Official Gazette for July 25, 1972: THE PRESIDENT, having established himself in his Malacañang in the Field office at the Philippine Constabulary compound in Lingayen, asked all government officials and personnel involved to temporarily leave their offices in Manila and go out to the disaster areas in order to break down “red tape” in distributing relief to the victims.
He also invited private sectors willing to help, as well as those actually giving private donations, to go to the field and minister to the needs of the victims.
The President said that since setting up his field office in Pangasinan, he has been able to get a comprehensive and immediate view of the actual needs of the victims.
As well as relief and rehabilitation of victims, the President indicated two priorities in the efforts of government, namely, roads and transport; and rehabilitation of crops.
The President said he was watching the danger signs of a possible rice scarcity because the people who fought for the relief packages indicated that there was hunger.
“We can imagine what might happen if agents provocateur should start propagating dangerous ideas in the event that unrelieved hunger sets in,” the President said. He:
1) Directed the government agencies involved in rehabilitation to continue fielding teams in the flood areas.
2) Requested the Department of Health to procure several million pesos worth of medicine for the intensified mass inoculation drive to avert possible epidemics.
3) Appealed for volunteers from the Philippine Medical Association.
He likewise directed the Agricultural Productivity Commission, the Agriculture Credit Administration, the Bureau of Plant Industry, the Presidential Assistant on Community Development and the National Food and Agriculture Council to go to the field instead of staying in Manila where “you are so removed and detached from what is actually happening.”
The President instructed Health Secretary Clemente Gatmaitan to return to Manila immediately to procure more medicine for the inoculation drive.
The President appealed to the private sector, particularly to the members of the Philippine Medical Association, to organize volunteer teams and come out to the barrios to help the people.
He deplored the “bureaucratic red tape which had completely disorganized some of our efforts at rescue and relief.”
From his temporary field office in Lingayen, the President appealed to the Senate to pass the ₱500 million contingent fund approved by the House in view of the updated and considerably increased estimates of damages wrought by the flood in central and northern Luzon.
The President also appealed to the Senate to approve the Public Works Bill in order to provide counterpart funds for foreign loans that may be negotiated for the massive rehabilitation to be undertaken in this area.
Among other actions, the President issued a series of directives in connection with the rehabilitation of Central and Northern Luzon provinces.
He ordered Finance Secretary Cesar E. A. Virata to immediately make the necessary representations with the World Bank for the early reconvening of the Consultative Group for the Philippines, with a program for the rehabilitation of the devastated areas in Central Luzon as the main item on the agenda.
He directed Public Works Secretary David Consunji to immediately:
1) Procure bailey bridges as temporary replacements of all damaged bridges in the devastated areas;
2) Determine the amount needed for rehabilitation and repair of infrastructure; and
3) Convene all landowners of the areas to be occupied by the Labangan Channel so that the government can immediately acquire the right of way for this channel passing through Bulacan and Pampanga.
The President also directed Agriculture Secretary Arturo R. Tanco, Jr. to immediately:
1) Procure 100,000 cavans of rice seedlings, preferably the IR-21 variety;
2) Send survey teams to the flood affected provinces, including Nueva Ecija, to find out whether said rice seedlings could be procured in said provinces; and
3) Conduct an inventory of vegetable seedlings.
The President ordered Secretary Tanco to report on the action taken within 72 hours.
Bongbong was operated on successfully this morning 8:10 AM to 8:30 AM by Dr. Ariston Bautista—tonsillectomy. I called up at 10:30 AM and Imelda told me he was sleeping although he had awakened before that.
Tonight he was suffering spasmodic pains.
Raining hard and Signal No. 2 is still up in Northern Luzon and No. 1 in Manila. So I was not allowed to fly to Manila.
Still raining up to now but I have planned to go back to Poro Pt. by heli at 6:00 AM then fly to Manila by Fokker tomorrow.
I have to see Bongbong and work out the compromises on the calamity and the budget, public works bull, tax measures, PNB [Philippine National Bank] and finalize the repair and rehabilitation plans.
Flew by heli to Lingayen with Tom Niblack. Then worked the mission orders for the helis. Met the British officers on the frigate HMS-Lincoln.
I attach reports. I also attach Chronicle story of NPAs [New People’s Army] in Cam[arines] Sur I came across today in today’s Bulletin.
While personally supervising relief and rescue operations, the President was informed that Ferdinand Jr. (Bongborg) had undergone a successful tonsillectomy. He promptly congratulated his son.