Official Gazette for March 9, 1973: THE PRESIDENT welcomed the plan of the Bank of America to expand its investments in the Philippines and assured an official of the bank who called on him that the policy of attracting foreign investments to the Philippines will continue under the New Society. In receiving C. Van Vlierden, executive vice president of the Bank of America, the President said the bank has been a very vital factor in the development of the country and that it is welcome to continue doing so. Mr. Vlierden informed the President that the bank is planning to participate actively in the development of the country by either incorporating locally, increasing its capital, or merging with European, Japanese or Filipino development banks. Mr. Vlierden also said that compared to Hongkong and Singapore which he had also visited, the Philippines has the lowest cost of living. But the most important thing, according to him, is the fact that the Philippines has very rich manpower and natural resources which are vital to development. The President and Mr. Vlierden also agreed that the Philippines should now conduct a more aggressive and persistent campaign to gain recognition in the European Common Market countries in order to diversify its financial and trade relations.
ALFREDO MONTELIBANO, chairman of the Philippine Sugar Committee Inc., has endorsed a proposal for a public accounting of the P30 million amelioration fund generated annually by the sugar industry to benefit its workers. The proposal, drawn up by the Sugar Workers’ Conference in Bacolod City, was announced recently by conference chairman Prudencio Jalandoni, president of the “Lakas ng Manggagawang Filipino.” The P30 million amelioration fund, set up by the President in 1968, funnels P1 per picul of sugar produced by the industry to the workers in forms of bonuses to supplement housing, educational and medical benefits already extended to workers in some sugar areas. The PSCI chairman specifically endorsed the proposed participation of the sugar workers in the disbursement of the fund for the financing of cooperatives, the establishment of free vocational and technical schools and free clinics and the granting of scholarships. The formation of the Sugar Workers’ Welfare Fund Council was also suggested.
REPRESENTATIVES of multi-national corporations shall be free to enter and leave the country without following the usual procedure and requirements whereby after 59 days they leave and renew their visas. The policy was contained in instructions directed to the Commission on Immigration and Deportation in connection with the government’s desire to attract foreign investors to help in the development and improvement of the national economy. Under the relaxed policy, representatives of foreign investors and capitalists will be granted special non-immigrant status that will enable them to stay longer than 59 days in the country to attend to their business transaction. The new policy will do away with the usual fingerprinting, clearances and cash bonds required in the past.
ALL TAXPAYERS concerned were urged to avail of the benefits afforded by Presidential Decree No. 23, as amended by Presidential Decree No. 67. The appeal was made by Bureau of Internal Revenue Deputy Commissioner Conrado P. Diaz before a seminar on tax amnesty in Olongapo City. Presidential Decree No. 23, as amended by Presidential Decree No. 67, imposes a tax of 10 per cent on all previously untaxed income or wealth if declared or reported with the BIR on or before March 31, 1973. Diaz cited the following benefits to taxpayers who avail themselves of the tax amnesty on previously untaxed income or wealth: 1) The books of accounts from 1971 down shall be considered closed by the BIR; 2) Peace of mind forever; 3) No more obligation from any and all taxes from 1971 down; 4) No more verification of investigation of income tax returns from 1971 down; 5) The secrecy of the declaration under the tax amnesty decree shall be inviolable and guaranteed; 6) The declaration under the tax amnesty cannot be used for or against the taxpayer in any forum or court of justice where he is a respondent or a defendant. Mr. Diaz warned that all taxpayers who fail to avail themselves of the provisions of the tax amnesty will face the full force of the law and suffer the penalties for tax evasion.
BRIG. GEN. Fidel V. Ramos, PC chief, and Director Jolly Bugarin of the National Bureau of Investigation, prescribed the joint rules and regulations for the implementation of Presidential Decree No. 140 dated March 2, 1572, calling for the registration of ail reproducing, copying, duplicating, and facsimile machines or equipment. In a joint memorandum, the PC chief and the NBI director said owners and possessors of these machines in. the Greater Manila area shall register the same with any of the following offices: the PC-Metrocom, PC Civil Relation Office at Camp Crame and the NBI in Manila. Those in the provinces shall register with their respective PC commands or the local offices of the NBI. Covered by new decree are any machine or equipment operated manually, electrically or
We are sending more men and arms and supplies to Cotabato. The situation remains critical as the rebels have cut off Parang, the IVth PC [Philippine Constabulary] Zone Hq. by burning a bridge from Cotabato City. Gen. [Romeo] Espino has returned from there by plane. They need more men and arms.
I attach the reports.
So I am staying in Manila instead of going off for the weekend.
The Cotabato attacks show the weakness of our AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines]. We have seen able to bring into that province only about 800 officers and men in about a week.
The coordination between the air arm, navy and ground forces is faulty.
I have had to remind the Chief of Staff of Navy deficiencies in support for the men.
Gen. [Romeo] Espino is loyal but a little weak in planning and resourcefulness.
electronically which is capable of reproducing–, copying, duplicating or facsimiling printed documents or materials, including but not limited to, the commonly known xerox machines, thermopax machines, blue printing machines, photostat machines, printing machines, or mimeographing machines of any type, make or model. Deadline for the registration of all duplicating equipment is on March 18 after which all unregistered machines shall be seized and confiscated by the PC or NBI in accordance with Department Order No. 740 of the secretary of National Defense dated Jan. 21, 1973.
ALL MEDICARE beneficiaries are entitled to the same basic benefits rendered by service beds and hospital staff physicians without additional charges. The Philippine Medical Care Commission reiterated this policy which requires all government and privately owned hospitals and their staff physicians to charge only the medicare rates for services rendered to medicare patients. The basic benefits mentioned as provided by the Medicare Law (RA 6111) include a 45-day hospital confinement a year at M2 a day for room and board (or a maximum of P540); a P150 maximum for medicines, laboratory examinations, X-ray and operating room fee; surgical expense benefits of F-50 for minor operations, F150 for medium operations and P350 for major operations; and a P100 maximum doctor’s fee at P5 a day for general practitioners and P10 a day for specialists. The PMCC, however, clarified that any medicare beneficiary will be charged for additional expenses if he would occupy more expensive accommodation.