I have finally decided that in the Land Reform Program we should keep the government out of the transaction for the transfer of ownership of the land to the tenant. It would be a direct transaction between landowner and tenant choosing one of two schemes:
Official Gazette for October 14, 1972: PRESIDENT MARCOS expressed determination to effect the transfer of some 1.5 million hectares of rice and corn lands covered by the land reform program from the landlords to the 715,000 tenant-farmers. In a two-hour conference with his land reform advisers, the President directed:
1) The Department of Agrarian Reform, Agricultural Productivity Commission and the Bureau of Plant Industry to field 3000 farm technicians each, to live and work among the tenants, so they can teach them the responsibilities and obligations of land ownerships;
2) The Presidential Arm on Community Development, Agricultural Credit Administration and Cooperatives Administration Office, to speed up the training of barrio and local cooperatives organizers so that the setting up of cooperatives as an adjunct of land reform can be expedited; and
3) The Department of Justice to study the feasibility of cancelling land grants and sales of public lands which had remained idle and undeveloped.
Twelve categories of Philippine citizens or foreign nationals who wish to depart for abroad are not required to secure prior clearance from the Department of National Defense. The exceptions are embodied in Letter of Instruction No. 26 issued by the President. The 12 categories:
Members of the diplomatic crops and/or the foreign staffs;
Foreigners who came to the Philippines as tourists;
Permanent residents of foreign countries, whether nationals of the Philippines or not, who are returning to their respective countries of residence;
Immigrants and their direct dependents;
Government officials and employees being sent abroad in the service of the Republic of the Philippines, as authorized by the Office of the President;
Scholars of the Philippine government being sent for schooling abroad under a foreign government grant;
Scholars being sent abroad under the auspices of international bodies like the UN and UN bodies, SEATO, ASEAN, ASPAC or under the Colombo Plan and other like Exchange Programmes, fellowships, traineeships or courses, as approved by the Special Committee on Scholarships, National Economic Council;
Those whose projected travel for abroad is in acceptance of an invitation to attend international conferences such as those of the UN and UN bodies, SEATO, ASEAN, ASPAC and like conferences, under agreements entered into by the Philippine Government;
Officials and employees of international organizations such as the ADB, ECAFE, ILO, UNDP, USAID, WHO, IAEA, FAD, UNESCO, WMO, GATT, ASEAN, SEATO and like organizations;
Bonafide officers and crew members of international air carriers or inter-ocean going vessels or of any Philippine commercial watercraft or aircraft duly authorized to undertake foreign travels at this time or as may thereafter be authorized by the Philippine government;
Filipino citizens in active military service with the United States Armed Forces and their direct dependents; and
Foreigners who are treaty traders recognized by international conventions/practices.
The resumption of classes for all levels in both public and private schools beginning Oct. 16 was authorized by the President. Some 890 schools all over the country with an enrollment of a million students will open their doors. Excluded from resuming classes were the Philippine College of Commerce, Siliman University and the Philippine Science High School.
- Payment in 14 years of 25% of the decided rent. This would be guaranteed by the cooperative that would have to be organized before ownership can be transferred to the tenant.
- The organization of a corporation 25% of which shall belong to the landowner.
And there will be 0-retention by the landowner—except where the landowner tills the land himself—so he retains 6 hectares for each member of the family.
I attach the notes on our conference.
The use of bonds I rejected as this involves P7.5 billion at P5,000 per hectare.
Met Amb. [Henry] Byroade at 9:45 AM who congratulated me. I asked him to inform his government I am asking for help in Land Reform. He feels that he can obtain such help from the U.S. Congress.
But the doctors in Clark Air Force Base have discovered a quarter size whitish spot inside his mouth under his tongue due to his smoking. So he is supposed to stop smoking as the spot is pre-malignant.
Was at Fort Bonifacio 10:30-11:45 PM inspecting the troops beyond the target range in training for attack. NBC took shots of me on the radio and the heliborne troops taking a hill.
Then worked on new school to be opened, the amendments to the orders on suspension and dismissal of policemen, the take over of IISMI [Iligan Integrated Steel Mills Inc.] and Elirol [Elizalde Rolling Mills, Inc.], the exclusion of clearance requirements of certain groups of persons.
Tonight I viewed the media presentations of two groups—the APAA [Association of Philippine Advertising Agencies] and the Tony Cantero groups.
I met Eraño Manalo of the Iglesia ni Cristo. He is worried that he may be picked up. And the BIR [Bureau of Internal Revenue] just notified him his books of accounts would be examined. Of course I accepted the resignation of Judge Herminio Mariano, married to his sister.
And in the early morning of Saturday, Sept. 22nd, shooting erupted in the Central Building of the Iglesia in Quezon City, beside the U.P. [University of the Philippines] resulting in the death of one Iglesia guard and the wounding of three more while on the government side three [marines?] were wounded. And he claims it was due to the fact that the Metrocom [Metropolitan Command] team head who was asked what they wanted by an Iglesia men, Ka Esguerra (a Lt. Ilagan who was apparently nervous) did not show his written orders nor did he explain his mission. Only the call of Sec. [Juan] Ponce Enrile stopped the shooting.
He claims that now the NPA [New People’s Army] would be trying to win their men to their side. But that they could not join a Godless organization.
I believe he is scared of being picked up.