The government

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Part of The American Chamber of Commerce Journal

Title: The government
Language: English
Source: The American Chamber of Commerce Journal Volume XXVIII (Issue No.1) January 1952
Year: 1952
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Fulltext: The Business View A monthly review of facts, trends, forecasts, by Manila businessmen The Government From Official Sources DECEMBER 1—President Elpidio Quirino receives United States Vice-President Alben Barkley, who arrived in Manila with his wife for a one-day informal visit. Later in the day, the President entertains Vice-President and Mrs. Barkley at luncheon, and in a short speech Mr. Barkley congratulates the President on the conduct of the last elections and on the progress being made in economic, agricultural and industrial development. The Department of Foreign Affairs announces that the President has approved the creation of a Division of Economic Affairs within the Department which is to be headed by Caesar Z. Lanuza. Dec. A—Mt. Hibok-Hibok, on Camiguin Island, just north of Misamis Oriental, Mindanao, erupts without warning at 7:15 in the morning and later telegraphic reports tell of the devastation of some nine or ten square kilometers by lava and ashes and the death of several hundred people. The President directs that immediate aid be extended by various government departments, the army, and the Red Cross. The Cabinet decides that the Government will reiterate the request for the repeal of the United States excise tax on coconut oil. It is also decided to make P600.000, to be taken from the surplus funds of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, available for the rehabilitation of the Philippine General Hospital, the action being taken on an appeal of Director A. B. M. Sison. Dec. 5—Malacahan releases messages from Brig.-Gen. Ernest Moore of the U. S. Army (Clark Field) and from Rear Admiral Richard Cruzen, U. S. Navy (at Sangley Point, Cavite), offering help in pro viding and sending supplies to Camiguin, with return messages of thanks from the President. Dec. 6—Explosions of the Hibok-Hibok crater continue and it is reported that 5 barrios have been completely destroyed and 16 others rendered uninhabitable. The President meets with members of the Radio Control Board who call on him in connection with the government program of distributing receiving sets to outlying barrios in the provinces, and they report that dissidents in various places are stealing the sets. The President inquires concerning the supervision of radio broadcasts, warning against the infiltration of the broadcasting stations by sub versives. The President issues Administrative Order No. 170 creating the Priority Assistance Committee, to be composed of a representative each from the Central Bank, the Department of Foreign Affairs, and the Philippine Council for United States Aid, to coordinate the pre paration of all requests for priority assistance on orders for commpdities in short supply in the United States. Dec. 7—The President orders immediate release of P10.000 for the local purchase of relief supplies by government relief workers on Camiguin. He issues Executive Order No. 486 ordering the collection and compiling of historical and cultural data by town, city, and pro vincial officials in an effort to replace records lost in the destruction of Manila. Chairman Alfredo Montelibano of the Import Control Board calls on the President in regard to the implementation of the law pro viding that 50% of imports be reserved for Filipino importers. Dec. 8—Messages of sympathy begin to be received at Malacanan from foreign governments in connection with the Camiguin disaster, including messages, during the next few days, from the Spanish, Indian, Italian, Indonesian, Korean, Chinese (Nationalist), Australian. Dec. 10—Malacanan releases the text of a telegram received from President Harry S. Truman, under date of December 9, as follows: “My dear Mr. President: In these days when the liberties of all free men are faced with the most serious challenge in history, the American people have been immeasurably heartened in watching the Filipino people practice the ways of democ racy. The recent elections have been a convincing demonstration that, given the opportunity, all men would choose to run their own affairs in their own way in the light of their experience and traditions. Your determination that the Filipino people should have this opportunity and your support of the Secretary, Magsaysay, in implementing this policy should win the admiration of free men everywhere. This growth of democracy in the Philippines is aaditional indication of the great and honorable traditions of Philippine-American friendship." (Continued on page 30) Banking and Finance By G, R. Hutchison Manager, Port Area Branch National City Bank of New York COMPARATIVE statement of condition of the Bank: P494.090 30,000 107,570 44,171 233,844 As of Dec. 31 1949 As of Sept. 28 1951 As of Oct. 31 1951 ASSETS (In thousands of Pesos) International Reserve. . . P460.689 P522.467 P510.391 Contribution to Interna tional Monetary Fund. 30,000 30,000 30,000 Account to Secure Coin113,306 107,570 107,570 Loans and Advances.. . . 