Official Gazette for November 20, 1973: THE PRESIDENT commended over a hundred experts in the study and prevention of mental retardation for their dedication and their participation in the first Asian Conference on Mental Retardation now being held in Manila. The President said that mental retardation, which affects three per cent of world’s population, including 75 million in Asia and one million in the Philippines, is of such dimensions that no single government can hope to face it and succeed. “We must salute you who have dedicated your entire lives to retrieving from the ash can of humanity those who ‘have perhaps been retarded by retarded policies and set aside, constituting a burden we must all carry,” the President added.
THE PRESIDENT reiterated the government policy of guaranteeing the free flow of foreign capital, investors and personnel in the Philippines. The President told an Italian Economic Mission currently conducting a market and investment possibilities survey of the country that the government guarantees the free flow of foreign investments as well as of foreign investors and personnel from the managerial to the technical levels. The President was informed by the Mission that they are much impressed by the favorable investment climate here and are exploring investment possibilities as well as a market for their products, which consist mostly of machineries for agriculture, construction and plastics manufacture.
THE PRESIDENT, through Proclamation No. 1208, has declared the period from November 21 to November 27 as “National Employment Development Week” as a means of rallying the unqualified support of government and the private sectors in the implementation of national employment programs. The proclamation stresses that there is an urgent need for economic reforms in the country to enable the unemployed to obtain gainful employment. Proclamation 1208 underlines the fact that the government is putting emphasis on an employment strategy that serves not only to enhance further economic progress but also to increase employment and employment opportunities for the benefit of the majority of the Filipino people who have been ‘by-passed in the process of economic growth.
THE PRESIDENT said that the program of reforms has all the signs of succeeding and that conditions have improved with Martial Law. The President, however, pointed out to Hongkong publishers and editors who called at Malacañang that Martial Law, Philippine style, is not the same as the martial law experienced in some other countries. In the Philippines, the President pointed out, the Constitution continues to exist and the President continues to retain civil authority although he may also be the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. The President was informed by the group that they were very much impressed with the very attractive investment climate and the generally peaceful atmosphere.
THE PRESIDENT gave the nationwide land reform program another boost when he directed all employes of the national government and all officers and men of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to submit individual land ownership declarations. The directive, contained in Memorandum Circular No. 679 issued by Executive Secretary Alejandro Melchor, Jr. on the authority of the President, gives the government personnel and AFP men up to December 15 to submit their declarations.November 21, 1973: THE PRESIDENT said that Filipinos are committed to athletics and that they are believers in the classic maxim correlating “a sound mind and a sound body.” The President made this observation during the call at Malacañang of heads of the different delegations participating in the First Asian Track and Field Championship meet being held at the Rodriguez Sports Center in Marikina, Rizal. The President at the same time congratulated the sports officials for having succeeded in bringing a conglomeration of 321 athletes from 18 Asian countries to the Philippines. He said that athletics often succeed in promoting goodwill among nations where diplomats, politicians and chiefs of state, fail.
THE PRESIDENT assured a 15-man group of realtors from Hawaii who have just formalized an overseas contract for the sale of land in the vicinity of the Export Processing Zone in Mariveles, Bataan, that their interests will be protected by the government. The group, belonging to the Ray-Bar Corp. of Hawaii, had just formalized an $11.4 million contract to sell overseas some 1,155 lots in Phase I of the Landoil Resources land development program in Bataan.
SECRETARY of Trade Troadio T. Quiazon, Jr. batted for long-range export development and promotion, as be noted that exports have emerged as the main avenue for further economic growth. Secretary Quiazon made the assessment at the opening session of the three-day symposium on Export Development and Promotion jointly sponsored by-the Departments of Public Information and of Trade at the DBP Auditorium, Makati, Rizal. Secretary Quiazon said that export development and promotion can best be carried out through the cooperation of government and private sectors based on a clear and accepted understanding of objectives. He also added that the New Society has brought many innovations and reforms which have invigorated a rather anemic export situation.
