Ford Motors Company, who likewise presented a check for $37,125 (₱250,000) from Ford Motors Company for the relief of the disaster victims. Antonio Floirendo, who was with Mecke, also presented a check for ₱35,000 from Ely Black of the Mindanao Fruit Corporation. The President expressed thanks and appreciation to the donors. He requested Ambassador Chien to convey the gratitude of the Filipino people to the government and people of the Republic of China for their generous manifestation of friendship and sympathy for the victims of the recent floods and typhoons. “On behalf of the people of the Philippines, our government, and my own, may I extend to you and through you to the government and people of China, our gratitude for this manifestation of friendship and sympathy,” the President said. In the afternoon, the President met with representatives of the Fertilizer Institute to whom he appealed for a reduction of the price of fertilizers so that the farmers could increase production to minimize the adverse effects of the typhoons, floods and droughts on rice production. The President warned that unless everybody cooperated and forgot about profits, the country would face a bad rice shortage. “We should not equate the profit motive with the welfare and interests of our people,” he added. Those who conferred with the President were Messrs. Cayetano Pineda, Leonie Gonzalez, Manny Dizon, George Marcelo and Ady Sison. Early in the evening, the President received the crewmen of three Chinese Air Force planes and helicopters who flew relief and rescue missions over Central Luzon. The Chinese pilot called at Malacañang before leaving for Taipei. In bidding goodbye to the CAF officers, the President requested them to convey personally to President Chiang Kai-Shek and Premier Chang Ching Kuo the gratitude and appreciation of the Filipino people for their manifestation of sympathy and friendship. Led by Col. Wong Teh-fu and Lt. Cols. Ho Kai-wan and Chou Chi Whao, the group included Majors Yay “ian Lean, Chang Sheng Chuan, Lieu Sayh Jung, Chang Lin Sheng, Chao Asui Feng and Kuo Seng Tin. They were accompanied to the President by Brig. Gen. Jose Rancudo, PAF chief; Lt. Col. David David, and Col. Chang Wei Lieh, air attache at the local Chinese embassy. Following the call of the Chinese pilots, the President swore in Col. Pedro Mendoza as acting deputy commissioner of customs, vice Pedro Pacis who had retired.
[11] Official Gazette for August 13, 1972: THE PRESIDENT spent almost the whole day working on official papers in his private study and keeping in touch with government agencies engaged in relief and rehabilitation work. The only caller received by the President was General Tjokro Pranolo, personal representative of President Suharto of Indonesia who presented to him a donation of 10 tons of powdered baby milk from the government of Indonesia for the flood victims. In receiving the donation, the President requested General Pranolo to convey the appreciation and gratitude of the Filipino people for the demonstration of “oneness and unity in time of crisis.” He also expressed the hope that he would be able to convey his personal thanks and gratitude to the Indonesian President and through him the Indonesian government and people. General Pranolo was accompanied to Malacañang by the crew members of the Indonesian Air Force cargo plane which brought the donation to Manila and Indonesian Ambassador Kusno Utomo.
[12] Official Gazette for August 14, 1972: SPEAKING for the second time in as many weeks over radio and television, President Marcos called on the business and industrial sectors to abandon the profit motive during the period of national crisis so as not to jeopardize the public welfare. The President likewise exhorted the public to actively participate in the maintenance of a system of prices of commodities and in cleaning up the premises of waste and garbage. He called on the citizenry to inform the proper authorities like the Price Control Council, the Secretary of National Defense, the Secretary of Commerce and Industry, as well as his office, if necessary, of any withholding of foodstuff such as sugar by traders or outlets. In like manner, he asked the public to report to the authorities any misconduct on the part of any public official or employee in relation to the distribution and sale of food supplies. The President also appealed to the citizens not to wait for the initiatives of government but to take it upon themselves to clean up their premises. Earlier in the day, the President conferred the Presidential Unit Citation Badge on the different U.S. civilian and military task forces which participated in the massive relief and rescue operations in flood-stricken provinces. In ceremonies held at Malacañang shortly before noon, the President also awarded the Philippine Legion of Honor, rank of commander, on Lieut. Gen. Marvin L. McNickle, outgoing commander of the U.S. 13th Air Force at Clark Field and member of the RP-US Mutual Defense Board, for having “consistently demonstrated a genuine concern for the development of the posture of Philippine defense against external aggression.” “The selfless efforts of the officers and men of these units helped immeasurably in the rescue, evacuation, inoculation and medical treatment of disaster victims as well as in the timely delivery of medical and food supplies to inundated communities. The President pinned the Presidential Unit Citation Badge on 20 officers and men with ranks ranging from Lieutenant General down to Sergeant who received the award on behalf of their organizations. The civilian U.S. Disaster Task Force was represented by Ambassador Henry Byroade, while the military representation was headed by Rear Admiral John H. Dick, representative in the Philippines of the commander-in-chief of the U.S. Naval Forces in the Pacific. At the ceremonies were Assistant Executive Secretary Roberto V. Reyes, Maj. Gen. Rafael Ileto, AFP vice chief of staff; Brig. Gen. Fidel V. Ramos, PC chief; Brig. Gen. Jose Rancudo, PAF chief; Commodore Hilario M. Ruiz, PN chief; and other ranking AFP officers.
