May 11, 1973

[1] Official Gazette for May 12, 1973: EDUCATION POLICY of the Government is oriented to the goals of technology but anchored on the principle of liberal education. The President spelled out this educational policy in a speech he delivered at the graduation exercises of the International School in Makati, Rizal. The Chief Executive said for the Philippines, this education based on self-awareness and self-examination must extend to the historical sense, to that awareness of racial struggle and growth that is essential to a full understanding of our responsibilities in the future. “I will not impose upon my countrymen a schedule of education that will train the hands and bring muscular reflexes to perfection but leave the mind and soul to shrivel in emptiness,” the President said. THE PRESIDENT initiated the first step towards easing the travel ban by forming a special five-man committee which will draw the policies and guidelines for the overseas travel of Filipinos. In a letter of instructions the President also created an executive body which will implement the policies and guidelines to be formulated by the special committee. The President designated Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Manuel Collantes, chairman; Rony Diaz, of the National Manpower and Youth Council, Nicanor Fuentes, of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), and a representative each from the Office of the President and the Department of Tourism, as members. The President authorized the “Collantes Committee” to ask any department, bureau, office, agency or instrumentality of the Government for such assistance as it may need in the performance of its duties. THE NATIONAL Government realized a surplus of P438.1 million in the general fund last April, according to the Department of Finance. In a report to the President, Secretary of Finance Cesar E. A. Virata said the net operating surplus was realized when the government income exceeded government expenditures in the general fund. Net operating receipts or income of the national government for April, 1973 amounted to P907,781,336 as against net operating disbursements amounting to P425,152,252 plus a decrease in public debt transactions amounting to P44,495,083 or a sum total of P469,647,336, thus resulting in the net operating surplus of P438,134,000. Secretary Virata also said that the cash balance of the general fund as of April 30, 1973 was P1,553,133,773. AGRICULTURAL CREDIT Administration released a total of P24.7 million loans to 22,012 small farmers, including farmer-evacuees in Mindanao, during the three quarters (July 1, 1972 to March 31, 1973). Most of the loan recipients were either members of farmers cooperatives or individual tillers covered by the Government’s land reform program. ACA’s loans are itemized as follows: production loans, P17.3 million; commodity loans, P3.62 million; marketing loans, P2.56 million; and facility loans, P1.22 million. Aside from cash disbursements, the agricultural lending institution also distributed farm inputs consisting of 75,700 bags of fertilizers and 6,910 bags of insecticides valued at P1.53 million. THE PRESIDENT told school supervisors and administrators that the extensive use of Pilipino in educational institutions could facilitate the learning process among students desiring to acquire skills in the different professions. In a speech read for him by Secretary of Education and Culture Juan Manuel during the closing ceremonies of the National Workshop in Pilipino held at the Maharlika Hall in Malacañang, the President urged the educators to discard the outmoded belief that national development could be attained only through the use of a foreign language. The Chief Executive cited that in some technical professions like farming and agriculture, the country’s graduates may have acquired remarkable expertise, but they usually find a hard time communicating to the farmers whose only knowledge of English is “limited to ‘yes sir, no sir’ “. SECRETARY OF Trade Troadio T. Quiazon Jr. in a speech before the 24th State Lions Convention held in Angeles City reported that the total number of tourists who visited the Philippines after seven months of Martial Law increased by 15 per cent and dollar earnings from this industry shot up from $32 million to $38.3 million. Filipino tourists increased by 78.43 per cent during the first three months of 1973 as against the same period last year. Secretary Quiazon said not only have Filipinos learned to travel around the country but those living abroad are now coming in droves to visit their homeland. During the same period, Secretary Quiazon said, the business atmosphere and activity have vastly improved as reflected in the gains made by the export sector.

[2] It is unknown where this text comes from because this entry is missing.

[3] Entry is misdated as 1972.

