Official Gazette for March 6, 1973: THE PRESIDENT received the letters of credence of Ambassador Olaf Tellefsen as the new non-resident ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of Norway to the Philippines. Following the presentation ceremonies, the President received Ambassador Joze Smole of Yugoslavia who made a farewell call before returning to his country on an official mission. In receiving the credentials of Ambassador Tellefsen, the President said that the atmosphere in the Philippines under the New Society is conducive to greater foreign investments and the promotion of trade with other countries. The President said the new envoy will have an opportunity to observe how a “determined government and an equally determined citizenry band together to make this nation a better place to love in.” In presenting his credentials the new Norwegian envoy assured the President that he will exert his utmost to see that the good relations existing between his country and the Philippines will be further developed and strengthened.”
BUREAU OF POSTS has increased by 50 per cent the rates on postage stamps and other postal charges for local and foreign mail since March 1, 1973, to finance the bureau’s infrastructure and expansion program, for the purchase of delivery vehicles, mechanized postal services and office equipment to increase the bureau’s standard of efficiency. The increase covers local ordinary mail, from 10 to 15 centavos, and airmail, from 40 to 60 centavos. Foreign ordinary mail charges from P1 to P1.50. Other postal rates increased are lock box rentals, collect on deliver (COD) fees, parcel and insurance fees, money order fees and telegraphic transfer fees. The increases are the result of studies undertaken by the bureau’s planning service, based on international and bilateral agreements, particularly the Universal Postal Union (UPU) convention to which the Philippines is a signatory.
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE announced the creation of provincial and city assessment boards to hear protests of property owners regarding assessment of their properties, and the issuance by Secretary of Finance Cesar E. A. Verata of the rules governing appeals with the provincial or city Board of Tax Assessment Appeals pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 76. Under Presidential Decree No. 76, all owners or administrators of real property are required to file sworn statements of the true value of their real property and the improvement for purposes of taxation. The deadline for the submission of the sworn statement is June 30, 1973.
As prescribed under Department Order No. 6-73, the Board of Tax Assessment Appeals is composed of the register of deeds, as chairman; the auditor and engineer of the provincial or city government as members. According to the regulations, any owner who is not satisfied with the action of the provincial or city assessor in the assessment of his property may direst his appeal to the board. The appeal should be made within sixty days following the receipt of the notice of assessment on his property. The board on the other hand, are directed to decide on appeals made by property owners within 60 days upon receipt of such appeals.
MALACAÑANG ISSUED Presidential Decree No. 144 revising the present system of national internal revenue allotment to local governments to establish a more equitable system of distribution of allotments and introduce the developmental concept in the allocation of funds to local governments. The new decree provides that 20 per cent of national internal revenue tax collections which are not meant for special accounts and special funds in the general fund shall be distributed to local governments, computed on the basis of collections for the third fiscal year preceding the current fiscal year. The allotment shall be distributed as follows: 30 per cent to provinces, 45 per cent to municipalities and 25 per cent to cities. The share of local government unit shall be determined according to the following formula: 70 per cent based on its population, 20 per cent on land area and 10 per cent on equal sharing.
LAND TRANSPORTATION Commission has instructed all its regional directors and registrars to coordinate efforts with municipal mayors, barangay chairmen and barrio captains all over the country for an orderly and smooth registration for the current year of motor vehicles in their respective areas on or before May 31, 1973. All LTC Inspectors will be fielded to facilitate the registration. They will also give all the necessary information and guidelines to the barangay chairmen and barrio captains for the proper inspection of motor vehicles in their areas.
THE PRESIDENT has reappointed Secretary Manuel Elizalde, Jr. presidential assistant on national minorities. Mr. Elizalde has been Panamin secretary since 1967. He reported to the President recently that in the course of his trip abroad, he had noted very widespread approval in responsible quarters of the President’s policy towards the cultural minorities. He submitted to the President an advance copy of the Encyclopedia Britannica Yearbook for 1973 which congratulates President Marcos and the First Lady for their “quick and decisive steps” to help the Tasaday and other minority people through Panamin.
Plans for a counter-attack. No withdrawal by surrounded forces.
What a resolute policy can do—and a few reinforcements.
The morale of both civilian and military in Cotabato has skyrocketed.
Lanao is quiet. Sulu has two skirmishes. Alleged use of a mortar by Sulu rebels in Lake Seit.
Zamboanga threats in ______.
Basilan quiet. Rebels have withdrawn to Tuburan.
Notice to ASEAN [Association of Southeast Asian Nations] ambassadors. Malaysia’s ambassador begs that it be not released to the media.
BEING A SOCIAL legislation designed to give relief to labor in case of injury, the provisions of the Workmen’s Compensation Act should be given a liberal interpretation to fully carry into effect its beneficial provisions, and all doubts as to the right to compensation should be resolved in favor of the grantees and all presumptions should be indulged in their favor. Justice Secretary Vicente Abad Santos issued this legal opinion with reference to the claim of a former Bureau of Prisons’ employee who retired on March 10, 1972 and claimed disability compensation for illness he had contracted during his employment as nursery foreman. The employee had been awarded P6,000 in view of which the Bureau made a partial payment of P2,000. Later, the bureau director entertained doubts on the right of the employee to said compensation because the latter received his salary from Sept. 3, 1971 to March 10, 1972, during which he was presumably suffering from the illness which wits the subject of the claim for compensation. The justice secretary ruled that the employe’s receipt of his salary should not affect his right to the compensation. He pointed out that during the time the employee received the salary in question, said employee had not actually gone to work for he was on leave and such pay was salary earned for such leave.
UNDER THE NEW Constitution, the previous owner may not recover the land from the American buyer and the American buyer may validly convey the land to a qualified individual or corporation and when this is done, the state may no longer seek reversion of the property. This assertion was made by Solicitor General Estelito P. Mendoza who discussed the effects of the new charter in relation to the celebrated case of the “Republic of the Philippines vs. Quasha” where the Supreme Court ruled that citizens of the United States and American corporations may not acquire agricultural lands and that their rights over these properties cease upon the expiration of the Parity Amendment to the Constitution in 1974. Mr. Mendoza stated before the Philippine Council of the International Chamber of Commerce that if the American holder of lands in the country be a corporation, it may either convey the property to a qualified individual or corporation or restructure its corporate holdings into a 60-40 ratio and it may thereafter, if it so desires, lease back the property.