1:10 AM May 29th
Reviewed the operations of the National Media Center and the materials for print.
Official Gazette for May 28, 1973: THE PRESIDENT has approved the recommendations of the Special Committee on Travel authorizing the travel overseas of different categories of Filipinos. Foreign Undersecretary Manuel Collantes, chairman of the special committee, announced that the recommendations have been contained in Letter of Instructions No. 76 issued by the President. Authorized to travel under LOI 76 are immigrants; persons under contracts of employment in other countries; bonafide businessmen; permanent residents; contract workers and students who come to the Philippines for a visit and thereafter return to the country where they reside or currently work and study; government officials on official business; and scholars and trainees.
THE GOVERNMENT has earmarked P300 million to be used for buying local palay right in the field. The move to bring Government palay buying operations right to the field is intended to complement a parallel move by the Philippine National Bank to process bank loan applications literally at the farmers doorsteps. The scheme to buy and pay cash for local palay right in the fields was announced by Secretary of Agriculture Arturo R. Tanco Jr. in his capacity as chairman-coordinator of the National Food and Agriculture Council (NFAC).
THE PRESIDENT sought the cooperation of surrendered Muslim rebel leaders in the restoration of peace and order in Cotabato for the immediate implementation of the province’s development projects. The Chief Executive made the appeal in a meeting with 14 Muslim rebel leaders in Malacañang. He reemphasized that the planned road building, irrigation system improvement, port works and infrastructure projects will only start when the pockets of resistance and occasional ambuscades in the province have been totally wiped out.
THE GOVERNMENT has started to break down many Philippine tribalistic enclaves and to merge all of them into a cohesive society. Since the imposition of Martial Law, reforms have been instituted to erase the idea that the Philippines is made up of a majority of minorities. More specifically, Filipinos are being urged to develop a new outlook towards the so-called cultural minorities, specially the Muslims. Executive Secretary Alejandro Melchor made these observations in a speech delivered during the launching of Dr. Cesar Majul’s hook, “Muslims in the Philippines.” The book, Secretary Melchor said, relates to the present effort of building a new nation. He said the “Muslims in the Philippines” is valuable because it reveals to all Filipinos the manner and the degree of differences among themselves and bridges the gaps that have arisen as a result of these differences.
DEPARTMENT of Local Governments and Community Development enjoined all provincial governors, city and municipal mayors to help in the orderly and efficient registration of reservists of the Armed Forces throughout the country. DLGCD Secretary Jose Roño noted that in the past, annual registration of reservists had been ineffective due to procedural hitches like non-availability or shortage of prescribed forms and a weak distribution system, defective administrative mechanics and inadequate information campaign. To facilitate this year’s registration, Mr. Roño has directed local government, executives to provide the local civil registrars in their respective areas: 1) Authorization for the detail of reasonable number of personnel in extending all administrative assistance; and 2) Authority to render overtime work during weekends and holidays within the month-long period.
THE PRESIDENT has devised moves to effect immediate reemployment for some 50,000 to 60,000 personnel of governmental agencies and entities abolished by Martial Law, the reorganization plan and the new Charter. In Letter of Instructions No. 77, the Chief Executive directed Budget Commissioner Faustino Sychangco to give priority to bid government employes before accommodating new personnel. To broaden possible sources of employment, the President further directed the budget commissioner to coordinate with various chambers of trade and industry for hiring of the displaced government employees.
BUREAU OF INTERNAL Revenue reported a total, of P853.29 million as the gross tax collection for April. In a report to Finance Secretary Cesar E. A. Virata, Acting BIB Commissioner Conrado Diaz said that the April collection exceeded by 36.7 per cent the collection for April, 1972. It also surpassed by 94.7 percent the collections for March this year which was P438.64 million. A breakdown of the tax collections for the month of April follows: specific tax, P54.8 million; license, business and occupational taxes, P110.82 million; income tax, P408.59 million; hidden wealth P250.63 million; and other taxes and fees, P28.45 million.
Ordered it returned to the DPI [Department of Public Information].
Ordered the organization of the International edition of our newspapers and magazine (Times Journal and Focus). And the press attache.
Ambassador Yusup Abubakar.
Asked Joe [Jose] Alberto to help in the referenda which he recommends should be held as soon as possible.
Interview by Teddy Owen of Bulletin. I attach papers.
Then the formal visit of the Muslim Datus of Cotabato who have surrendered. I attach list. I have asked them to surrender all their men.
And the VTR [videotape recording] on Pulong Pulong sa Kaunlaran on Freedom from Ignorance. I attach papers.
Worked on problems of overseas shipping and gold.