[13] Official Gazette for August 15, 1972: THE PRESIDENT formally opened the Second International Convention of the Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor with a prayer for peace with freedom and individual dignity. Addressing the delegates, the President said that aside from renewing ties of comradeship, ” we must also use this occasion to join men and women everywhere who daily plead for peace and the right to live.” “Therefore let the lesson we learned in Bataan ring out that while man seeks peace, there can be no peace without justice, without dignity and without freedom,” the President said. The American delegates were headed by Thomas Hackett, past commander of the American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor, Inc.; Burton Ellis, representing- American Ex-Prisoners of War; Col. George Moore of the 45th Philippine Scouts, and Mrs. Edith Knowles, president of the Gold Star Wives Association of America. Filipino delegates, included Col. Rizalino P. Lacuna, national commander; Brig. Gen. Constante Cruz, vice commander; Defense Undersecretary Manuel Q. Salientes, national director; Col. Antonio Vinluan, national finance officer; Florentino de Guzman, Col. Sixto Dante, Col. Raymundo Paredes, and other chapter commanders. In the afternoon, the President and the First Lady received Ambassador and Mrs. John Curie of Great Britain who called to say goodbye before leaving for London. In making a farewell call, the Curies conveyed their gratitude and appreciation to the Filipino people for giving- them a fruitful and very pleasant stay during the ambassador’s tour of duty in the Philippines. The President and the First Lady, in turn, thanked them for their efforts to forge closer ties of friendship between the Philippines and their country, and expressed the hope that they would always remain true friends of the Filipinos and help advance the cause of the Philippines whenever occasion arises.
[14] 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.
[15] Official Gazette for August 17, 1972: THE PRESIDENT conferred with sugar planters and traders in Malacañang in view of complaints of a sugar shortage and profiteering after he had issued the order and started the sale of seized sugar stocks at government prices. During the conference, the traders pledged their cooperation and in that spirit, placed all their personnel, organizational machinery and trucks at the disposal of the government to insure the smooth distribution of the commodity. Commerce Secretary and concurrently Price Control Council Chairman Troadio Quiazon, Jr., said there was no shortage but that the scarcity was due to lack of distribution facilities. Present at the conference, besides Secretary Quiazon and Sugar Quota Administrator Jose Unson, were Chito Santos of CAREBI, representing sugar refineries; Armando Narciso of Insular Refining Company; Mrs. Fe Castillo of YUDECO; Jose V. Mapa, Jr., secretary of the Philippine Sugar Refinery Association; Elias Coscoluela of Founders Sugarlandia; Ady Sison for the planters; Francisco Varua, Angel Dizon, Jose Mari Chan, Alex Limjoco, Danny Nakpil, Alfredo Villafana and Irineo S. Juan, representing traders; and Senator Alejandro Almendras, representing Davao sugar planters. Earlier in the day, the President received the city councilors of Davao City who sought approval of H. Bill No. 4456, increasing the basic salaries of Davao City officials. During their talks, the President reiterated the basic policy of not giving salary increases and promotions to government employees, as part of the retrenchment policy and to generate funds for the rehabilitation program. The President told the delegations that there was a plan for general increases in salaries of city and provincial officials but that in view of the calamity “all salary increases had been temporarily suspended.” Also received by the President were the officials of the Olympic delegation led by Senator Ambrosio Padilla, president of the Philippine Amateur Athletic Federation. The President told the officials of the Olympic delegation to keep expenses within the ₱300,000 earmarked for the delegation by the PAAF and any other amounts donated by different organizations. We are going to absolutely inhibit the expenditure of government funds for this so that our people will realize we are not going to spend money which otherwise could be spent for relief and rehabilitation,” he said. The President directed the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office to divert the ₱200,000 earmarked for the Philippine Olympic delegation to the national rehabilitation program. With Senator Padilla were Ernie Bitong, Col. Arsenio de Borja, Elpidio Doroteo, Peter Calibo, Fernando Bautista, Jr., Jose Bereciarte, Col. Jaime Villafuerte, Ramon Lim, Enrique Quema, Julian Malonzo and Geruncio Lacuesta.