Met the congressional leaders and after some argument with Gerry [Gerardo] Roxas who wanted it postponed for at least a week so that we could show some repair and rehabilitation before we increased tariff duties and others like Sen. Pres. [Gil] Puyat
Official Gazette for November 26, 1970: The President met with leaders of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
In his meeting with the congressional leaders, at which a sprinkling of Cabinet officials were present, the President discussed the resources available to the government in the relief and rehabilitation of victims of recent calamities, and including the rehabilitation of whole areas and public services.
He disclosed that some 2000 prefab schools have been ordered through reparations, but that meanwhile the country must make do with salvaged schoolbuildings until early next year when the prefab units will arrive.
Among the leaders of Congress present at the meeting were Senate president Gil j. Puyat, Speaker Pretempore Jose Aldeguer, Senator Gerardo M. Roxas, who is the president, House Majority Floorleader Marcelino Velosa, House Minority Floordleader Justiniano S. Montano, Senator Dominador Aytona and Reps, Jose Alberto and Roverto Sabido.
Among the Cabinet officials who attended were Secretary of Public Works and Communications Manuel b. Syquio, secretary of Finance Cesar e. a. Virata, secretary of National Defense Juan Ponce Enrile, jr., Executive Secretary Alejandro Melchor, jr., Budget Commissioner Faustino Sy-Changco, Assistant Executive Secretary Roberto V. Reyes, Agriculture Undersecretary Arturo Tanco, Jr., and director-general Apolinario Orosa of the Presidential Economic Staff.
Later in the morning, the President directed all departments and agencies of the government to furnish the joint congressional committee created under the peace and order fund act all data on peace and order as may be desired by the said committee. The president gave this order with the understanding that such data would serve the official need of both the Senate and the House committee on ways and means in their committee hearings.
He emphasized that it might be useful for the said committees to “look into the operation and effects of accounts” as well as the “administration of taxes imposed” as provided in the Peace and Order Act. On the eve of the arrival of His Holiness, Pope Paul VI, the President issued the following message:
In the name of the Filipino people, I welcome His Holiness Pope Paul VI to the Philippines. We consider his visit with us as a great honor and are truly glad that he has singled out the Philippines for special attention during his trip to this part of the world. For not only are we the lone Catholic country in the Far East, we are also the only predominantly Christian nation in this area. We are proud of this distinction, while appreciative at the same time of the importance and value of other faiths, if only because Christianity is one of our links with Western Civilization. The cultural and religious heritage of the West has enriched the spiritual and moral values handed down from our pre-Christian ancestors.
Among these values are tolerance and the sense of human brotherhood. We Filipinos have guarded our political freedoms as jealously as any other people, and in matters of faith, we have always shown tolerance toward one another, as attested by the existence in our midst not only of Christian churches of various faiths but of a large Muslim population, not to speak of scattered tribes who are sustained by the animistic beliefs of their ancestors. The acceptance of diversity in matters religious reflects our tolerant attitude in the political realm as well. Our democracy is all the more stable because it is founded on faith in the goodness of man and in the conviction that all men are brothers.
The ecumenical spirit of His Holiness’ visit is therefore something that is quite readily appreciated by us. He is coming not only as the Supreme Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church but also as a world spiritual leader whose humanity and compassion brings a message of hope to men and women everywhere. As Catholics, as Christians, or as simple believers in one Supreme Being, we are heartened by the presence of the Holy Father and deeply grateful for the attention he has bestowed on our country and people.
who referred to the alleged report of the Tariff Commission that P100 million was not collected by the Bureau of Customs on the basis of the import entries, I signed the executive orders increasing the tariff of crude oil to 15% (as well as other products).
Worked on my speeches which I have had to shorten as much as possible.
There are some manifestations of offense at the fact that the pope does not ride with me in our official car from the MIA [Manila International Airport] to the Cathedral. But I have quelched all of these with the explanation that even in the United States, the pope refused to go to Washington and received Pres. [Lyndon] Johnson in his suite in the Waldorf Astoria for only 10 minutes. And we should not be petty about it. He is the vicar of Christ.