77,047 25,168 47,171 Domestic Securities......... 92,197 231,193 230,846 Trust Account — Secur ities Stabilization Fund ............................... 6,848 6,848 Other Assets...................... 20,390 82,812 91,410 6,848 98,861 LIABILITIES Central As of Nov. 29 1951 P793.629 Pl,006,058 Pl,024,236 Pl,015,384 Currency — Notes............ P555.576 Coins............ 74,384 Demand Deposits—Pesos 117,682 P579.305 93,460 231,225 P580.017 93,310 244,705 P573.249 93,257 238,199 “AS government extends its authority over economic affairs, public decisions on specific questions become enormously im portant to individuals and groups. The persons who make or affect those decisions are exposed to great temptations, whether in the form of money, votes, political preferment, threats, personal obligations or attachments, or any other form of pressure. Inside knowledge of coming decisions may enable officials to enrich themselves by speculation or by selling such information to others. ‘All power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely.’ Those words were written more than half a century ago, but they have taken on new significance with recent tendencies in government.”—From the November Guaranty Survey. 13 30 AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL January, 1952 The Government... {Continued from page 13) Dec. 11—The President tells the Cabinet he will fly to Cagayan de Oro on the 13th and proceed from there to Camiguin to inspect the evacuation and relief work there and to look into the possibility of a permanent eva cuation and the resettlement of the people on public lands in Mindanao. Hundreds have already been ferried to the mainland by planes and ships including a Japanese ship, the S.S. Anes Maru. Camiguin Island is some 100 square miles in area and the population numbered around 50,000. Dec. 12—President Quirino releases his reply to President Truman: “Dear Mr. President: The Filipino people join me in tendering their deepest appreciation for your mes sage of December 9 on the growth of democracy in Complete Line of Quality MYERS WATER SYSTEMS to Meet Every User's Needs terns to suit any and all conditions —with much that is new and ad vanced to offer you. Come in, see the new “HN” Series Ejecto that provides greater capacities at higher pressures . . . Vortical Type Ejecto for Deep Welli Newl "HN" Ejecto Cottage Waler Syrtem Self-Oiling Bulldozer for Shallow Welli Reciprocating Type for Shallow Welli THE EARNSHAWS DOCKS & HONOLULU IRON WORKS Cor. Tacoma & 2nd St. Port Area, Manila Telephone: 3-35-41 the Philippines. Your telegram strengthens our con fidence to sustain, as we are determined to do, our democratic institutions in order to survive the peril that threatens freedom everywhere. Please be assured that we shall cherish your solicitous interest in this regard as a true measure of the friendship and material loyalty that will always bind our two peoples." Reported that the typhoon "Amy” was the worst to hit Cebu in 60 years, taking at least a score of lives and destroying 70% of the houses built of light materials and un roofing 30% of even the strong-material houses. Samar is reported also to have been hard-hit, with 95% of the population of Guiuan homeless. The President issues a proclamation proclaiming the existence of a public calamity in Camiguin as a result of the volcanic eruptions there, and in the provinces of Samar, Leyte, Cebu, Iloilo, Antique, Capiz, Negros Occidental and Here’s the place to get that really modern water system to fit your needs. Whether you prefer or re quire an Ejecto or Reciprocating type, we have it—the finest ever built . j . quality throughout . . . the right size for your farm and household needs. Myers Water SysCOMPLETE SERVICE, Tool Serial Ejecto for Shallow or Deep Welle and other features that give you much more for your money. See the many other quality Myers Water Systems—and get a new idea here of what complete service can mean to you. Branch office at: Bacolod, Occ. Negros