1:00 AM Aug. 4th
Official Gazette for August 3, 1973: COMMISSION on Elections announced that the resounding “yes” answered by the voters in their ballots during the July 27-28 referendum gave the President a “persuasive fresh mandate.” Comelec Chairman Leonardo Perez made the remark at the proclamation of the official results of the national referendum at the poll body’s session hall in Intramuros. Mr. Perez said the affirmative votes prevailed overwhelmingly over the no-votes with a win percentage of 90.67 per cent.
THE PRESIDENT ordered the establishment of a Philippine Center in San Francisco to promote the culture, products and image of the country. The establishment will house various products and cultural arts in the display rooms that will be available for lease to Philippine exporters and businessmen. Aside from propagating culture, the Philippine Center will also encourage foreign tourists to visit the Philippines, broaden the image for Philippine exports and provide a coordinated and efficient public service to enhance the Philippine image.
THE PRESIDENT was informed by two officials of the A. T. Hutchinson Ltd., one of the biggest investment firms in Hongkong and London, that their company has decided to increase its investments in the country. The two officials, Messrs. Robert Boyd, managing director, and Peter J. Pearson, who has been looking after the firm’s substantial investments in the Philippines, took occasion to congratulate the President for the people’s reiteration at the referendum of their faith and confidence in his leadership. The business executives told the President that their company has already substantial long-term investments through the stock exchanges, but that after observing the changed atmosphere and the favorable investments climate, they have decided to pour in more investments.
FUNCTION of assessment and the collection of “S” licenses (Opium License) may be continued by the Narcotics Drug Division even after said division has been transferred from the Bureau of Internal Revenue to the Food and Drug Administration of the Department of Health. Implementation of the Integrated Reorganization Plan caused the abolition of the division in the BIR and its transfer, together with its applicable appropriations, records, equipment and personnel, to the Food and Drug Administration of the health department. The opinion on the division’s still welding the power to collect “S” licenses was issued by Justice Secretary Vicente Abad Santos in reply to a query from the secretary of health.
DEPARTMENT of Trade spelled out five directions which advertising practitioners are expected to take in line with the revolutionary transformation of Philippine Society. Secretary of Trade Troadio T. Quiazon Jr. noted that “while before, the raison d’ etre for advertising was mainly the profit motive, this has now been complemented by the social motive, that advertising should promote the ideals of the New Society.” He made the statement before the regular membership meeting of the Philippine Association of National Advertisers held at the PAL Skyclub in Makati, Rizal. The secretary stressed that advertising should strive to find a healthy balance between sales expectations and social interest.
PRIVATE sector must share the Government’s efforts to promote and ensure optimum health for our people, especially in the field of heart diseases. Health Secretary Clemente S. Gatmaitan made this assessment during the recent induction of new officers of the Philippine Heart Association. The secretary said that the basis for the partnership of the Government and the private sector is enshrined in the new Constitution stating “the State shall establish, maintain and ensure adequate social services in the field of education, health, housing, employment welfare and social security to guarantee the enjoyment by the people of a decent standard of living.”
THE PRESIDENT vowed to pursue in an atmosphere of unity and urgency, New Society reforms which the people in effect overwhelmingly endorsed in the July 27-28 referendum. In his first nationwide address to the nation after the historic referendum, the Chief Executive enumerated a series of initial moves to improve government service and arrest the reported backsliding of military and civilian government personnel to the pernicious habits of the old society. He said that the primary task of the nation today concerns the betterment of the lot of the people who have expressed confidence and faith on the administration through the referendum.
SWINDLING and other acts of deceit as defined and penalized under Article 315 and 316 of the Revised Penal Code, will also be tried by military tribunals. This was announced by Brig. Gen. Tagumpay A. Nanadiego, AFP Judge Advocate General. He said that this expanded jurisdiction of military courts is decreed in General Order No. 37 which the President issued.
THE PRESIDENT created the Philippine Amanah Bank to promote and accelerate socio-economic development of Cotabato, Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte and Sulu provinces including
Results of the referendum have been formally proclaimed by the Comelec [Commission on Elections].
So I prepared the speech for tomorrow press conference.
We have to prepare the answers to the adverse press stories of New York Times Talman Durdin, and Newsweek’s Clifton. We may have to stop the distribution of the current Newsweek.
Like quotations from [Jovito] Salonga—or the allegation that the precincts were guarded by policemen or constabularymen to observe who were voting against me.
King Ranch’s Frank Yturria, wife Marriane and daughter Dorothy, Peter.
I would like King Ranch to work on projects for large scale cattle production—huge ranches.