Saturday was spent on the Police Integration Program. Parade and Review at Fort
Official Gazette for September 8, 1973: THE PRESIDENT ordered the integration of the country’s over 1,500 police forces into one single organization, the National Police Force, as provided by the Constitution. In his address on the occasion of Police Day and the 7th anniversary of the National Police Commission in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig, Rizal, the President said the integration, of the country’s police forces into a single organization is necessary in order to rectify the weaknesses of the present police system. The President directed the chairman of the National Police Commission, the chief of the Philippine Constabulary and the director of the National Bureau of Investigation to prepare and submit plans for the police integration so that it can be implemented within one year.
THE GOVERNMENT ensured mobility for Filipino businessmen, who moved in and out of the country, by installing a multiple, visa and tax clearance system. The President directed that such visas and tax clearances for exit and entry would be good for six months or even a year. This concession, intended to spur investments, would favor two sets of businessmen, namely: 1) Filipino nationals working with multi-national companies operating in the Philippines; 2) Filipino businessmen whose activities make it necessary to move in and out of the country. However to prevent abuse of the privilege, those applying for multiple visas and tax clearances, are required to present appropriate certifications. This should show that the nature of their business make it necessary for them to travel in and out of the country. The Presidential directive was addressed to the secretaries of national defense, foreign affairs, and finance and the commissioner of immigration.
THE PRESIDENT created the “Tobacco Industry Promotion and Market Stabilization Fund,” to revitalize the native tobacco industry through the Philippine Tobacco Administration. The President signed Presidential Decree No. 288, which allocates a special fund from the proceeds of special taxes collected on tobacco products manufactured out of cigar filler and wrapper leaf tobacco. The decree also provides that this special fund shall be made available as follows: Fifteen million pesos for fiscal year 1973-74, and thereafter, an annual appropriation of P15 million for a period of five years up to June 30, 1978. Thereafter, the amount of P6 million is appropriated annually to carry out the purposes indicated until otherwise provided for by law.
Official Gazette for September 9, 1973: THE PRESIDENT has promulgated Presidential Decree No. 283 authorizing the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office to hold a lottery draw on March 11, 1974, and every year thereafter, exclusively to finance the domiciliary service of the Philippine Tuberculosis Society Inc. The decree notes that the great efforts being undertaken to control tuberculosis through the medium of institutional care have not reached the majority of infectious tuberculosis cases scattered throughout the country. To overcome these shortcomings, the PTS has intensified its domiciliary service which brings free medical, social and educational services to the homes of bed-ridden indigent patients including BCG vaccinations and tuberculin testing of contacts, especially the children, as a preventive measure. Presidential Decree No. 283 amends Republic Act No. 1169 entitled “An Act Providing for Charity Sweepstakes Horse Races and Lotteries.”
THE PRESIDENT has issued Presidential Decree No. 111-A, which details an organization that shall most effectively and economically carry out the powers and functions of the Commission on Audit. PD 111-A supplements PD 111, dated January 26, 1973. This earlier decree declares that the three-man Commission on Audit created in the new Constitution is now in existence, and authorizes the. General Auditing Office to serve as its nucleus. The organization of the Commission on Audit, as described in PD 111-A, follows: The Commission on Audit shall consist of the Commission Proper to be constituted pursuant to Sec. 1, Article XII-D, of the new Constitution; and Administrative Service; a Legal Service; and Accountancy Service; a Systems and Training Service; a Program Audit Service; three National Government Audit Offices; a Local Government Audit Office, and a Corporate Audit Office.
ANNUAL observance of Education Week begins today. The theme of this year’s celebration is “The Filipino in the New Society.” Secretary of Education and Culture Juan L. Manuel has issued a memorandum directing school heads to hold activities and give lessons which would “seek to clarify the new role of the Filipino citizen” in the present society and emphasize the privileges and social benefits he now enjoys.
Bonifacio. The Police Academy has become a complex accommodating 1,000 policemen on training.
Then spent some time with Imee.
Sunday I spent meeting Gen. Frank McCarthy who produced “Patton” and is going to produce “MacArthur.”
Then Jesus Cabarrus who has always wanted to see me about his son, Jr. who was detained for furnishing blasting caps for the assassination attempt of the Figueras-Osmeña group.
On the 7th, the USS Coral Sea demonstrated its firepower. I was invited but I sent Sec. [Juan] Ponce Enrile instead. They really want their bases in the Philippines!