Oriental, Bohol, Romblon, and Masbate because of the typhoon “Amy”; the procla mation declares Act No. 4164, which severely penalizes hoarding and profiteering, in full effect. The President addresses the opening plenary session of the Educators’ Congress, held in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the public school system. Dec. 13—The President postpones his flight to Mindanao until the weather clears but orders the immediate release of P10.000 worth of building materials for the construc tion of temporary shelters on Camiguin to house the thousands of people driven from their homes. Further reports are received of the damage done by the typhoon to crops, dwellings, and public buildings. Announced that at yesterday’s Cabinet meeting, the President instructed Secretary of Public Works Sotero Baluyot to start the restoration work on the former prison cell of Jose Rizal in Fort Santiago immediately, ordering the release of P30.000 for the pur pose. Rizal Day, the 30th, will be observed in nation-wide programs which will stress that Rizal was the Philippines’ highest embodiment of love of country. Dec. 14—The President calls a special meeting of the Cabinet to read the reports of Secretary of Health Dr. Juan Salcedo and Social Welfare Commissioner Asuncion Perez on the extent of the destruction and loss of lives as a result of the Hibok-Hibok eruption and the two typhoons," Wanda” and "Amy”, Secretary Salcedo stating that some P393,000 will be needed for the immediate relief of the sufferers; some 8,000 people have now been evacuated from Camiguin to Bohol and Cebu. The President states he will leave for the south on Monday, the 17th. A report by Sugar Administrator Vicente G. Bunuan on the matter of the authority given Filadelfo Rojas to sell 30,000 tons of sugar to Japan, which has been protested against by the sugar industry, is referred to the Secretary of Justice for an opinion. The President spends almost 2 hours at the side of Speaker Eugenio Perez whose operation for the removal of kidney-stones was suspended because of his heart condition. Dec. 15—The Council of State at a meet ing takes steps to make available approxi mately Pl,000,000 to meet the needs of disaster victims. The Price Stabilization Corporation (PRISCO) has set aside P250,000 worth of foodstuffs and other supplies to be sold at cost to the sufferers. On Ca miguin some 266 bodies have been officially recorded as recovered, with some 800 more missing and presumed dead. Some 26,000 have been driven from their homes. Ty phoon" Amy” reported so far to have caused the deaths of over 600 people in the Visayas. Dec. 17—The President observes Cami guin from the air, then flies to Cagayan, from where he takes the presidential yacht Apo to Camiguin island. He is accompanied by a number of officials, including Secretary of National Defense Ramon Magsaysay, Secretary of Public Works Baluyot, Ad ministrator of Economic Coordination Sal vador Araneta, Social Welfare Administrator Asuncion A. Perez, Philcusa Chairman Jose Yulo, and several members of his own family. Dec. 18—The President and his party inspect the Maria Cristina Falls hydro electric and fertilizer plants which are about 30% completed. He then proceeds to Dansalan and later reboards the Apo and heads for Tubod from where he will visit Capatagan to inspect the EDCOR project there, after which he will return to Ozamis City. Dec. 19—The President visits the Koronadal and Ala Valley settlement projects, makes a brief stop at Davao City, then proceeds to Del Monte, where he spends the night. January, 1952 AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL 31 Dec. 21—The President reviews some 5,000 troops, representing all services, at Camp Murphy, on the occasion of the com memoration of the Armed Forces’ 15th anniversary. The President orders the immediate sus pension of three more Negros Occidental municipal mayors, two chiefs of police, and a number of policemen who are charged with the torture and subsequent murder of Moises Padilla. A total of 27 men have so far been so charged, including the suspended Governor Rafael Lacson. The Department of Foreign Affairs calls attention to a previous press release to the effect that the Department is ascertaining the character and extent of Philippine pre war public and private claims against the German Government and German nationals for possible presentation to an international body which may be set up in the future; claims arising out of, during, or after the war are not included. Dec. 22—Executive Secretary Marciano Roque hands Social Welfare Administrator Asuncion Perez a Pl50,000 check for