[p.85] Spent practically the whole day attending to the problems of the Tondo forshore land slum dwellers. They ask for the land reclaimed from the sea at North Harbor. Last year I gave P350,000 to the Bureau of Lands in their presence to spend for the survey and subdivision of the land into residential lots excluding the customs area and land set aside for roads, parks and recreational facilities which they now whish to do away with.
I have given them the responsibility of deciding the conflicting claims and the problems of more than 5,000 applicants to only 3,000 lots if the parks, roads and recreational facilities are included as residential land. And I explained the program of housing (requesting that if it is necessary to accommodate several families in one lot, they should agree to condominium in three or two story apartments), education through the foster-parent plan of businessmen and employment.
Met with the business leaders on the Tondo problem of housing, education and employment
Official Gazette for February 16, 1970: President Marcos concentrated mostly on state papers, but also received a number of callers, including a 40-man delegation representing tenants of the Tondo foreshore lands, and two officials going abroad on assignments. In the case of the Tondo group, the President was informed of irregularities allegedly committed by certain Land Authority personnel in connection with applications for acquisition of lots in the foreshore lands. The President ordered the immediate filing of charges in court against erring personnel. Earlier, in the morning, the President received Ambassador Romeo S. Busuego, who called for final instructions preparatory to departing for his post in Kuala Lumpur, as Philippine envoy to Malaysia. Busuego, who was accompanied by Secretary of Foreign Affairs Carlos P Romulo to Malacañang, was chief of mission in Malaysia for more than two years, returning home when Philippine-Malaysian diplomatic relations were suspended in November, 1968. The President also received Brig. Gen. Felix Pestaña, who paid his respects prior to his leaving for Bangkok where he will assume his post as deputy chief of the Military Planning Office of the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO).
General Pestaña has been in the service for almost 30 years, rising to the rank of vice commander of the Philippine Air Force and later deputy chief of staff of the AFP. He will be away for two years. In the afternoon, the President received the Council of Tondo Foreshore land Community Organization, a conglomerate of 76 individual organizations representing 100,000 residents of Vitas and Isla Puting Bato in Tondo, and areas in-between. Accompanied by PANAMIN Secretary Manda Elizalde, the group headed by Restituto de Leon and Feliciano V. Reales, vice-chairman and executive vice-chairman, respectively, included Leonard A. Villacorta, Josephine J. Domico, Gervacio D. A.cebo, Francisco Militar, Joseph Venida, Feliciano Maraliga, Eleodora B. Tuazon, Patria Valles and Fr. Henry B. Aguilar, adviser.
Present at the meeting were Vice President Fernando Lopez, Secretaries Felix V. Makasiar of Justice, Gregorio Feliciano of Social ‘Welfare, Amadeo Cruz of Health, and Blas F. Ople of Labor. Executive Secretary Alejandro Melchor, Deputy Governor Benicio Eusebio of Land Authority and Customs Commissioner Rolando Geotina.The President also received Reps. Manuel Zosa, Emerito Calderon, and Celestino Sybico, who took up problems of their respective districts, with the President.
Then talked to the Blue Ladies on the capabilities of government to protect them and what government is doing to bring about change.
Asked Enriquito Zobel in the businessmen’s meeting to hurry up the Magalang project of the Filipinas Foundation