I have ordered an inventory of all rice stocks in Central Luzon. There are more than is reported. There is hoarding and artificial shortage.
We will seal and seize these stocks if needed for seedlings and for the consumption of the flood victims.Worked at the Malacañang in the Field after lunch.
At 8:00 AM I went to San Quintin, Natividad and San Nicolas. Mayors Tecson, Arciaga and Abad were there.
Reviewed ties with the veterans who were with me during the war, specially at Natividad where the mayor’s husband Dr. Arciaga had led the party of Sgts. [Fortunato] Abat (now Third Brigade Commander and a General). ______ and a native guide led me and Sgt. Isidro Ventura to Val Valdez from Bachelor to Nungan to Pingkian then to Ambaguio the 14th Regimental CP.
Also met the widow of Sgt. Patricio Domingo.
Visited some barrios in San Nicolas, as well as Tayug but had to hurry back to Carmen because of the rain.
Intermittent rain and gusty winds with Signal No. 2 in Northern Luzon and No. 1 in Manila.
Issued the directives for replanting.
The Civil Defense Adm. updating of plans against calamities.
Official Gazette for July 24, 1972: THE PRESIDENT decided to stay at the Malacañang field office in Lingayen, Pangasinan for the duration of the emergency to better supervise the relief and rescue operation.
The President made this decision because of the tendency of relief and rescue operations to slow down after floods have receded.
The Chief Executive started personally going on helicopter missions to isolated areas of Eastern Pangasinan as early as 6:30 a.m. After returning to the Magiliw guesthouse in Carmen for lunch, he directed:
1) Health Secrtary Clemente Gatmaitan to set up medical centers in San Nicolas, Tayug, Urdaneta and Asingan;
2) The PC provincial commanders, in coordination with local executives,’ to start making, inventories of rice stocks and other goods in the affected provinces and to procure them under his proclamation, properly receipted by the provincial governor or city mayor, the PC provincial commander and the provincial or city auditor, to be paid later on by government at prices fixed by the Price Control Council.
The President visited and distributed relief goods in barrios Fubol, Kalanapian, and San Rafael in San Nicolas, where he also had a reunion with his wartime comrades who had operated in the area with him during the war years.
The plans if there are more calamities—we would have to cut out some expenditures like increase in salaries, non-urgent development projects etc.
The House, according to a radio message from Speaker [Cornelio] Villareal has approved unanimously the P500 million Calamity Bill at 2030 hrs. I sent congratulations to all congressmen.
Sent a message to Bongbong as I may not be able to fly to Manila early because of the weather.
The long distance phone is out. Radio is not clear. We must put up at CW always.