The flood has become worse and threatens to continue for the next several days because of a high pressure area northeast of the two depressions preventing them from moving away.
Clark Air Force Base still has not flown its big Chinook helicopters but the C-119 and C-130 have flown to NAB [Nichols Air Base] to pick up nutribuns for distribution in the isolated areas.
But a helicopter carrier (the Tripoli) with 20 helicopters with three other smaller ships, a Landing Platform Dock, Landing Ship Dock and Landing Ship Tank is arriving in 36 hours to help out.
And two DART’s (Disaster and Relief Teams) are coming from Okinawa.
Only one helicopter out of three that flew out to Pangasinan reached Lingayen. It was plotted by Cols. Macabuhay and David.
Another helicopter (my back-up helicopter) ferried Cong. [Eduardo] Danding Cojuangco [Jr.] to Paniqui, Tarlac arriving there at 4:30 PM.
The water of Lingayen Gulf seems to be connected by a body of water to Manila. Bay. And the water is still rising.
I attach the reports.
Official Gazette for July 20, 1972: THE PRESIDENT issued Proclamation No. 1049, authorizing Secretary of National Defense and, in his behalf the respective provincial commanders in Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija Pangasinan and Bataan to requisition and thereupon immediately distribute such necessary private supplies of foodstuffs as are needed for the survival of flood victims in these provinces; and Proclamation No. 1050 authorizing the AFP Chief of Staff, and, in his behalf the commanders of the major services of the AFP, to utilize and avail of private watercraft, vehicles and other equipment for rescue arid relief operations in the provinces of Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan and Bataan.
Among other actions relative to the calamity, the President ordered a thorough review of logging operations m Central Luzon with an eye to the possible cancellation of timber licenses in the area to save the remaining forests and prevent the recurrence of worse floods in the future.
At the same time, the President directed Agriculture Secretary Arturo R. Tanco, Jr. to prepare an effective distribution plan so that rice seedlings may be distributed to all the areas where rice crops had been destroyed.
In the evening, the President met with newsmen covering Malacañang who inquired on the flood situation and relief operations in flood-stricken areas.