Official Gazette for January 31, 1973: PRESIDENT MARCOS today tapped the services of four key members of the defunct Senate and House of Representatives for specific assignments as Presidential trouble shooters. The four are: former Senators Leonardo Q. Perez and Rene Espina and former Congressmen Jose D. Aspiras and Carmelo Barbero. Earlier the President had appointed former Governors Tito Primicias of Pangasinan and Julian Pacificador of Antique for similar assignments. The President directed the four “to determine and identify the specific areas in the national efforts which require constant supervision” by Presidential trouble shooters. Upon their designation, the President instructed Mr. Espina to proceed to Iligan and look into the conditions obtaining in the Iligan Steel Mills particularly with respect to its labor and milling operations. Former Sen. Perez and former Rep. Aspiras were asked to start “a grassroots information campaign” on the programs that the administration is pursuing for the masses so that citizens’ participation can best be achieved. The President said he would name more Presidential trouble shooters and further bridge the communication gap between the government and the people, stating that in no time is there need for greater citizen involvement in public affairs than now.
UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL officials visiting the country said that the improved situation under Martial Law is attracting world attention and that at least one head of government is following the Philippine experiment. The UPI officials paid their respects to President Marcos following their arrival in Manila to meet American prisoners of war who may be flown to Clark Air Force Base from Vietnam. After welcoming the officials and expressing the hope that more American media men could view the situation at close range, the President briefed them, saying that: 1) He is calling upon senators and congressmen, former delegates to the Constitutional Convention, and other leaders of various segments of society not only to advise him but to help out in various projects such as cooperatives, infrastructures, land reform, labor, manpower training and the like; 2) The Philippines is now tapping sources of geothermal energy for production, particularly the one in Tiwi, Albay; 3) The prospects for striking oil in the Philippines have attracted foreign oil companies, including Russians and Rumanians, who have expressed their desire to apply for oil concessions; and 4) He hopes to achieve national unity by granting selective amnesty and opening the barter trade for the Muslim Filipinos in the South.
SECRETARY OF INFORMATION Francisco S. Tatad advocated brotherhood and peace and above all love among men as the proper foundation in the building of a New Society. In an extemporaneous speech before the Kiwanis Club of Manila, the secretary stressed that love is the basic element that binds the people toward national unity and discipline and from this branch out to other noble values that make a healthy and vigorous society. Mr. Tatad recalled the tendency of the people under the old society into believing unverified or false information which “are not deserving of the society we are trying to build, a society founded on the truth.” He pointed out that in the campaign for the magistracy of the truth in places where there is a death of the mass media, it is the duty of the civic-spirited citizens, civic groups like the Kiwanis Club, and others to inform the people of the truth and to reject the rumors and gossips. He urged civic leaders to make sure that the truth has a better chance of reaching the people than false reports and rumors, that they help develop among the people self-reliance and confidence.
DEADLINE FOR RENEWAL of “licenses to operate” by private security agencies was extended to Feb. 28, 1973. Said deadline had been originally set for Jan. 30. Col. Honorio F. Balanon, chief of the PC Supervisory Unit for Security and Investigation Agencies, said the extension was granted by PC Chief Ramos because a great number of private security agencies have not yet fully complied with the requirements for their continued operation. He said many of these security agencies have not yet fully complied with the requirements for their continued operation. He said many of these security agencies have not yet secured clearance from the Department of Labor, the Social Security System and the Bureau of Internal Revenue,
PRESIDENT MARCOS ordered a thorough study of the effects of the return of peace to Vietnam on local affairs as well as on the treaty arrangement of the Philippines with the United States and other foreign countries.. The President designated a special committee to analyze effects of the Vietnam peace on the country’s security problems, negotiations on the US military bases here, which are expected to be resumed, and negotiations on other arrangements with the United States, particularly the Mutual Defense Pact, Military Assistance Pact and Laurel-Langley Agreement.
MALACAÑANG RELEASED the text of the Presidential decree providing for the repeal of Republic Act No. 427 which prohibits and penalizes the possession and exportation of silver or nickel coins under certain circumstances.
Have organized Sens. Leonardo Perez and Rene Espina and Congs. [Jose] Aspiras and [Carmelo] Barbero as my trouble shooters.
Sen. Arturo Tolentino is appearing as counsel for Sen. Pres. [Gil] Puyat and Sen. Pres. Pro Temp. [Jose] Roy, Com. Eduardo Reyes informed me.
U.S. POW’s [prisoners of war] from Hanoi of the Air Force will pass through Clark Air Force Base. Many photographers and correspondents as well as the POW’s families may be coming to Manila to meet them.
Met AP’s [Associated Press] Asian VP Bob Page and Editor Dan Gilbert with Pat Keelen and Vic ______.
Worked on:
- International Payments Union for Asia.
- Complementary Industrialization in ASEAN [Association of Southeast Asian Nations].
- Sugar markets—the world market price is higher than the US price but we sent out
R.A. No. 427 was enacted in 1950 to forestall a threatened coin shortage due to rampant unauthorized outflow of silver and nickel coins abroad. The pertinent provisions of the decree follows: “Whereas, Republic Act No. 427, ‘An Act Prohibiting the Possession and Exportation of Silver and/or Nickel Coins under Certain Circumstances and Providing the Procedure for Porsecution Thereof,’ was enacted in 1950 to forestall a threatened coin shortage; “Whereas, the present fiduciary coinage system of the country allows the replenishment of the coin supply quite easily and economically thus assuring a constant and adequate supply of small change; “NOW THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, and pursuant to proclamation 1081, dated September 22, 1972, as amended, and in order to effect the desired changes and reforms in the social, economic, and political structure of our society, do hereby order and decree the repeal of Republic Act No. 427. This Decree shall take effect immediately.”
MALACAÑANG RELEASED the text of the Presidential decree facilitating the mergers and consolidation of banks to enable them to play a more effective role in the country’s socio-economic development. President Marcos said that bank mergers should be encouraged to promote the financial stability of different banking units. Towards this end, the President had previously issued Presidential Decree No. 71, dated Nov. 29, 1972, exempting merged banks from the application of Sec. 28 of the Corporation Law, some provisions of which tend to restrict or impede bank mergers or consolidations. The decree on bank mergers provides that: “Section 1. For the sole purpose of facilitating bank mergers or consolidations duly approved by the Monetary Board of the Central Bank of the Philippines, any bank may merge or consolidate with another bank and the capital stock of a bank may be increased to the extent necessary to effect such merger or consolidation by the affirmative vote of the stockholders representing at least a majority of the subscribed capital stock in a stockholders’ meeting called for that purpose, notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 28 and 17 of the Corporation Law (Act No. 1459, as amended). Sec. 2. This shall take effect immediately and shall remain in the force for a period of three years from the date thereof.”
SECRETARY David Consunji of Public Works, Transportation and Communications said that his department has taken big strides in the repair and construction of roads primarily because of the renewed dedication of his men since the imposition of Martial Law. In an interview, the secretary noted that his department is now performing “30 or 40 per cent better than during the pre-Martial period.” The secretary said that the proclamation of Martial Law has made department personnel aware of the need to do better in their jobs.
sugar to the US anyway as we committed.
4. Producers Union on timber and copra.
Golf, tennis, dinner and worries with the USAFIP, NL [United States Army Forces in the Philippines – Northern Luzon] veterans. I intend to organize all veterans and set up an economic arm for logging, shipping etc.
Papers for today in Envelope XLIII-B and Folder XLIII-C.