Official Gazette for March 15, 1973: THE PRESIDENT assured the people engaged in local oil exploration ventures of extraordinary and more than usual protection and support from the government. He made the assurance after inducting the officers of the Petroleum Association of the Philippines in Malacañang. The President reminded the PAP officers of the government’s policy to encourage oil exploration as shown by the approval of various proposals for oil exploration submitted by both local and foreign oil companies. He also informed the oil officials that he had already endorsed for study the association’s request for the amendment of the Presidential decree on oil explorations to the secretary of agriculture and natural resources and the director of mines. Inducted were: Mario S. Nieto, president; Luis Guerrero, vice president; Edgar Khrohn, treasurer; Oscar C. de Venecia, chairman; and Exequiel Toeg, Oliveros Liperal, Jose Andrada, Romeo Villonco, Carmelo T. Sison and Vicente Serrano, directors.
THE PRESIDENT has promulgated Decree No. 151 allowing Filipino citizens or corporations and associations whose capital is at least 60 per cent owned by Filipinos to enter into service contracts with foreign persons and corporations for the exploration, development, exploitation or utilization of lands of the public domain. The service contracts refer to financial, technical, management or other forms of assistance, with any foreign persons or entity when such contracts are vital to achieve sound and more expeditous exploration, development, exploitation or utilization of such lands owned, held or controlled by the Filipino citizens or corporations. For purposes of the decree, a service contract with a foreign, citizen’ or entity shall be considered vital to the national interest if, consistent with the requirements for national security, the exploitation, exploration or utilization of land subject thereof is necessary for carrying out agricultural, industrial and commercial development projects.
SECRETARY OF FINANCE Cesar E. A. Virata announced that the government has collected over P50 million from taxpayers who availed of the tax amnesty benefits. He reminded taxpayers that the deadline for declaring previously untaxed income or wealth is April 2, 1973. The P50 million so far collected through four presidential decrees granting tax amnesty were paid by some 16,000 taxpayers. The secretary warned that after the tax amnesty period the government will flush out all tax evaders and apply the full force of the law against them Topping the collections were those from previously untaxed motor vehicles which amounted to P19,429,295.50 collected from 4,111 motor vehicles Some P12 million has been collected so far from about 1,000 taxpayers who voluntarily reported their previously untaxed income or wealth as provided for under Presidential Decree No. 67.
MALACAÑANG has issued Presidential Decree No. 147 authorizing the commissioner of public highways to dispose of all unserviceable equipment arid property of the Bureau of Public Highways while some parts or assembly of such equipment or properties are still usable and of value. The decree amending Executive Order No. 37, series of 1954, and Executive Order No. 290, series of 1958, was promulgated in view of the existence of considerable quantity of unserviceable equipment and property of the bureau in its field offices throughout the country. A committee was created to effect the speedy disposal of all unserviceable equipment and property of the BPH. It is composed of the representative of the BPH, as chairman, and representatives of the Bureau of Supply Coordination and Department of Public Works, Transportation and Communications, as members.
CULTURAL CENTER of the Philippines has announced a nationwide march/hymn contest under the auspices of the First Lady. The contest is in two categories: a march and hymn for band/orchestra and chorus. The lyrics must be in Filipino and the music should be expressive of the ideals and goals of the New Society. A prize of P5,000 each will be awarded to the best entry in each category, for both music and lyric. All entries must be submitted to the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Roxas Blvd., Manila. The deadline for the submission of entries shall be 12 noon on Friday, May 10, 1973.
THE PRESIDENT has proclaimed some 1,590 hectares of public land in Guadalupe, Agusan del Sur, as a Manobo civil reservation to protect the minority group from encroachment by other settlers. The area is bounded by the Agusan del Sur municipalities of Simamagat and Guadalupe, the Davao-Agusan national road, the Bayugan and Labao rivers and the Tagminiang creek. The presidential proclamation would benefit the Manobo tribes scattered all over the affected area.
BUREAU OF CUSTOMS registered a total collection amounting to P171,291,403 which was P34 million or 25 per cent more than last year’s February total. Customs Commissioner Rolando Geotina reported. Last month’s collection boosted to P133 million the increase in collection from July to February this year as compared with the same period in the previous fiscal year, based on comparative gross general fund receipts. The bureau collected Pl,242,133,599
Mutual Defense Board meeting on board the 777.
Before meeting and luncheon to which I returned after a break in the briefing, I informed Admiral [Noel] Gayler and Amb. [Henry] Byroade.
- That Pres. Suharto has called for a conference with Tun Mustapha and Tun Abdul Razak of Malaysia.
- That we would be glad to have an independent strong buffer state in Sabah and this was our bargaining point with Mustapha but Abdul Razak would not like it.
- That we are also negotiating with the local lenders in Sulu and Cotobato.
- That the insurgent both in Sulu and Cotabato have sent in feelers for a negotiated settlement.
- That we would like to have AID [Agency for International Development] help in feeding the displaced and the evacuees.
- That we have a program for the economic development of Mindanao and Sulu and we will be asking for help for this.
- That we would probably convert two of the ton BCT’s [Battalion Combat Team] into Engineer Construction Battalion.
I have directed Dr. Alunan Giang to meet with the insurgents of Cotabato next Saturday to negotiate a peaceful settlement.
But I have directed Gen. [Fortunato] Abat to keep his military options open and to continue his military operations as planned unless I direct otherwise.
And Tony Raquiza is continuing his negotiations in Sulu.
I place the briefing papers in the Mutual Defense Board in Envelope No. XLV.
from July 1972 to February 1973, which was 11.9 per cent more than the P1,109,128,688 collection from July 1971 to February 1972. The customs commissioner said that the volume of imported cargo dropped last month in the port of Manila due to the reduction in crude oil imports by 22.7 per cent and bulk wheat by 40.4 per cent. Manila, like four other ports, chalked an increased collection of P9.414 million or 3.8 per cent over that of February last year. The Manila port was credited with 80 to 85 per cent increase in the customs’ overall collections.