THE PHILIPPINES was extended by the Japanese government a ten billion yen or approximately P220 million commodity loan The loan was signed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tokyo, Japan, in a formal exchange of notes with Philippine Ambassador to Japan Roberto Benedicts Riyoshisa Mikanagi, director-general of the Japanese Economic Cooperation Bureau, signed the formal note in behalf of Foreign Minister Masayoshi Ohira. The loan will be used for the purchase in Japan of such raw materials and light capital goods as are enumerated in a list agreed upon by the competent authorities of both the Japanese and the Philippine governments.November 22, 1973: THE PRESIDENT said that the health requirements of the country are given high priority in the administration’s program of reforms. In a speech at the opening ceremonies of the annual convention of the Philippine Hospital Association, the President said that the country has been divided into 11 regions, with one major hospital to be set up in each region. He said the program also calls for the establishment of four medical centers at strategic points. The President disclosed that he has authorized the initial release of P100 million for the construction of hospitals, including 19 in the Muslim areas.
THE GOVERNMENT has stabilized the supply of sugar in the retail market, the National Prime Commodities Operations Center was informed. Secretary of Information Francisco S. Tatad said that during the meeting of the NPCOC, Brig. Gen. Prospero Olivas, the President’s representative and military supervisor of the sugar industry, reported that the government’s inventory of sugar stocks at this time stands at 1,707,483.05 piculs of domestic sugar, or 119,045.71 short tons. The NPCOC assured that there will be no curtailment of supply and no price increases and the socialized pricing of sugar will be stricly enforced. At the same time, the NPCOC directed the Philippine Highway Patrol Group to coordinate with the various police agencies in the Greater Manila area to effect the immediate installation of taxi stands in the area as a practical means of conserving fuel.
REPRESENTATIVES of all marketing arms of cement companies have been called to a meeting to thresh out what appears to be an artificial shortage in the cement market. Defense Secretary Juan Ponce Enrile, chairman of the National Prime Commodities Operations Center, warned that the government will not stand for any cartelization of cement that results in a supply squeeze and a rise in prices particularly of stocks diverted to the blackmarket. The secretary sees indications of hoarding as the cause of the artificial shortage for it was reported that in the first nine months of 1973, the industry produced 72 million bags, and yet there is a shortage.
THE PRESIDENT received Foreign Minister Bohuslav Chnoupek of Czechoslovakia who paid a courtesy call at Malacañang The President said he considered it historic that the foreign minister of Czechoslovakia should make the first official visit after the normalization of relations between the two countries. Foreign Minister Chnoupek informed the President that his country is interested in developing ties, with the Spines He said it is in line with Czechoslovakia’s foreign policy of peaceful cooperation between states with different social systems.
EXECUTIVE Secretary Alejandro Melchor, Jr. by order of the President issued Proclamation No. 1206 declaring the last week of November of every year as the “Food Science and Technology Week” to focus public attention on the important role that the food technology profession is playing in the promotion of the proper processing, handling and utilization of foods. The proclamation places under the auspices of the Philippine Association of Food Technologists, Inc. the proper observance of the week.November 23, 1973: THE PRESIDENT expressed determination to push through his administration’s program of reforms until the centuries-old dreams and aspirations of the Filipino people are realized. Keynoting the sixth general convention of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines, meeting at the Maharlika Hall of Malacañang, the President said it is his “moral obligation as President to see through all the reforms, and I would rather die than see them discontinued.” Denning the moral basis of what he described as the constitutional authoritarian revolution, the President said “we are obligated to eliminate all the vices of the old society so that the poor will no longer suffer and the affluent will participate in democratizing wealth, which will no longer be used to brutalize and degrade man but to uplift him and return to him his dignity.” In closing, the Chief Executive lauded the various churches of the country for coming together.
THE PRESIDENT ordered a direct inquiry into reported unauthorized fuel cuts made by certain sectors of the oil companies on agriculture and industry, and alleged allocation increases for certain non-productive purposes. The President designated Defense Secretary Juan Ponce Enrile, chairman of the National Prime Commodities executive
Friday, November 24, 1973, Sec. [Carlos] Romulo called from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia at 8:10 AM (Manila Time; there is a six hour difference so it must have been 2:10 AM at Riyadh) that his “Mission Accomplished.”
He had met King Faisal [bin Abdulaziz Al Saud] and given my personal letter before the King left for Algiers where there is to be a Summit Meeting of Arab heads of states on November 26th and a meeting of their Foreign and Oil Ministers on the 23rd.
So we are promised 100 million barrels of crude oil, by Saudi Arabia, every year for five years. By then I hope that we will have discovered oil and exploited it to meet not only our
committee and the National Allocation Board, and Oil Industry Commission Chairman Ponciano Mathay to undertake the inquiry.