aid to the Hibok-Hibok and typhoon sufferers, released from the funds of the Charity Sweep stakes. Announced that Malacanan has rejected the recommendation of the Manila Electric Company that the Valuation Committee be sent to the United States at the Company’s expense, in connection with the preparation of a report on the rates being charged for electric service. Under-Secretary of Justice Ceferino de los Reyes states that the most expeditious procedure would be to require the Company to bring the books, now in the possession of Gilbert Associates, Inc., to Manila. The Valuation Committee was created by order of the Public Service Com mission to ascertain the value of the prop erties of the Company; the members are Pedro V. Aguilar of the General Auditing Office, Pedro S. Talavera of the Public Service Commission, and H. B. Reyes, VicePresident of MERALCO. Dec. 28—The President approves the arrangement, negotiated by the Central Bank with the U.S. Reconstruction Finance Corporation, for a 10-year extension of the $60,000,000 loan of the Corporation to the Philippine Government in 1947, authorized by Congress in 1946. Under the present terms the loan is payable in 20 equal instal ments, paid semi-annually; the first instal ment amounting to P3,000,000 plus interest of 2% is due on January 1, 1952. The Cabinet approves the extension of an invitation to the ECAFE to transfer its regional office from Bangkok, Siam, to Manila. The ECAFE will hold its next plenary session in Rangoon, Burma, on January 28, 1952, and will then consider the proposal. The Sth session of the ECAFE will be held in Rangoon from January 11 to February 9, and a Philippine delegation, headed by Secretary of Commerce Cornelio Balmaceda, will attend it. Dec. 29—The President visits Speaker Perez for over an hour before the latter boards a Philippine Air Lines plane to the United States where he will undergo surgical treatment at Johns Hopkins hospital. Bal timore. Announced that in a conference with the President, attended by sugar millers and planters, it was agreed that “C” sugar (excess production of the regular quota of individual planters or millers over and above their total United States export quota and do mestic quota) may be exported to countries other than the United States on license of the Sugar Quota Administration. A resolution adopted by the Occidental Negros Lawyers Civic Club is received at Malacanan approving “the stay of a task force of the Philippine Army in this province until complete restoration of democratic processes shall have been effectively attained." A gift shipment of 70,000 dolls is received from the Friends of the Philippines Society in Japan, according to an announcement of the Department of Foreign Affairs; the dolls were made by Japanese school children and will be distributed by Malacanan to school children and charity organizations here. Dec. 31—The President receives Mayor elect Arsenio H. Lacson who, as the first elective mayor of Manila, takes office to morrow, and it is announced that the Pres This interior picture shows a portion of the B. F. Goodrich Recapping Plant at Grace Park. Its present capacity is more than 100 tires a day. Fifty-two Filipino supervisors and skilled craftsmen are employed—all trained in factory methods. Recapping has saved the Philippines many thousands of dollars by prolonging the life of truck and passenger car tires ... thereby reducing new unit importations. Tire costs may be cut in half by planned tire conservation and expert recapping. The. men at the B. F.. Goodrich Recap Plant have the equipment, the training, the knowledge and the materials to do treading jobs of superior quality that will produce new highs in performance and new lows in cost per mile of tire operation. RECAP PLANT 205 Rizal Ave. Ext., Grace Park, Caloocan, Tel.: 2-72-23 BF Goodrich Goodrich International Rubber Co. 13th and Atlanta Sts. Port Area MANILA TEL 3-37-21 ident has designated Col. Dionisio Ojeda, former commanding officer of the 10th Bat talion Combat Team in Korea, as chief of police of Manila. The President receives donations in the amount of over P56.000 worth of relief goods (rice, milk, food, clothing, and medicine) for the sufferers from the Hibok-Hibok erup tion and the typhoon “Amy”. The relief project was sponsored by the Philippine Chinese General Chamber of Commerce and other Chinese associations. The Pres ident expresses his gratification. The President extends the traditional executive clemency to 24 prisoners who are granted conditional pardon, on recommenda tion of the Board of Pardons and Parole. MORE THAN 100 TIRES A DAY
pages: 13, 30-31