October 4-9, 1973

Official Gazette for October 4, 1973: THE PRESIDENT received the letter of credence of Ambassador Milton Telles Ribeiro as the new ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of the Federative Republic of Brazil to the Philippines. In presenting his credentials to the President, Ambassador Ribeiro pledged to further strengthen the cordial ties existing between his country and the Philippines. The President expressed satisfaction and gratitude to the Brazilian government for its decision to send a man whose long service in Southeast Asia spans several years. The Ambassador is “attuned not only to our climate but also to our modes and our culture,” the President said.
ARCHIPELAGIC doctrine of national territory engrained in the new Constitution of the Philippines has strengthened the country’s position to push through its principle in the United Nation Seabed Committee. This was contained in a report of Ambassador-at-Large Arturo Tolentino on the meeting of the UNSC in Geneva last July and August. The report has been submitted to the President. The Philippine position on the archipelagic concept, which is supported by other nations including Indonesia, provides that a country will exercise full dominion and sovereign rights over waters and seas between islands comprising the archipelago.
DEPARTMENT of Tourism announced that overseas Filipinos visiting the Philippine under “Operations Homecoming” will enjoy discounts on hotel billeting, restaurant services, tour trips and store purchases. The Hotel and Restaurant Association of the Philippines (HRAP), the Association of Tour Operators of the Philippines (ATOP), and a group of department stores have volunteered to extend these benefits to the Balikbayan project. The tourism department said that the home-coming guests need only present their hospitality cards and passports to be entitled to the discounts.
DEPARTMENT of Trade assured foreign businessmen who will reside in Manila once their multinational companies regional headquarters are relocated here of adequate housing facilities. Trade Secretary Troadio T. Quiazon Jr. has ordered a study on housing rentals in the exclusive villages in Greater Manila where foreign nationals taking advantage of the country’s business and investment climate—are expected to stay. Mr. Quiazon said the study is in line with the Government’s program to attract foreign multinationals to establish their regional headquarters in the Philippines.
DEPARTMENT of Trade limited the exportation of plywood solely to registered producers and their authorized agents under the revised guidelines on plywood and lumber export issued recently. Under the revised guidelines, registered plywood producers and their agents are required to submit under oath to the trade department a recapitulation of total monthly production and sales (domestic and foreign) within 30 days after the end of each month. Mr. Quiazon said a quota of 70 per cent of total production will be allowed for plywood exports allocated on a case to case basis determined by performance in production and export sales of different plywood firms in Fiscal Year 1972-73. The lumber industry is allowed to export a quota of 30 per cent of total production, as allocated to various lumber exporters.
BOARD of Transportation directed the foreign truck operator who have existing contracts with oil companies for transporting oil at rates lower than 30 centavos per ton to file for the prescribed rates within 30 days. The board issued the order following complaints from several truck operators that some truck owners have resorted to offering hauling services at rates lower than the prescribed rates as authorized by the BT. The BT said that henceforth, oil companies entering into hauling contracts with truck owners are enjoined to require the presentation by the contracting party of a certified true copy of its operating authority or certificates of public convenience.

Official Gazette for October 5, 1973: THE PRESIDENT made available the Industrial Guarantee Loan Fund to cottage industries in a move to broaden the industries role in the expansion of the country’s economic base. The IGLF will enable small cottage industry producers to borrow money without any collateral, under a supervised credit system similar to the Masagana 99 loaning policy. The IGLF was only available to small and medium scale industries. The Chief Executive also sought the assistance of all sectors of the economy, including bankers, judiciary and executive department officials, to help formulate policies to promote cottage industries. These moves highlighted the keynote speech of the President before the First National Conference of Cottage Industry Producers and Exporters at the Maharlika Hall of Malacañang. The President said the government is encouraging cottage industries because they not only encourage the dispersal of talents but help smoke out hidden wealth.
BUREAU of Internal Revenue Commissioner Misael P. Vera said overseas Filipinos who will visit the country under

Operations Homecoming” will not be required to present tax clearance certificates. Mr. Vera said the visiting Filipinos need not even present VIP or hospitality cards, which under a revenue order, serve as a tax clearance for their return trip abroad. The revenue commissioner added he has ordered travel agents and airline companies to indicate on the passenger manifests the passport number and date of arrival of non-resident Filipinos so that their failure to get their VIP or hospitality cards will not hinder their departure for abroad.
CIVIC organizations should involve the people benefiting from community projects in the formulation and implementation of such programs to foster bigger civilian participation. Information secretary Francisco S. Tatad made this statement in a speech at the Silver Jubilee celebration of the Philippine Jaycees in Angeles City. He explained that it is not enough that civic organizations involve their own members in their community projects. What is required, he pointed out, is the common involvement of all, including those who are expected to benefit from such projects. He added that the Government will continue to find concrete ways to involve the greatest number of the people. But civic organizations, he said, must now formulate new programs that will afford the people to involve themselves in community work.
NATIONAL Grains Authority has lifted the ban on the use of white corn for the manufacture of animal feeds in view of the recent bountiful harvest of corn in the country. The grains agency, however, said the corn support price of the Government of P1.30 per kilo must be observed in the cereal’s purchase. The announcement was made during a meeting of NGA officials and officers of the Philippine Association of Feed Millers at the NGA’s central office.