The PRESIDENT expressed hope that with the establishment of full diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Czechoslovakia, trade, and cultural exchanges could now be intensified between their peoples. The President made the remarks during a dinner he gave in honor of Foreign Minister Bohuslav Chnoupek of Czechoslovakia at the Heroes Hall of Malacañang. With a sense of gratification, the President cited the fact that Czechoslovakia was the first country in Eastern Europe to open full diplomatic relations with the Philippines. Also, Czechoslovakia was one of the first to express support for the archipelagic doctrine sponsored by the Philippines as part of the proposed law of the sea. In response, Foreign Minister Chnoupek expressed the happiness of his country over its new relations with the Philippines. He said that his country hopes that the talks on arms will end in favor of an era of dialogue and cooperation among nations. “We are for peace, for reduction of tension, for security, for mutually advantageous cooperation,” Chnoupek said.
THE DANISH government agreed to extend a $5.4 million (30-million Danish Kroner) loan to the Philippines under the Danish development aid program. The agreement to grant the loan was signed at Malacañang by Hans Jespersen, head of the Danish International Development “Agency (DANIDA), and Assistant Executive Secretary Ramon Cardenas, who represented the Philippine government.November 24, 1973: THE PRESIDENT has approved a recommendation, from, the Philippine Constabulary waiving various travel requirements for Filipino Muslims joining the government-sponsored pilgrimage to Mecca next year. As authorized “by the Chief Executive, the Muslim pilgrims will no longer be required to submit their birth certificates or birth affidavits, tax clearance and police (and similar type) clearance. They will also not be asked to pay travel and other taxes relative to travel abroad. Furthermore, the pilgrims will not be required to get their passports for an official travel document will be issued to them. To avoid confusion, a certificate of citizenship by the local representative of the Commission on National Integration will be given to each Muslim pilgrim.
THE PRESIDENT issued Presidential Decree No. 338 to amend certain provisions of Presidential Decree No. 251, which exempts the Land Bank from all national, provincial, municipal and city taxes and assessments enforced or hereinafter established, among other provisions. Under PD No. 251, it would appear that the exemption from such taxes would be enjoined not only by the Land Bank but also “by persons and other entities doing business with the Bank,” when it is not the intention of PD No. 251 to endow such exemption to the clients of the Land Bank. PD No. 338 further amended the second paragraph of Sec. 98 of Republic Act No. 3844, the Code of Agrarian Reform in the Philip pines, which had been amended by Sec. 21 of PD No. 251.
EXECUTIVE Secretary Alejandro Melchor Jr., by order of the President, issued Proclamation No. 1207 declaring the period from December 9 to 15, 1973 as “Government Employes Week” to have the public realize the existence of loyal and efficient state workers. The said proclamation calls upon all citizens to give a thought to the dedicated, honest and hard-working government employe in grateful appreciation of his services. The executive secretary stresses that the week should be devoted to maximizing service efficiency and promoting better relations between the public and the government employes. The proclamation notes there are legions of unsung heroes in the government whose existence has remained unnoticed, hence, the need to focus public attention on their efficient and dedicated service to the government.
Entry missing from handwritten file, but is in the transcribed PCGG file. Source of text cannot be verified
requirements but that of our friends.
I have, therefore, directed Alex [Alejandro] Melchor [Jr.] and Ting [Vicente] Paterno to finalize the steps to acquire the Esso 57% of the Bataan Refinery and to set up oil tank farms in the old tank depot of the U.S. Air Force at Bataan and the Filoil complex at Rosario, Cavite.
Mobil’s Bob Wales is still holding on to a demand that Mobil be allowed to keep 50% of their interest in the Bataan Refinery. He claims this was offered by Gen. [Hans] Menzi] while negotiating to buy Esso interests.
But he has promised to waive their right of first refusal in sales of the shares Esso.
And I have directed Sec. Alex Melchor to ask Kawasaki to expedite the setting up of an intermediate oil depot and tank farm in the Philippines for the Japanese imports of oil from the Middle East.
The [Amells?] have stated their sense of grave shock at our statement that we “may reconsider our ties with Israel.”
I attach the report and my notes on it.
Spoke to the National Council of Churches to obtain their support on “The Moral Basis of our Revolution and the New Society.” There have been efforts of our critics to encourage church opposition to the New Society.
I attach today’s paper.