This morning I met Sen. Tanaka, leader of the opposition in Japan and the mayor of the city of [left blank in MS.]
Worked on the reorganization of the Bureau of Customs with Com. [Rolando] Geotina removing Collector Mascardo from the MIA [Manila International Airport].
Then finalized the preparations of Bobby [Roberto] Benedicto before his departure for his Tokyo ambassadorial appointment.
Gave final instructions to Blas Ople, Dr. Orosa and Adrian Cristobal on the State of the Nation address. The international situation and the forces over which we have no control but which may adversely affect our country; the rending apart of the old structures of international relations (Red China admitted into the United Nations and in the Security Council); the U.S. slowly pulling back into what could be Fortress America, India; the old leader of the neutralists now openly joining hands with Russia against China and the U.S. and Pakistan; the transition from polarization to pluralization and the flexibility of the foreign policies of nations etc. etc.—these must of necessity affect us beyond our expectations.
And so has the monetary policy of the U.S., Japan, Germany, etc.—the big team—the revaluation of currencies.
We must also explain the limitations and constrictions that prevent the attainment of our objectives.
Ambassador [Henry] Byroade came to transmit the message of Pres. [Richard] Nixon before his visit to Moscow and Peking that there will be no agreement of mutual withdrawal from Europe, no political agreements and no arrangements above the hands of allies—that nothing unusual should, therefore, be expected from these meetings.
Then I met the Concon [Constitutional Convention] delegates from the Visayas.
Official Gazette for January 6, 1972: President Marcos asked the heads of tax collecting agencies to redouble their efforts, while expressing the hope that these agencies could still improve on their past performance.
The President gave the injunction after going through reports on revenues and tax collections including that of Customs Commissioner Rolando Geotina, which stated that actual collections in the Bureau of Customs from July to December, 1971 showed an increase of about 11 per cent over the revised estimates; that the increase in collections for December (1971) alone was only 17 per cent more than that of the same month in 1970, and only 9.6 per cent than the projected estimates.“Better and higher collection of revenues will be very vital for the implementation of the administration program the President said.
This call not noted in the Official Gazette.
The Concon committee on Legislative power chairmanned by Ex-Speaker Domingo Veloso has just noted for 11 parliamentary form of government by a vote of 22, 9, 2 (the 2 being abstention). The other committee (on Executive Power) should also report out a parliamentary system.