Official Gazette for October 6, 1973: THE PRESIDENT created the annual Panday Pira Award which will be conferred upon outstanding cottage industry producers and entrepreneurs actively involved in the national effort of promoting the country’s fledgling cottage industry. Named after the eminent Filipino cannon-maker of early times who was known for his excellent indigenous craftsmanship, the Panday Pira Award was created to encourage cottage industry workers to continue with their productive endeavors.
THE PHILIPPINES and Czechoslovakia established diplomatic relations, the fourth agreement the Philippines has signed with Eastern European socialist countries in 16 clays. The Department of Foreign Affairs was informed of this development through a cabled message from the Philippine Mission to the United Nations. The mission said Foreign Secretary Carlos P. Romulo signed the formal accords with Chechoslovakian Foreign Minister Bohuslav Chnoupek at the Philippine Mission offices in New York.
THE GOVERNMENT has collected a total of P214,986.77 from 17,910 non-filers of income tax returns in the provinces who have so far availed of the Government’s tax amnesty offer. Commissioner Misael P. Vera said the “broad masses are demonstrating their involvement in the New Society as evidenced by their active participation in the government through the payment of taxes.” What makes this more encouraging, he noted, is the fact that the response is more evident in the provinces and cities outside the Greater Manila area. Deadline for the filing of income tax returns under the amnesty offer is October 31.
DEPARTMENT of Trade reported that Philippine export products have won wide acceptance in Toronto, Canada, through the relentless sales promotion thrust being waged by the recently established Philippine House. Canadian export-import firms and Filipino store operators have come to accept the Philippine House as their service agency and supplier. Secretary of Trade Troadio T. Quiazon Jr., disclosed that since the opening of the display house in April, this year, total spot sales alone amounted to more than $30,000 consisting of garments, rhum and beer, food items and cottage products.

Official Gazette for October 7, 1973: THE PRESIDENT released P6 million for the advance exploitation of Pantabangan Dam, which is being constructed to irrigate some 10,000 hectares of ricelands in the dam area. The amount will be used by the National Irrigation Administration for the closure of the dam’s diversion panel, so that water can be stored up and used for irrigation purposes even during construction work on the main dam. Agriculture Undersecretary Jose D. Drilon Jr. said in an announcement that the President’s move will mean an additional harvest for the country of at least 800,000 cavans of rice worth about P28 million. It will also give farmers extra income amounting to P18 million annually.
FOREIGN Affairs Secretary Carlos P. Romulo has sounded off a group of Asian foreign ministers on the immediate formation of a “continental organization to express the Asian point of view,” a re-emphasis on the President’s Asian Forum. The secretary discussed the establishment of a forum in a dinner he tendered for Asian foreign ministers and permanent representatives, at Waldorf Astoria Hotel. He expressed regrets that the most “populous continent on earth” had no organization similar to the association of American states or the federation of African unity. Secretary Romulo observed that the Asian gathering was a “harmony in brown” and reflected “a common denominator in culture and in aspirations, despite the diversity of Asian customs, languages and beliefs.”

EXPORT earnings from copra and coconut products surged by 38 per cent to $242.6 million in the first 10 months of this year, compared to the same period last year. The 38 per cent rise in export receipts was posted despite a 12.78 per cent drop in volume exported, from 1.315 million long tons from January to September last year, compared to 1.147 million long tons during the same period this year. The increase in the value of coconut exports despite a decline in volume was due to a 54.82 per cent rise in the price per long ton of copra, 58.3 per cent in coconut oil, 67.63 per cent in copra meal and 54.43 per cent in desiccated coconut. These are gleaned from comparative reports on the value and volume of coco exports secured from the United Coconut Association of the Philippines.

