Office of the President of the Philippines

Media

Part of The American Chamber of Commerce Journal

Title: Office of the President of the Philippines
Language: English
Source: The American Chamber of Commerce Journal Volume XXIV (Issue No. 8) August 1948
Year: 1948
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Fulltext: The Business View A monthly review of facts, trends, forecasts by Manila businessmen Office of the President of the Philippines From an Official Source JULY 1 — A check for P93,778,000 is turned over to the Philippine Government by the U. S. Army as an advance of funds for the use of the Philippine Army in the payment of claims, such as for back pay and guerrilla pay, which have been adjudicated by PHILRYCOM and not yet paid. Lesser amounts for the same purpose have been turned over during the past two years. The Philip pine Army has since the beginning acted as the paying agency, the funds being furnished by the United States, and the determination of the validity of all claims being made by the U. S. Army. The Army has announced that it has completed its work regarding the processing and adjudication of claims and obligations of the United States Government incurred as the result of the mobilization, operation, maintenance, and demobilization of the Phil ippine Army and recognized guerrilla units. July 2 — President Elpidio Quirino in receiving a delegation of American business men who come to attend the Regional Trade Conference in Manila, sponsored by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce, states that “the Philippines is peaceful, hospitable, and generous to Amer ican investment.” An agreement is signed in the office of the Secretary of National Defense for the transfer of vessels of the United States Government, declared as excess, to the Philippine Government, the former to retain title to the ships but the latter to have full use of them until such time a3 they are recalled.. To date, 95 vessels of different categories have thus been turned over. Ambassador J. M. Elizalde reports from Washington that President Harry S. Truman yesterday signed the Taft Act extending hospitalization privileges to Filipino veterans. The Philippine Bureau of Commerce reports that Philippine coconut-fiber hats are being sold by Stetson stores in the United States for $10 each and buntal hats for as much as $100. July 7 — The President issues Executive Order No. 150 creating a Social Security Commission to undertake a study of social security systems abroad, prepare actuarial tables, and draw up legislation for such a program here “at least cost to both employer and employee”. The Com mission will be appointed by the President and is required to report within not more than 6 months. July 8 — The President issues Executive Order No. 155 designating Friday, October 1, as Census Day, “on which date the enumeration of the population and the collection of all pertinent social and economic data about the Philippines shall begin and proceed on consecutive days from daylight to darkness, including Sundays and holidays, until completed”. July 9 — The President extends for another 90 days (from July 1) the period after which the owners of cockpits, night clubs, cabarets, dance halls, and dancing schools must move their establishments to zones where they are not prohibited. July 12 — The President issues a statement praising the services of the late Marcelo T. Boncan, Philippine Consul in Los Angelas, California, who died suddenly from heart disease. July 13 — The Cabinet lays down the ruling that Filipino civilian employees being discharged by the United States Armed forces in the Philippines who are seeking reinstatement in the Philippine Government service must accept the government salary scale. The Board of Directors of the National Development Company, it is announced, is studying the proposal of an American company to establish a factory for the manu facture of children’s garments, the National Development Company to provide the land and buildings and the Amer ican company the machines, the “know-how”, and the operating expenses; the central factory would be in Manila and others in centers of population in the provinces, such as Guagua, Dagupan, Vigan, Batangas, Cebu, and Iloilo. Each factory would employ some 2,500 persons, around 80% women. The cutting and stitching would be done in the factories and the trimming and finishing in the workers’ homes. The plan is one of the results of the series of conferences held between American and Filipino busi ness men. Six agency agreements are said to have been signed between the delegates and local Filipino merchants. July 19 — Upon the request of Congressman Luis M. Taruc, the President extends the period during which members of the Hukbalahap and the National Peasants Union may present themselves, with their arms and am munition, to the authorities under the Amnesty Proclama tion, to July 31. The President names former Chief Justice Ramon Avancena, former Secretary of Justice Jose P. Laurel, Justice Sabino Padilla, and former University of the Phil ippines President Jorge Bocobo as a committee to name the nominees of the Republic of the Philippines to the International Court of Justice, an instrumentality of the United Nations. The Philippines will name two Filipino and two non-Filipino jurists, as will other member nations, and from among all the nominees, the General Assembly of the United Nations will choose the men to fill the va cancies in the World Court. July 21 — The Board of Directors of the National Development Company has approved a recommendation of Secretary of Finance Miguel Cuaderno to bring in two leading American experts to advice the Company on its big scale ramie project. The men are Willis G. and I. A. Waldo. Mr. Cuaderno reported that ramie is considered a top strategic requirement for stock-piling in the United States. July 22 — The President appoints the Quezon City Planning Comtnission with Juan Arellano, well known architect, as Chairman and Manager. The other members are Mayor Ponciano Bernardo of Quezon City, Manuel Manosa, Manager of the Metropolitan Water District, Pio Joven, Deputy Auditor General, Jose Paez, of the Santa Clara Lumber Company, Salvador Araneta, at torney, and Ernesto Rufino, theater owner. Cesar Concio, architect of the University of the Philippines, is detailed as executive secretary of the Commission. July 25 — Ratifications of the Treaty of Friendship and General Relations between the Philippines and Spain, are exchanged at Malacanan. The Treaty provides among other things that— “ Filipinos in Spain and Spanish nationals in the Philippines shall enjoy, on the basis of reciprocity, and subject always to the respective police, security, and other laws and regulations issued by each of the High Contracting Parties, in all of the territory of the Philippines, on the 286 one hand, and in all of the territory of Spain, on the other hand, the right to acquire, possess, and dispose of movable and immovable prop erty, to establish and maintain schools of learning, as well as the privilege to reside, travel, and engage in trade, industry, and other peaceful and lawful pursuits.” July 26 — The President inducts into office the mem