Official Gazette for October 25, 1973: PRESIDENT MARCOS sent the following congratulatory message to President Nixon for the ceasefire agreement in Vietnam: “The Filipino people join me in congratulating you and the American people for negotiating an honorable peace in Vietnam. Freedom-loving peoples everywhere welcome the ceasefire agreement as a testimony to the courage, patience and will of the United States government which did not shirk responsibility but sought it to the end that peace may be achieved. We are confident that all nations who have a stake, in the well-being of humanity will do their part to make the peace work. Accept, Mr. President, the assurance of our highest esteem.”
INFORMATION SECRETARY Francisco S. Tatad said that the Philippines can expect to enjoy an economic boom when peace finally comes; to Vietnam, and if peace can be maintained particularly in the southern borders of the Philippines, this country can be among the major beneficiaries of a reconstruction bonanza. Sec. Tatad said the Philippines expects to participate in the construction boom in Japan, Hongkong, Australia and Indonesia. All these countries need construction materials from the Philippines. He said that the settlement of the Vietnam war is expected to open Southeast Asia to increased tourism in view of which the Philippines is preparing for the expanded flow of tourists to this country.
MEMBERS OF THE CABINET were directed to submit as soon as possible their respective studies and recommendations on the various provisons of the new Constitution affecting their department. President Marcos reminded the members of his official family that during the meeting of the Cabinet last Jan. 17, he had asked them to study the Constitutional provisions pertaining to their respective departments and to submit recommendations thereon. The President issued the reminder after administering the oath of office to the Cabinet secretaries whom he had reappointed under the new Constitution.
Inducted by the President were:
Secretary of Foreign Affairs Carlos P. Romulo, Secretary of Finance Cesar E.A. Virata, Secretary of Justice Vicente Abad Santos, Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources Arturo Tanco Jr., Secretary of Public Works, Transportation and Communications David M. Consunji, Secretary of Education and Culture Juan Manuel, Secretary of Labor Blas F. Ople;
Secretary of National Defense Juan Ponce Enrile, Secretary of Trade and Tourism Troadio T. Quiazon Jr., Executive Secretary Alejandro Melchor Jr., Secretary of General Services Constancio Castañeda, Secretary of Social Welfare Estefania Aldaba-Lim, Secretary of Agrarian Reform Conrado F. Estrella;
Director General Gerardo P. Sicat of National Economic and Development Authority; Secretary of Public Information Francisco S. Tatad, Secretary of Local Government and Community Development Jose Roño, Chairman Florencio Medina of the National Science Development Board, Commissioner Mama Sinsuat of the National Integration and Commissioner Faustino Sy-Changco of the Budget.
Also inducted by the President were Governor Gregorio S. Licarios of the Central Bank and Solicitor General Estelito Mendoza.
CREATION OF THE NATIONAL Economic and Development Authority provided the principal coordinating agency which will unity the cross purposes of previous economic bodies concerned with planning and implementation of the country’s economic policies. As created under Presidential decree issued by the President, the NED A which absorbed the functions of the National Economic Council and the Presidential Economic Staff, will be the principal economic planning body and policy maker of the government. When its decisions are approved by the President, who is chairman, these decisions become effective immediately. NEDA Director General Gerardo Sicat said that, as m the past, the private sector will be consulted together with the government agencies, in the formulation of economic policies. He predicted that the government’s development plans will assume greater meaning for everybody and will yield more results under the reforms brought about by Martial Law.
TWO VITAL ROAD extensions which will link Gov. Forbes (north of the Pasig river) through Mabini (Nagtahan) bridge will soon be advertised for public bidding. These major thoroughfares, which are set to be started this year, will serve as a direct link between the North and South Expressways and will provide the missing link in the circumferential Highway 2 which rings the inner sections of Manila.
TEACHING OF TAXATION in the elementary grade level has effectively raised the tax consciousness of elementary school pupils. This was the finding of the National Tax Research Center following a survey cover ing 20
Finished dictating the briefing I am going to give to the Supreme Court Justices on Monday for dinner.
We will have to show the latest intelligence reports on the South and the communists.
Spoke before the nutritionists—
Administered the new oath of office under the new constitution to the cabinet members.
cities, 20 provinces and 60 municipalities in the 10 regions of the country. Respondents of the survey were elementary school teachers who taught taxation in their classes, using “The Guide for Teaching Taxation in the Elementary Schools” as basis for instruction. The “Guide” was formulated through the joint efforts of the NTRC (then the Joint Legislative-Executive Tax Commission) and the Department of Education, and adopted for nationwide use in the academic term 1970-71. The Bureau of Internal Revenue extends assistance by requiring its regional offices to provide discussants to the schools.
FILIPINO WOMEN who married Chinese husbands and lost their Philippine citizenship before the effectivity of the new Constitution at noon of Jan. 17, 1973, remain Chinese citizens and are not affected by Sec. 2 Art. III of the new charter which allows Filipino women who marry aliens to retain their Filipino citizenship, Immigration and Deportation Commissioner Edmundo M. Reyes announced.