Manila Traffic problem—the banning of jeepneys from main thoroughfares.
- Ordered the number of jeepneys in Greater Manila reduced from 23,000 to 10,000
Official Gazette for May 25, 1973: THE PRESIDENT ordered a revision of the traffic experiment in Metro Manila to remove the impression that the Government is discriminating against certain sectors of society. In a meeting with Metro Manila Traffic Management and Implementing Committee at Malacañang, the President issued guidelines for the committee to follow in its effort to improve traffic conditions in the Metro Manila area. The guidelines are: 1) Not less than 1,000 jeepneys will be allowed to operate in the main thoroughfares by Monday. They will be chosen from the 23,000 jeepneys authorized to operate in the Greater Manila Area which will be reduced to 10,000. 2) Engineering facilities of the streets in Manila should be improved. On recommendation of the technical men, the President directed that the islands in the middle of the main thoroughfares of Manila be removed in order that the whole street may be used. Noting the adverse public reaction to the week-old traffic experiment under which all jeepneys were banned from main thoroughfares, the President told the committee: “We don’t want to leave the impression that the rich are allowed the beautiful highway and the poor are shunted to the small roads.
NATIONAL GRAINS AUTHORITY has assured all private persons and entities who will invest in the grains industry of full protection and support from the Government. In a speech delivered for him” before the Rotary Club of Olongapo City recently, NGA Administrator Jesus Tanchanco disclosed that a Business Promotions and Development Division will soon be created under the NGA Public Affairs Office to render full assistance to investors by providing all possible information about the country’s grains business. At the same time, the NGA head reiterated his call on all leading businessmen and industrialists to share their talents and resources by investing in the grains industry for its full development.
FILIPINO agricultural scientists were asked to work as teams behind the national efforts to increase food production. Undersecretary of Agriculture Jose D. Drilon Jr., speaking before the Crop Science Society of the Philippines in Cebu City, observed that scientists should no longer work in isolation but in concert with his colleagues. The agriculture undersecretary called on crop scientists to work harder “because they have to work with less resources and because the results of their labor will affect the lives and destinies of millions.”
THE PHILIPPINES was visited by a total of 18,078 tourists last April, indicating the steady growth of the industry since the imposition of Martial Law eight months ago. American tourists dominated the arrivals of 6,777, followed, by the Japanese at 3,988. The Filipino tourists registered the second highest rate of increase at 48 per cent, followed by the British which registered a 46 per cent increase. Australian arrivals rose by 33 per cent. This is the first time in 15 years for tourist arrivals from the Philippines’ traditional markets to achieve these increases, according to the Department of Tourism.
PHILIPPINE Virginia Tobacco Administration has started a new tobacco leaf procurement system aimed at rechanneling the benefits of the industry to the farmers, Known as the tobacco auction on sale, the system drastically cuts tobacco procurement costs of cigaret manufacturers, exporters and redryers by eliminating the middlemen. The first auction floor system, enables Virginia tobacco buyers to deal directly with farmers and offer better prices for the farmers’ tobacco. The new procurement system is one of the first major steps that the Government is taking towards rechanneling the benefits of the industry to the farmers and their cooperatives with the help of the private sector.
DEPARTMENT of National Defense ordered the lifting of Constabulary control over the police forces of three cities and 28 towns in 10 provinces following the return of normalcy of peace and order conditions in these localities. The lifting of PC control over these police forces was recommended by Brig. Gen. Fidel V. Ramos, PC chief. The three cities and 28 towns are: Cavite City, Tagaytay City, and Trece Martires City; Silang, Tanza, Naic, Gen. Trias, Alfonso, Amadeo, Imus, Indang, Kawit, Maragondon, and Mendez, all in Cavite; Bangued, Abra; San Ildefonso, Bulacan; Alacapan, Ballesteros, Calayan, Rizal, and Sanchez Mira, all in Cagayan; Banawe and Lagawe in Ifugao; Balaoan and Bauang in La Union; Marcos, Ilocos Norte; Malasiqui, Mangatarem, and Urbiztondo, in Pangasinan; Capas and Concepcion in Tarlac; and San Marcelino Zambales.
several thousand to be permitted on the main thoroughfares. Buses for displaced jeepney owners.
2. Engineering facilities improved including knocking down the islands in the middle of the road.
3. Task force to enforce rules.
4. Staggering office hours in the public and private sector.
Approved the oil exploration service contract of Philipps the 8th biggest US explorer.
UP [University of the Philippines] Law Alumni reunions in front of the palace. I attach my prepared text which I discarded.
Instead I spoke of the past, present and future history of the country in confluence in the reunion.
I explained that the Colleges’ traditions of constitutionalism and not a revolutionary government. It would have been less tedious, difficult and embarrassing to have declared a revolutionary government but I would not have been true to myself.