bers of the Capital Planning Commission, and also two new Governors of the Rehabilitation Finance Corporation, — Messrs. Eugenio Ealdama and Carlos Rivilla. The Cabinet considers plans for the utilization of the $22,500,000 granted the Philippines by the American Congress in the Rogers Act which provides for the con struction of hospitals for Filipino veterans. Four hospitals may be built, one in Manila, another in Baguio, and the two others somewhere in the Visayas and in Mindanao. The Act also provides for grants for the operating expenses of these hospitals for a period of 5 years, not to exceed $3,285,000 a year. July 27 — Nicolai Aall, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of Norway to the Republic of the Philippines, presents his credentials to President Quirino. July 28 — The President issues Executive Order No. 158, creating a Labor-Management Advisory Board to assist him and the various labor agencies of the Govern ment in connection with labor policies, problems, and dis putes. The Order reads in part as follows: Whereas, the relations between labor and management are at times marred by industrial disputes.arising from a misunderstanding of their mutual rights and obligations; “Whereas, it would be to the interest of industrial peace, which is the only climate under which a speedy rehabilitation and develop ment of our country is possible, that industrial disputes be at least minimized, if not altogether avoided, through an amicable adjustment of labor disputes; and for this purpose, there is need of an agency which will help bring labor and management to the best understanding pos sible; and “Whereas, the problems of labor should be approached, from the broadest perspective compatible with the just exercise of the right of management to direct its enterprises; “Now, therefore, I, Elpidio Quirino, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby create a LaborManagement Advisory Board which shall be composed of a Chairman and such members as the President may appoint. One-half of the members shall be-chosen from labor and the other half from manage ment elements of the country. The members of the Board who are not government officials shall receive such per diems as may be fixed by the President. “It shall be the duty of the Board to assist the President of the Philippines in the formulation of the labor policies of the Government; to advise the Secretary of Labor with respect to the administration of labor laws; to study ways and means of preventing or minimizing industrial and other labor disputes, and to assist the Secretary of Labor and the other agencies of the Government in endeavoring to reconcile the parties to an industrial strife and inducing them to settle the same amicably. . .” He also issues Proclamation No. 84 designating the period from August 19 to September 19, 1948, as "anti Tuberculosis Month” and authorizing the Philippine Tuberculosis Society to conduct a national fund and educa tional drive during this period. July 30 — Despite the fact that few Huks have as yet presented themselves under the terms of the Amnesty, President Quirino states at a press conference that the situation is "encouraging”. He states that he is more concerned with his social amelioration program and the return of the dissidents to their farms than with the im mediate surrender of their fire-arms. With respect to trading with Japan, he states that the geographic factors can not be ignored and that relations will some day have to be restored. The policy so far has been to deal with Japan not as a sovereign country but as a country being administered by SCAP, and that the trade so far carried on has been to Philippine advantage. Asked to comment on the plank in the Wallace Plat form for the repeal of the Bell Act, he states that the Act has not worked to the disadvantage of the Philippines and that if it ever did, there is always open the recourse of terminating it. In answer to a statement made in a speech by Col. R. R. McCormick, publisher of the Chicago Tribune, before the American Club in Paris, as reported in the press. President Quirino issues the following: “Our financial, trade, and military relations with the United States are all based <fn bilateral covenants. The Philippines was actuated to enter into these covenants by its desire to open its resources to Amer ican investments, which we consider of great help to our economic development and, what is more, to our immediate reconstruction and rehabilitation. “The military agreement with the United States was entered into by the Philippine Republic on a mutually beneficial basis; namely, for the protection of Philippine and American interests in this country and for the maintenance of peace in the Orient. “We never accepted, as we can not accept, American direction of our military and financial positions. Mutual assistance is the essence of such pacts ...” Banking and Finance By C. R. Leaber Manager, National City Bank of New York BUSINESS news is showing little change from month to month and the velocity of commercial transac tions during July continued the slow pattern of the preceding several months. The effect of war-damage payments is being felt in the economy, and money in circulation continues to in crease month by month. Bank deposits are higher. Banks’ loan portfolios are also up, but percentagewise are not keeping pace with the growth in deposits. Merchants report that collections have improved somewhat, but inventories are still heavy in many lines of merchandise. There has been some decline in buying power, following lower prices for copra, abaca, and other export products. Importers are following conservative policies in placing orders. Markets are now well supplied with consumer goods, in the United States, as well as here, and mer chants can keep commitments down without fear of being caught short, which has been one of their principal worries in recent years. Consumers’ requirements are being satis fied and distributors’ stocks are filling up. The oppor tunity for speculative run-ups and speculative profits has diminished, and the situation is healthier for these changes. Foreign exchange quotations have not altered during the month, though dollar demand was somewhat easier. The General Banking Act, companion legislation to the Central Bank Act, was passed by Congress during the Special Session, and with the approval of the President, has become law. 'E'ven a cursory glance at the appended comparative • * “' figures indicates that the main trend of business is still inflationary. The cost of doing business is higher and more credit is being used now than a year ago. If pre-war records were available, the comparison would be even more striking. Comparative Financial Summary of thirteen Manila banks compiled from reports issued weekly by the Bureau of Banking: Loans, Discounts and Advances (monthly averages) (000 omitted) ♦June, 1948 “May, 1948 June, 1947 P383.841 P381.008 P293.073 Total Bank Resources (monthly averages) (000 omitted) ♦June, 1948 “May, 1948 June, 1947 P931.207 P895.019 P755.913 Bank Deposits (monthly averages) Public funds not included (000 omitted) . ♦June, 1948 “May, 1948 June, 1947 P448.864 P415.027 P372.128 287
pages: 286-287