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.
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.
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.