I must have shocked the Sugar Club headed by Antonio Roxas Chua when I announced that the fast developing international situation of the new era of flexibility may produce the situation where “there may no longer be on American market for Philippine sugar.” So we must now plan for this.
This statement was made in an atmosphere of hilarity and exuberance as the news in the US Senate seems to favor our hoping that the sugar quota will not be cut too much (as of now only about 10%). And it sobered up all the sugar men.
For I explained that flexibility of policy may mean that the U.S. may ultimately pull out of Asia.
So like the soldier who prays for the best but prepares for the worst, we must now prepare for the worst.
And I explained that the extension of the Sugar act is only for three years. At the most we should plan for the American market to last another five years.
This immediately sobered up and silenced everyone.
It is necessary also to transmit the feeling of urgency, to the sugar people. They are the most pampered industry. And they practically have done nothing to diversify and make production cheaper and more efficient.
Official Gazette for July 20, 1971: President Marcos was guest of honor and speaker at the induction the elected officers of the Sugar Club of the Philippines, held at “the Philsugin auditorium in Quezon City.
In his speech, the President said that the change in American policy means “that every Asian nation and leader must now review the basis all the agreements between the United States and their respective countries,” and must prepare themselves for all eventualities, including the possibility of an American pullout from Asia.
The President said that the new U.S. policies require an overall study for long-range implementation of the military, and possibly economic treaties the Philippines has with the U.S.
It has also been suggested by some, he said, that the Philippines should plan on the possibility of complete withdrawal of the U.S. from Asia. The President stated while the U.S. State Department has sent word that President Nixon’s visit to Red China does not mean any prejudice to her allies, the President said this alternation in U.S. policy calls for a review of agreements with the United States. “With these policies of the American government and of Red China anything is possible in Asia, and we must prepare for anything,” he said. “We must now predict, no matter how difficult and how hard it may be, what will happen in the next five years, in the next ten years, in the next twenty years.”
Before delivering his 45-minute address, the President inducted the officers of the club, led by Antonio Roxas Chua, president. Also present at the luncheon meeting were Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources Arturo R. Tanco, Jr., PHILSUGIN Chairman Luis Tirso Rivilla, Speaker Cornelio T. Villareal, Sen. Ambrosio Padilla, Constitutional Convention Delegate Carlos Ledesma.
I asked them to now sit down and submit their recommendations.
I intend to keep on warning everyone about the dangers of the new era.
For prudence now dictates that we prepare for any eventuality.
The Millers left this morning at 8:00 AM to catch a PAL [Philippine Air Lines] 9:00 AM flight to Hongkong. I attach Paul’s letter.
I met all the mayors and chairmen of the towns of Bulacan, as well as Gov. [Ignacio] Santiago, the Vice Gov. Board Members, and Alex Santos.
Almost all of them are for the reelection of Gov. Santiago.
Appointed Dr. [Robert] Fox as Presidential Assistant on Anthropology.
Also met the leaders of Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya. Yesterday I asked the leaders of Kalinga-Apayao and Ifugao to settle their disputes.
I am ordering the banning of DDT [Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane] for agricultural products. It now seems to be a cause for leukemia.
And some drugs are coming into the country which have not been approved by the governments of the source.
It is ironical that the most vicious attacks against me have come after I sought to implement the Reform Program:
- On Media—I stopped the monthly dues given to commentators, columnists and reporters including editors which was started by Pres. [Ramon] Magsaysay on a large scale.
- The Lopezes and the oligarchs—I stopped the special privileged, licenses, concessions, permits and favors that meant more money for them.
- Political reforms – I stopped the unusual “allowances” to some congressmen (the Speaker, ([Jose B.] Laurel) used to get a monthly allowance of P240,000 and a trip allowance of $100,000 or more) all of such allowances resulting in a deficit which I had to make good of P26 million.
- Land Reform against the landlords
- Tax Reform transferring the burden to the rich.
But I was aware of the consequences of the reforms. And we just have to pay the price and bear the burden of calumny.
However, this confirms the theory that one should not try to initiate too many reforms at the same time. Although if one would be revolutionary, why not?
There are causes for the spate of criticisms that have surfaced lately.
The [Felipe] Ysmael case—the retaliation by the Jacinto family.
The Buddha case—retaliation by the Laurels.
The cartoons of Chronicle—retaliation of Lopezes.
The Graphic and Nation—the bid by [Gerardo] Roxas for the Presidency.
The demonstrations—The [Sergio] Osmeña [Jr.] carry over of bitterness from his defeat in the 1969 elections.