Official Gazette for September 6, 1974: THE PRESIDENT ordered the release of P10 million from the calamity fund to speed up the rehabilitation of fishpond and fishpen projects devastated by the recent floods. Most of the outlay will go to the purchase of fingerlings and fry for restocking purposes. The residual of the outlay as well as repayments of loans therefrom shall go into a revolving fund for the same or similar purpose. At the same time, the President directed the Central Bank, the Philippine National Bank, the Development Bank of the Philippines and the Agricultural Credit Administration to consolidate and restructure all past-due obligations of fishpond and fishpen operators. The four government financing institutions were also asked by the President to grant a three-year moratorium on the payment of past-due obligations and to make the ceilings for fishpond and fishpen loans more flexible. These moves are among the measures taken by the President to put back in shape flood-hit fishponds and fishpens.
ORDER of Sikatuna, rank of Datu, was conferred on Foreign Minister Alhaji A. B. N’Jie of Gambia by the President, “for his sincere and earnest endeavors to promote friendly relations” between his country and the Philippines. In receiving the award in ceremonies held at Malacañang, the Gambian foreign minister expressed the hope that the “magnificent gesture” will mark the beginning of closer relations between the two countries, “so that developing nations will work together for peace and happiness throughout the world.”
MAJ. GEN. Ismael Lapuz (ret.) was appointed by the President as Philippine ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to the Republic of China. His predecessor, Ambassador Pelayo F. Llamas, was recalled to the home office for reassignment. Immediately after signing the appointment, the President administered the oath of office to the new ambassador in the presence of a large gathering composed of close relatives and friends of the inductee at the Malacañang Reception Hall.
Official Gazette for September 7, 1974: THE PRESIDENT hailed the P242 million Pantabangan Dam, biggest infrastructure in the Philippines, not only as an outstanding engineering feat but as a symbol of the total effort through many directions to improve the Filipino quality of life. In a speech read for him by Secretary of Agrarian Reform Conrado Estrella at the Pantabangan Dam inauguration in Nueva Ecija, the President pointed to the mammoth dam as a milestone in the people’s march toward growth and fulfillment by way of the “integrated approach.” Executive Secretary Alejandro Melchor Jr., formally opened the two dome-shaped 10-meter diameter intake gates. Present at the rites were members of the Cabinet who included, aside from Secretaries Melchor and Estrella, Secretary Cesar E. A. Virata of Finance, Secretary Vicente Paterno of Industry, Secretary of Information Francisco S. Tatad, and Budget Commissioner Faustino Sy-Changco, Nueva Ecija officials headed by Gov. Eduardo L. Joson and Russel J. Cheetham of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
THE PRESIDENT broadened the scope of price control to include paper products used in the manufacture of socialized commodities. Affected by the President’s action are paper products used either as raw materials or for packaging and labeling such as, but not limited to, newsprint, bond paper, paper board, cardboard, carton, corrugated board, paneling materials and paper strips. In Letter of Instructions No. 212 issued to the Price Control Council, the President notes that the prices of paper products have unreasonably risen, increasing in the process the prices of controlled commodities that utilize these paper items. The President stressed that if the prices of these paper products are allowed to remain uncontrolled, low-income consumers of socialized commodities will suffer an intolerable burden.
Official Gazette for September 8, 1974: FASTER and more effective agricultural services will be rendered to thousands of farmsteads throughout the country under a reorganized Department of Agriculture provided by Presidential Decree No. 547. This decree integrates an army of some 6,500 farm extension workers from four of the department’s five bureaus as well as from the Department of Agrarian Reform. In addition, it decentralizes the function of the Department of Agriculture among 11 department-wide regional directors. These regional directors shall integrate the implementation of the related field programs of the Bureaus of Soils, Plant Industry, Animal Industry and Agricultural Extension. The, fieldmen belonging to each of these bureaus are now directly responsible to the regional directors, who in turn report directly to the department secretary. This pattern supports the regional development concept of the President as carried out through PRODs and PRAOs (presidential regional officers for development or action officers), as well as through the regional development councils organized by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).
Friday, Saturday, Sunday
Was sick from anti flu dusts so I could not go to Pantabangan. Sec. C. [Conrado] Estrella delivered it for me although his son, Bobby, died at 7:30 AM.
Sabah Chief Minister Tun Mustapha has been appointed Defense Minister by Tun Abdul Razak in his new cabinet.
This could mean anything, Perhaps Tun Abdul Razak wants to control Sabah as well as the rebels—or control Tun Mustapha as we can stop the fighting in the south.
Balabagan has been recovered but the rebels withdrew without casualties to Parang and Buldon.
Ali Dimaporo told me last Friday, the 6th, that the Balabagan attack from Buldon by Maguindanao’s was caused by abuses of the CHDF [Civilian Home Defense Force] under Col. [Bagnos] Magno of the 26th IB. [Infantry Battalion] Mayor Benito abandoned his town because the CHDF had taken over. But Gen. [Fortunato] Abat says that there were rebels that mixed with the civilians long before the attack on the 22nd—perhaps on the 19th when the residents started to leave town—and the Chief of Police has joined the rebels.
But he has organized the four towns of Balabagan, Malabang, Binidayon and Tuburan to fight the outlaws from Maguindanao.
EXECUTIVE Secretary Alejandro Melchor Jr., by order of the President, issued Proclamation No. 1300 proclaiming September 19 as Law Day. It was stressed that the administration of justice is indispensable to a sound and vigorous democracy. It was also pointed out that it is but fitting that the important role played by lawyers in the administration of justice and in enhancing the rule of law be duly brought to the attention of the people. The Integrated Bar of the Philippines and lawyers’ associations were called upon to mark the day with appropriate ceremonies.