Having been busy all day with the 1. Breakfast for the senators of foreign policy. 2. Then a meeting with the two committees on Foreign Affairs and Foreign Relations of both houses up to 12:30 [P]M.
We worked out a mechanism for exchange of information.
- 3 days before and Foreign Policy Council meeting, the two chairman and heads of the two houses are notified of the agenda to give them time to call committee meetings for consultation.
- After the Foreign Policy Council Meetings, they will notify members of decisions.
- No more media to be invited.
- They will not draw the President and the Sec. of Foreign Affairs to a public debate on Foreign Policy.
- The guide will be flexibility for the national interest. We must play the big powers against each other.
The day ended with a meeting with the Irrigation people. Target 70,000 hectares more of irrigated land each year—30,000 for gravity and 40,000 for pump irrigation.
Official Gazette for March 7, 1972: PRESIDENT MARCOS started the day by discussing with Nacionalista senators foreign policy matters at a breakfast conference.
After his meeting with the senators, the Chief Executive received Tengku Mahkota Ahmad Shah of Pahang, Malaysia, who paid a courtesy call, having just arrived in Manila to participate in a series of polo games with Filipino teams.
Ambassador Mauro Calingo, the newly accredited envoy of the Philippine government to the Republic of West Germany, paid a farewell call before proceeding to assume his post in Bonn.
Next to call on the President was a group representing the International Executive Service Corps in the Philippines, headed by A. A. Wilcox, director of operations.
Mayor Osmundo de Guzman of Marikina, Rizal accompanied the group to Malacañang.
Later in the day, the President presided at a closed-door briefing for committees on foreign relations of the two chambers of Congress.
The briefing was attended by Senate President Protempore Jose J. Roy, Senators Mamintal Tamano, Ernesto Macecla, Ambrosio Padilla, Arturo Tolentino, Lorenzo Sumulong, and Magnolia Antonino; Speaker Cornelio T. Villareal, Speaker Protempore Jose Aldeguer, Majority Floorleader Marcelino Velosu; Reps. Nicanor Yfiiguez, Fermin Caram, Jr., Rodolfo Rivilla, Leonides de Leon, Guillermo Sanchez, Jose Puyat, Jr., Pedro Medalla, Jose D. Aspiras, Rafael Legaspi, Jose Leido, Jr., Eduardo Gullas, Ramon Durano; Secretary Carlos P. Romulo of foreign affairs Undersecretary Manuel Collantes, and Minister Felipe Mabilangan, Jr., of the DFA.
The last group to see the President was composed of National Irrigation Administration officials.
Am reviewing the listing of projects, performance, financing which is way behind (example only 30% of financing of NIA [National Irrigation Administration] released and this is the third quarter) and priorities.
Sec. [Carlos] Romulo has just been successfully operated on for his serious injuries in a vehicular accident after he came from our conferences.
I attach the messages pending final report.