1:00 AM July 19th
Entry is misdated as July 17.
Official Gazette for July 18, 1973: THE PRESIDENT welcomed the plan to establish “holiday inns” to boost tourism, as he received Mr. Kemmons Wilson, founder and board chairman of the Holiday Inns Inc., world’s largest chain of hotel, motels and lodgings. Accompanied by his wide Dorothy, Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Humphreys of Hunko Products, and Mr. Rudi Koppends, Holiday Inns vice presidents for Asia, Mr. Wilson expressed his eagerness to include the Philippines in his operations during his courtesy call at Malacañang. Mr. Wilson has already picked out a possible site right in the heart Manila, but will be scouting around for other sites before he leaves for the US.
THE PRESIDENT has completed the appointments of the top three officials of the Bureau of Public Highways who will assist Commissioner Aquino in running the implementing agency in the Government’s massive loadbuilding program. Mr. Aber Canlas took his oath of office as assistant chief highway engineer of the BPH before Commissioner Aquino. Mr. Bernardo Apostol was earlier sworn in as deputy commissioner for operations, together with Mr. Leoncio Limjuco, deputy commissioner for administration. With the new setup, Commissioner Aquino said he expects the highway bureau to become more efficient and productive.
THE PRESIDENT has promulgated Presidential Decree No. 243 creating a Philippine Veterans Investment Development Co. (PVIDC) to promote the full and continued utilization of the country’s manpower and to develop investment potentials from the veterans sector. The issuance of the decree is in consonance with the government policy of effecting desired changes and reforms in all sectors of society. The PVIDC will serve as a special agency that shall direct and look after the productive and investment possibilities coming, from this sector of society. It shall be directed, controlled and managed by a board of directors which shall be composed of the Secretary of National Defense, the Executive Secretary, and five other persons who shall be designated by the President from a list of qualified veterans and retirees.
THE PRESIDENT promulgated Presidential Decree No. 247 prohibiting and penalizing the mutilation, defacement, tearing, burning or destruction of Central Bank notes and coins. The decree points out that CB notes and coins are issued for circulation as a medium of exchange and to utilize them for other purposes does not speak well of the due respect and dignity, befitting our currency. The decree provides that any person who willfully defaces, mutilates, tears, burns or destroys, in any manner whatsoever, currency notes and coins issued by the Central Bank of the Philippines shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not more than P20.000 and imprisonment of not more than five years.
THE COUNTRY’S export earnings from fresh bananas during the first half of the current year totalled P77.4 million and exceeded by some P20 million the total earnings for the same period last year. This was reported to Agriculture Secretary Arturo Tanco Jr. by Plant Industry Director Eliseo Carandang. The report showed that from January to June this year, the country exported 177,775,259 kilos of fresh bananas in Tanan worth P77,428,073 and overshot last year’s first six months record of P56,468,743 by some P20,959,331. Mr. Carandang said that the peak months of the fruit are yet to come and “barring unforeseen circumstances, the country should be able to attain its target of doubling last year’s record.”
PRICE CONTROL Council enjoined milk manufacturers, producers and wholesalers to comply with the schedule of maximum prices of milk products particularly with the ceiling for freight and handling charges for transporting the commodities for various regions of the country. Secretary of Trade Troadio T. Quiazon Jr., issued the memorandum circular following reports that milk products were being sold in some parts of the country at prices higher than the maximum levels prescribed by the Price Control Council. Any imposition of additional costs of transportation and handling to areas other than those enumerated in the order shall constitute a violation of the Price Control Law, he said.
Official Gazette for July 19, 1973: THE PRESIDENT called for more frequent visits and exchanges of information among the countries belonging to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in view of the critical situation in Indo-china. The President sounded the call following the conferment of the Ancient Order of Sikatuna, rank of datu, on Deputy Foreign Minister Chatichai Choonkavan of Thailand, who is an official guest of the Philippine government. The President presented the award in recognition of the visiting dignitary’s services in the field of international relations, his constant endeavor to strengthen friendly relations and to promote greater understanding through mutually beneficial undertakings, between Thailand and the Philippines. The ASEAN
Bongbong arrived last night. With him in the plane is the Thai Foreign Vice Minister [Chatichai Choonkavan] who is actually the Foreign Minister because Prime Minister Thanom Kittikachorn is occupying the Foreign Affairs portfolio.