Official Gazette for October 8, 1973: THE PRESIDENT ordered the conversion of the Major Ferdinand E. Marcos Hospital in Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya, into a veterans regional hospital with a minimum capacity of 100 beds. The order contained in Presidential Decree No. 306, also provides for the establishment of field hospitals in places where units of the USAFIP NL (United States Armed Forces in the Philippines, Northern Luzon) were established. In converting the hospital into a veterans regional hospital, the President took into consideration the increasing need to extend greater assistance to the country’s war veterans, their offsprings, orphans, widows and other relatives, including the “bolo men.”
PHILIPPINE exports for the first nine months of 1973 earned $1,337 billion, which accounted for 53.5 per cent more earnings for the same period last year. Customs Commissioner Rolando G. Geotina said the earnings from January to September this year posted an increase of $465 million over last year’s January-September figure amounting to $871.6 million. Export wharfage dues collected for the January September period totalled P17.236 million, up by 240 per cent for the same period last year. The top ten Philippine exports are: copper concentrates ($23.3 million); logs ($21.2 million); copra ($13.7 mid-lion) ; gold (P18.6 million); plywood ($6.01 million) ; coconut oil ($5.79 million); desiccated coconut ($3.6 million); lumber ($3.1 million); handicrafts ($2.9 million); and cement ($2.6 million).
AGRICULTURE Secretary Arturo R. Tanco Jr. declared a 5,000-hectare area in Laguna de Bay a permanent fish sanctuary in line with the Government’s efforts to conserve and develop the country’s rich fishery resources. In an administrative order implementing Presidential Decree No. 43, the Bureau of Fisheries was directed to establish, maintain and supervise a fish sanctuary that would serve as a natural spawning ground for various commercial fish specie indigenous to the lake. The order in effect declared off limits to all fishermen a 5,000-hectare area in the middle of the 90,000-hectare lake. Anyone caught violating the sanctuary will be fined not more than P5,000 or imprisonment for not more than five years or both.
HANDICRAFT manufacturers in Albay have chalked up an impressive $57,995.67 in exports of cottage industry products in a week’s time last September. This was gleaned from a report of the Research and Standardization Bureau (RSB) branch office of the National Cottage Industry Development Authority in Legazpi City. The RSB branch office likewise reported the approval of 19 export applications amounting to US$81,411 from September 17 to 21.

Official Gazette for October 9, 1973: THE PHILIPPINE Government adopted complete neutrality in the Middle East conflict which appeared to have escalated with the renewed fighting among the Israelis and the Egyptians and Syrians. The Philippine position was agreed upon in the Cabinet meeting presided by the President in Malacañang. The Cabinet also agreed that the Philippine Government will exert all efforts to support the quest for peace in the troubled Middle East.
THE PRESIDENT authorized all government librarians to attend the convention of the Philippine Library Association in Manila on October 25-29. The theme of the convention, in commemoration of the association’s golden jubilee anniversary, is “Libraries and Infrastructure Development.” Memorandum Circular No. 661, issued by Acting Executive Secretary Roberto V. Reyes, by authority of the President, authorizes government librarians to attend the convention on official time.
NATIONAL Grains Authority warned rice and corn dealers that they will be dealt with severely if found using the ganta as a system of measurement and not the kilo as decreed by the President. The NGA warning followed a series of inspections of public markets in the Greater Manila area and the provinces which indicated that many rice and corn retailers were still using the ganta as a measuring device. Pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 4 otherwise known as the NGA Act, violators will be punished by an imprisonment of not less than one year and a fine of not less than P4,000.
DEPARTMENT of Public Information announced that the DPI launched in Vigan, Ilocos Sur, the first community newspaper on cooperative basis. Information Secretary Francisco S. Tatad said this was the initial step to blanket the country with community newspapers. Briefing students from the University of the Philippines College of

Thursday-Tuesday

The longest period 1 have not written my diary because of the developments:

1. Pull-scale war in the Middle-East between Israel on one side and Egypt and Syria on the other. This time apparently the initial attacks were by the Arabs, Egypt at the Suez Canal and Syria at the Golan Heights, in both instances the attacks were successful to a certain extent, but the Israel Air Force apparently has obtained supremacy of the air and this may lead to disaster for the Egyptian and Syrian forces.
   ttacks started Saturday 0400 hours.
2. Typhoon “Luming” has just left Northern Luzon. It had winds with a velocity of 260 kilometers an hour at the center although providentially the typhoon veered from a WNW course to a more northerly course, otherwise it would have hit Manila and Central Luzon. Damage has been minimal.

All documents and newspapers are in Envelope Nos, XXXIII A, B, C, D and E.

Agriculture, Mr. Tatad explained that the launching of the community newspaper concept is part of the DPI’s campaign to develop mass media in the rural areas. He deplored the fact that for many years, the emphasis of media development has been in the urban areas, leaving the rural areas to be serviced by small publications put out by enterprising young men or groups.
THE PHILIPPINES exported recently a total of 847,372 worth of potatoes, mangoes, onions, mongo and dried beans to Hongkong, Guam and Japan. This was reported to Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) Director Eliseo Carandang by the BPI plant quarantine office. Mr. Carandang, expressing elation over the growth of the country’s fruit and vegetable export industries, said “this is a clear indication that the Philippines is now producing high-quality crops that can meet other countries’ requirements.”
BUREAU of Customs has limited to P350 the maximum amount of brokerage fee customs brokers could charge for services rendered in connection with the clearance of import and export products. Customs Commissioner Rolando G. Geotina said that the public availing of the services of customs brokers will no longer be bothered by the so-called “invisible” expenses. To stop this anomalous practice, Mr. Geotina said the bureau pegged the brokerage fee in line with the “prevailing sense of morality and value being advanced in the Government.” In a memorandum, the Customs official warned that brokers could no longer charge more than the maximum amount under pain of suspension of their business or cancellation of their license.