Congress has approved only two bills—the peace and order fund bill as well as the borrowing authority bill. What a pity. Congress has been the butt of jokes and criticism. It could have refurbished its image this special session. What with the [Wenceslao] Lagumbay, [Dominador] Aytona and [Felipe] Azcuna cases, its name is now dirt. Even the [Floro] Crisologo case has cast over Congress as notoriety which it will take long to eradicate.
And this has reflected on the entire administration. Without any hope of any let-up.
But the two bills passed were most urgent. Although with the demands for increases in salaries and releases of public works funds, we do need additional sources of government funds. The amendments to the tariff and customs code could have brought in additional funds for the general fund.
Official Gazette for October 11, 1970: President Marcos ended the state of public calamity proclaimed earlier covering the areas of Central Luzon, Greater Manila and Southern Luzon. The state of public calamity in the said areas as declared under Proclamation No. 750, on September 2, 1970, clue to heavy floods resulting from Typhoon “Meding.” The President said the situation in these areas has returned to normal, and evacuated families and refugees have been returned to their homes and/or relocated.
Among other actions, the President ordered four government offices to deal as speedily as possible with a series of urgent problems presented to Malacañang in the morning by residents in the Tondo foreshore area. On instruction of the President, Assistant Executive Secretary Roberto V. Reyes and Deputy Governor Ernesto Valdez of the Land Authority met with the Tondo residents to discuss their problems. They were led by Restituto de Leon. The President ordered:
1. The Land Authority to restudy for possible amendment the Certificate of Occupancy being issued to the Tondo residents because of certain provisions objected to by the residents. The residents believe certain provisions are not in conformity with the letter and spirit of the Tondo Foreshore Land Act. 2. Undersecretary of Justice Guillermo Santos to convene a committee headed by him, created by the President under Administrative Order No. 212 of March 30, 1970 and which includes Gov. Valdez and Undersecretary of Social Welfare Petra de Joya as members, to resolve certain disputes arising from the occupancy of lots. 3. The National Shipyard and Steel Corporation to investigate the entry of occupants in an area being used by the NASSCO, and which the Tondo residents claim to be within the area covered by the Tondo Foreshore Land Act (RA 1592 and later amended by RA 2439). 4. Director Alejandro Deleña of Public Works to formulate recommendations on a petition that the areas of “Slip Zero,” which is now covered by land and beyond the 100 meter limit in the Pier Zone, the Luzviminda Village and the Isla-Puting-Bato, be awarded to bonafide occupants.
Another consideration being looked into is the construction of multi-storey tenement houses, under the Condominium Law, in order to accommodate as many families as possible within a limited area, and further providing spaces for vital community facilities such as schools, health centers and recreational sites. The Condominium Law sanctions ownership in common of an apartment site and building, with tenants having title to their apartment units, properly registered with the Register of Deeds and transferable like any certificate of title.
The gold subsidy bill was a must as now 8,000 laborers in the gold mines may have to be laid off.
And we needed the quarterly payments of corporate income to keep the income of government on an even level throughout the year. Now we face two successive quarters of very low income (October to March).
We face the elections for delegates in a state of frustration.