1:30 AM
July 30th
Rested the whole day as I was beginning to feel the symptoms of the flu.
But worked on the pending papers. Sent Sec. [Alejandro] Alex Melchor [Jr.] and Dir. [Alejandro] Deleña by helicopter to Central Luzon for a survey as the waters have risen higher than last week.
Apalit Dam has broken. Lingayen and Rosales are again under water. The only helicopter in Carmen made 48 sorties to save about 400 people. Piloted by Cols. Lupnet and Ratcliffe.
Greg Cendeña wired that 100 people are floating in a raft of Bo. [Barrio] Subol, San Nicolas, Pangasinan.
5,000 sandbags have been used to strengthen the Tarlac Dam.
And it has started to rain in Pangasinan again according to Jake Clave and [Roberto] Bobby Estrella. ·
I attach reports.
Official Gazette for July 29, 1972: THE PRESIDENT met with members of the Cabinet and the National Disaster Control Council.
During the conference, the President announced the shift in flood operations from rescue and relief to reconstruction and rehabilitation which, he said, would cost about ₱428 million.
The President designated the NDCC as the implementing agency for the operation, and asked the Department of Public Works and Communications and the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources to place themselves at the disposal of the committee.
After hearing the report of the various officials on the cause and effects of the last flood, considered the worst to hit the country in years, the President gave the go-signal for the immediate implementation of flood control projects, such as the construction of the over ₱30 million Labangan Channel in Bulacan and Pampanga.
On the Manila flood control program, the President directed that special attention be given to the dredging of, Manila’s esteros and the problem posed by squatters.
The President also directed that studies be made to declare squatters “nuisance per se” so that they would not constitute an obstacle to the Hood control program.
On the agricultural rehabilitation of the flood victims, the President directed that the Philippine National Bank undertake an intensive program to grant easy-term credit facilities for the flood victims.
The President ordered the PNB to borrow ₱40 million from the funds of the Rice and Corn Administration deposited with the Central Bank, to be used as guarantee capital to generate some ₱700 million in credit facilities. The conference lasted till early afternoon.
The President attended to desk work following a brief rest.