Official Gazette for October 30, 1972: DURING a two-hour Cabinet meeting, the President discussed ways and means of bringing down the prices of commodities to within the means of the low-income group. He said that prime commodities are being given priority at the moment but the move to reduce prices will cover all items. The President was informed at the meeting that:
There was no problem in connection with rice and corn at present. The administrator of the National Grains Authority said that the ordinary rice variety has dropped to as low as P2.30 per ganta in Manila;
There is now an over-supply of leafy vegetables as a result of the post-food plantings, and the price of vegetables has gone down;
The pesticides manufacturers have agreed to reduce prices by 10 per cent in order to boost production;
Fisheries production can be increased by removing some of the restrictions imposed by the Fisheries Commission and the Philippine Coast Guard;
Meat prices have gone down except at the Nepa-Q and Farmers Markets in Quezon City where, although the wholesalers are selling meat at reduced prices, the retailers refused to reduce prices;
The huge Russian wheat purchase from the United States tends to increase the price of wheat flour and bread;
In some products, it is only a question of distribution; and
In consonance with the New Society, the drug manufacturers have agreed to a 10 per cent cut in prices of those drugs and medicines not yet under the Price Control Council list.
The President proclaimed Nov. 1, All Saints Day, as a special public holiday. Proclamation No. 1086 issued by Executive Secretary Alejandro Melchor stated that paying homage to the dead on All Saints Day is one of the country’s cherished traditions and that the people should be given full opportunity to observe the day with all its religious fervor. Secretary Francisco S. Tatad of the Department of Public Information, however, reminded the people that the curfew hours from 12 midnight to 4 a.m. prescribed under General Order No. 4 issued by the President on Sept. 22, had not been suspended and that it would remain in force throughout the country on All Saints Day (Nov. 1) and All Souls Day (Nov. 2).
The Administrator of Economic Coordination reported to the President that the Iligan Integrated Steel Mills Inc. had resumed operations. The report stated that the Iligan cold mill in Iligan City started functioning after a shutdown of more than one year and that local officials, businessmen and residents hailed the government takeover of the ISMI which employs more than 1,000 workers. The reactivation of the mill which is the largest in the country, will increase the supply of critical steel products.
Eighty-four officials and employees separated from the service led the list of 118 personnel of the Government Service Insurance System against whom action had been taken by the GSIS general manager. The 118 GSIS personnel were listed in two successive reports submitted by the manager in compliance with the President’s Letter of Instruction No. 14-A issued last Oct. 5 which directed heads of government offices to take disciplinary action against civil servants facing administrative charges or those notoriously undesirable.
At the Bureau of Customs, a total of 111 officials and employees were likewise separated from the service in line with the President’s policy to clean up the government and bring about efficient and honest service. This constitutes the second batch of personnel weeded out of the bureau and brings to 308 the total number of employees dismissed or considered resigned, which is 8 per cent of the customs force.
President Marcos directed the Secretary of Labor and the Chief of the Philippine Navy to prepare a comprehensive plan for manpower training for Filipino seamen. The directive was designed to prevent foreign merchant ship owners from exploiting Filipino sailors. In his directive, the President said, “I understand that the Filipino is a good sailor, but there is no available training facility for ordinary sailors.”
Over P27.1 million worth of community development projects have been completed during the past 12 months in southern Mindanao provinces.
Among the community development projects completed were 6,036 undertaken by barrio people. Of the total amount spent for the projects, only P2.2 million was contributed by the Presidential Arm on Community Development in the form of processed materials. The rest of the amount in terms of land site, free labor and local materials was borne by the barrio residents, as well as the local governments and civic clubs. The projects consisted of irrigation dams and pumps, multi-purpose centers and pavements, barrio halls, markets, crop dryers, barrio roads,
Conference on prices 10:00-12:30 AM.
Tariff Code amendments—Sec. of Agri. recommendations.
Reassignments in the AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines]. Sec. [Juan] Ponce Enrile and Gen. [Romeo] Espino.
Luncheon with the original group—Sec. Ponce Enrile, Gen. Espino, the major service commanders, Gen. [Rafael] Zagala, [Fidel] Ramos, [Jose] Rancudo and Commodore [Hilario] Ruiz, Gen. [Ignacio] Paz, J-2 [Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence], Gen. [Fabian] Ver, Gen. [Alfredo] Montoya, Gen. [Tranquilino] Paranis, Col. Romeo Gatan and Cong. Eduardo Cojuangco. Gen. [Guillermo] Picache who was not in the group was also invited.
This is the group in the last two meetings.
I spoke of my plans on the constitution—its scheduled approval November and a plebiscite Jan. 15, 1973. So the need for an information drive even among the troops. And an AFP newspaper.
Reviewed appropriations for the AFP.
Imelda is still in pain. They pulled out the last lower right molar at about 5:30 PM at the clinic of Dr. Primo Gonzales. Attending were Drs. [Pacifico] Yap, [Juanita] Zagala, [Paciencia] Disini and the dentists Drs. [Primo] Gonzales, Pungalong [Serafin Punzalan] and [Jose V.] Francisco.
She had to be given five injections of local anesthesia. But there is pain up to now. I hope the pain stops tomorrow.
We talked to Bongbong in London and Gov. [Benjamin] Romualdez in New York.
I am busy on the outline of the second book. I attach it and my notes.
nurseries and undertakings to stimulate farm production through mechanization and the use of modern farm methods.
The “Original Group” named by Marcos in this entry is the definitive list of his closest advisers at the time, often referred to as the “Rolex 12” from an urban legend that Marcos gifted each one with a personalized Rolex watch, other sources say the brand was Omega. In “Millenials: You ain’t seen nothing yet” by Inquirer Research on September 21, 2015 the list differs with the inclusion of Gen. Tomas Diaz not in Marcos’ reckoning who listed Gen Tranquilino Paranis.