Official Gazette for June 21, 1973: THE PRESIDENT assured that there is no real emergency in the country s peace and order condition to warrant the mobilization of military reservists for combat duty. The Chief Executive made this assessment to dispel doubts that reservists now being called to register will be utilized to put down any insurrection or rebellion in pockets of troubled areas in the country. The President made the clarification during a courtesy call of the first batch of reserve officers called to a 30-day active duty in consonance with the civil emergency plan of the Government. He told the 38 officers that the registration of reservists will update government listings. These will cover ROTC graduates, those who underwent military training as 20-year-olds, recognized guerillas, veterans, retired military personnel and those who were honorably discharged from the armed forces.
CENTRAL BANK has deputized all banking institutions and some government agencies to effect the surrender and exchange of old currency notes from July 1 to December 31 this year. The CB discussed the mechanics for the exchange of notes for newer ones bearing the legend of “Bagong Lipunan” with representatives of banking institutions and government agencies involved in the implementation of the demonetization of the old currency. The guidelines are intended to facilitate the withdrawal of the old currency and the distribution of the Bagong Lipunan-marked notes. The CB and the representatives agreed that all banking institutions within the Greater Manila area will surrender the old notes to the CB either by depositing or exchanging these currencies.
THE PRESIDENT exempted retired and retiring government and private employees from paying income taxes derived from their social security benefits, retirement gratuities, pensions and similar benefits. The President’s move is embodied in Presidential Decree No. 202. The decree, which is in line with the Government’s efforts to promote the welfare of the working masses’ embraces within its scope not only those benefits earned in the Philippines but also those received from foreign government agencies, both public and private. PD 202 has repealed or modified provisions of existing laws, decrees and other statutes inconsistent with it.
JUSTICE Secretary Vicente Abad Santos issued the opinion that a city or municipal councilor may serve as an officer, legal counsel or consultant of private bank since he is not considered a fulltime elective official covered by Presidential Decree No. 71 amending the General Banking Act. Mr. Abad Santos said the Act provides that no full-time appointive or elective public officer shall at the same time serve as officer, director, legal counsel or consultant of any private bank except where such service involves government’s financial assistance to the bank. City and municipal councilors who are bar members are impliedly allowed to practice their profession subject to certain restrictions, Secretary Abad Santos said.
JUSTICE SECRETARY Vicente Abad Santos, in a speech before the sixth charter anniversary celebrations of Benguet Province, said that local governments have now been elevated to the vanguard of development efforts occupying a more pivotal position that it ever had in the history of national administration. The Government has now fully realized that its real infrastructure is located at the local areas, the secretary said. “It is here that we find the sovereign Filipino people through the preamble of the new Constitution. It is here where we find the people in whomthe sovereignty resides and from whom all government authority emanates. It is here that we find the situs of power,” Mr. Abad Santos declared.
THE GOVERNMENT has harnessed the services of 24 more rural banks to boost the Masagana 99 rice production program. This brought to 449 the total number of rural banks now extending financial support to farmers engaged in the project in 43 provinces throughout the country. A total of P11.5 million has been released to farmers since the start of the massive rice production program for initial loans. Of this amount, P1.4 million was released by the rural banks; P6.6 million by the Philippine National Bank; and P3.4 million by the Agricultural Credit Administration.
BUREAU of Customs has devised a plan aimed at reducing redtape in all drawback payments. Drawbacks are payment claims of export and manufacturing corporations, principally from excess levy collected from these firms. Customs Commissioner Rolando Geotina said that beginning June 25 all claims must be filed with the Special Drawback Committee located at Room 305 of the Manila customs house. Under the new procedure, the claimants will deal with no other office except the committee which has been empowered to gather all documents necessary to support the claims available within the bureau. Commissioner Geotina said the claimants must file an application for the drawback stating the basis of their claims such as the entry number and date of the export. The customs commissioner directed the Special Drawback Committee to submit a report of its activities every two weeks to enable him to keep track of its operation.
We are having difficulties on oil supply. Caltex has cut its contract to supply bunker oil to Meralco [Manila Electric Company] unless the price is increased.
I have asked an inquiry sent to Kuwait on this. We are willing to sell some of the shares on Filoil provided that they can sell us oil for the next ten years.
There is also a shortage of fertilizer. And rice.
But we should be able to subsidize fertilizer from the sale of sugar (60,000 to 120,000) to the world market. We will be able to fill up the U.S. quota by September and we have a surplus on the milling after that to December.
I have authorized the contracting of the King Ranch Management Service for cattle production. Northwest Packers are also coming in.
DEPARTMENT of Health reported there is no increase in gastrointestinal and other diseases that usually come with the rainy season. This was announced by Health Secretary Clemente Gatmaitan even as he cautioned the public to take precautionary measures against the seasonal diseases such as gastro-enteritis, cholera and dysentry. Secretary Gatmaitan based his announcement from reports of the various health offices and the San Lazaro Hospital.