Bongbong after dinner went to play pelota up to 12:00 PM (6 or 7 games). Then we talked and they showed off (Irene on the piano accompanied by Bongbong on the flute).
Then today breakfast after award of the Sikatuna to Foreign Vice Minister [Chatichai Choonkavan] with whom I play golf tomorrow afternoon.
I have ordered the increase of troops operating in Mindanao. The 25th Inf. Bn. [Infantry Battalion] has been sent to Cotabato for Tran and the 7th to Basilan.
We will now bring up our strength to a total of 10 additional BCT [Battalion Combat Team] so we can meet all contingencies and ask the U.S. to help arm them.
This noon, the Chairman of Pan Am, [William] Seawell—a typical ugly American threatened to use their influence to have the U.S. CAB [Civil Aeronautics Board] to cut the frequencies of PAL [Philippine Airlines] if the Phil. CAB does not give them additional frequencies.
countries, the President said, being very close to each other, with parallel policies and common objectives, their foreign ministers should make more frequent visits and exchange the most current and latest impressions and information affecting the region.
THE FIRST LADY Launched “Palayan ng Bayan” a joint project of Mrs. Imelda R. Marcos with the provincial governors, aimed at contributing some eight million cavans to annual palay production. The project is an extension of the First Lady’s Green Revolution project, and will bring into cultivation thousands of hectares of virgin lands throughout the country. Under the scheme, the provincial governors will identify the areas to be placed under cultivation. A provincial team composed of representatives of the Bureaus of Forest Development, Soil, Plant Industry and Agricultural Extension will then evaluate the land as to suitability to rice or other crops. The Bureau of Lands and the Department of Agrarian Reform will formalize land identification, after which authorization for the use of the land will be obtained from appropriate authorities.
GENERAL Auditing Office has authorized all municipal treasurers to serve as retailers of the National Grains Authority to facilitate the distribution of low-cost rice to the barrio people. Auditor General Ismael Mathay Sr. directed the treasurers in a memorandum to act as rice retailers if there are no NGA distributors in their respective localities during the lean months, subject to the following conditions: 1) That the municipality has no cash overdraft; 2) That appropriation for the purpose is duly provided by the municipal council; 3) That the municipality has adequate storage facilities to avoid loss and deterioration of the rice; 4) That the sale shall be strictly on cash basis; 5) That a separate book of accounts shall be kept wherein all transactions shall be entered daily, and monthly reports shall be submitted to the provincial auditor concerned; and 6) The profit, if any, shall accrue to the general fund of the municipality.
BUREAU of Standards was directed immediately to establish standard specifications for brake fluids used in motor vehicles. Secretary of Trade Troadio T. Quiazon Jr., who issued the directive, furnished the bureau with a list of brands which reportedly have been found by the National Institute of Science and Technology as either within or below standard specifications. Secretary Quiazon, however, emphasized that the investigation into the reported sale of unsafe brake fluids is going on with the assistance of other competent government and private agencies. The order requires that all products sold should be properly labelled, including information as to specifications as well as the name of manufacturer and country of origin.
I told him I will await the report of Amb. [Eduardo] Romualdez who arrives on Sunday. In the meantime I asked him to meet with Sec. [Alejandro] Melchor [Jr.], Sec. [Jose] Aspiras and PAL.
Ex Sen. [Jovito] Salonga has led about 23 men who want the referendum postponed for a month as a a [sic] body of Concerned Citizens to supervise the referendum instead of the Comelec [Commission on Elections].
The letter to me is pure and simple propaganda, referring to the January plebiscite as an insult to the Filipinos and made a mere seven days before the referendum. I attach copy of the letter.
As well as other reports.