[4] Official Gazette for May 13, 1973: THE PRESIDENT called on the nation’s farmers to achieve self-sufficiency in food so that the country may no longer depend on food imports for national survival. He made this call in a speech read for him by Secretary Conrado F. Estrella of the Department of Agrarian Reform at the 9th national convention of the Federation of Farmers Association of the Philippines at the Teachers Camp in Baguio. The President stressed that under the New Society, the country shall produce enough grains and other food items for local consumption and, if possible, for export. He also pointed out that the government has taken three decisive steps to restructure the conditions in which the farmers work to liberate him from injustice, oppression and backwardness, through: 1) Presidential Decree No. 2, declaring the entire country a land reform area; 2) Presidential Decree No. 27, declaring all tenant-farmers as owners of the land they are cultivating; 3) The Agrarian Reform Coordinating Council which was established to provide a total, integrated approach to land reform. DEVELOPMENT BANK of the Philippines has approved a Financing Program for small agricultural/industrial loans in Muslim Mindanao. The loans—P2,000 per applicant—will be extended to qualified borrowers from Mindanao and Sulu for the purpose of buying power tillers, carabaos, seedlings, fertilizers, insecticides, farm implements, industrial tools, equipment and raw materials. Repayment term is five equal yearly installments at nine per cent interest per annum. For security: two guarantors coming from the same area and an undertaking not to sell the capital assets acquired from the loan proceeds without DBP’s prior approval. Pre-acceptance requirement is a clearance and/or endorsement from the Philippine Constabulary area commander. VARIOUS GOVERNMENT agencies have urged the private sector, particularly business and industrial firms, to support government efforts in the rehabilitation of squatters in the Greater Manila area. The appeal is centered mainly on the solution of unemployment among relocated families, particularly those in Sapang Palay. The call was reiterated in a meeting of the Department of Social Welfare which was presided over by Secretary Estefania Aldaba Lim. In the same meeting, the People’s Homesite and Housing Corporation announced that the agency has reserved an industrial site in Sapang Palay in order to attract private entrepreneurs to do business in the area. COUNTRY’S RICE millers were urged to invest more in the grains industry and redirect their efforts toward the industry’s full development. The call was sounded by NGA administrator Jesus Tanchanco in a keynote speech at the opening day of the 19th annual Rice and Corn Convention at the DBP Social Hall in Makati. He bewailed the general misconception that too many people are already engaged in the grains industry and they have no more place in the business. On the contrary, he said, the Government is committed to provide full assistance and incentives to enable investors to have a fair return on their investments. THE PHILIPPINE Medical Care Commission has urged hospitals, particularly the private medical institutions, to place their facilities within the reach of the common people. Dr. Pacifico E. Marcos, PMCC chairman, sounded the appeal during the closing ceremonies of National Hospital Week held at the Children’s Medical Center in Quezon City. Also on the same occasion, Dr. Marcos took to task certain hospitals and physicians who have been subverting the medicare law. Dr. Marcos, however, added that “unfortunately these kind of hospitals and physicians are very few and that they are very much balanced by the public good that most hospitals are doing.”

[5] Official Gazette for May 14, 1973: THE PRESIDENT informed some 68 German visitors that European tourists are coming to the Philippines in big groups now that the country has secured stability. Welcoming the German tourists during a courtesy call at Malacañang, the Chief Executive recalled that European tourists used to stop at Bangkok and Hongkong, omitting the Philippines from their itinerary. “But now that stability has been established, the tourists are coming in big groups,” he said. Turning to the businessmen among the 68 German visitors, the President invited them to take advantage of the numerous incentives being granted by the Government to foreign investors. THE MUSLIM POPULATION has respond enthusiastically to the call of the President for a region-wide campaign for socio-economic reforms in Mindanao. Even armed elements have given up their arms and signified their support for the reform program. This was reported by Commissioner of National Integration Datu Mama Sinsuat during the inaugural multi-network telecast of the “The DPI Report”. The CNI head said that the stabilized peace and order conditions in the area can now pave the way for the implementation of reforms. He added that road travel is again safe and that evacuees are returning to their landholdings. He said that the President’s program to have Christians and Muslims work hand-in-hand in the development of their areas has united the people who have gone to the extent of arming themselves to ward off the lawless elements. THE PRESIDENT has directed the drafting of a plan to transform the Greater Manila area into a hub of regional headquarters (for Asia) of international companies. In a Letter of Instructions No. 73, the Chief Executive created a study committee to look into ways and means to attract foreign firms to set up regional offices in Metropolitan Manila. The President said that this will generate more employment opportunities and lucrative jobs for the country’s unemployed and underemployed. THE GOVERNMENT will wage a nationwide information drive on the prudent and economical use of gas and oil products. This is one of the measures the President has ordered to see to it that the country can roll with the expected effects of the worsening worldwide energy crisis. A pre-Martial Law survey showed that 30 to 40 per cent of imported fuel is misused because of unsound industrial and motoring practices. The progressive car manufacturing company has also been advised to study the possibility of using native or indigenous fuel resources—like alcohol and charcoal. The Government is virtually relying on ingenuity to cushion the effects of the energy crisis which may trigger price increases in gas and oil products. The Government is also studying the feasibility of initiating the car pool concept where neighbors will share a ride in a single automobile. INTEGRATED BAR was asked to set up as soon as possible free legal clinics to assist poor litigants. Speaking before the Integrated Bar of Oroquieta City, Secretary of Justice Vicente Abad Santos said the Government can fulfill its commitment to justice only if it can assure the needy that poverty is not a handicap in the quest for truth. Showing concern for the plight of the poor litigants, the President, shortly after the proclamation of Martial Law, issued a Letter of Instructions establishing the Citizens’ Legal Assistance Office (CLAO). The justice secretary said the present work of the CLAO can be strengthened if the Integrated Bar set up free legal clinics for the poor litigants. Secretary Abad Santos stated that, since the Integrated Bar was established under the New Society, the association should help bring the law to the needy. NATIONAL HEALTH Planning advisory Council has pinpointed five priority areas for inclusion in the national health plan which was ordered by the President. Dr. Pacifico E. Marcos, chairman of the Philippine Medical Care Commission, said the following areas will cover environmental control, health promotion, health protection, medical care and social (rehabilitative) services. HOSPITALS now fall within the purview of the term “independent contractor” and are now, therefore, subject to the three per cent contractor’s tax. Acting Commissioner of Internal Revenue Conrado P. Diaz made the statement in reply to inquiries from hospitals as to whether or not they are now subject to the contractor’s tax under Section 191 of the tax code as amended by Presidential Decree No. 69. He explained that under Presidential Decree No. 69, hospitals are now subject to the P50 annual fixed tax prescribed by the tax code, and their quarterly gross receipt is subject to the three per cent contractor’s tax.