Office of the President

Title

Language

English

Source

The American Chamber of Commerce Journal Volume XXIV (Issue No.5) May 1948

Year

1948

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Fulltext

The Business View A monthly review of facts, trends, forecasts by Manila businessmen Office of the President From an Official Source APRIL 6 — President Manuel Roxas, at a meeting of the Cabinet, calls attention to the fact that some 8,000 men are in danger of discharge.due to projected re organization of the Philippine Army, and requests C®mmissioner of the Budget Pio Pedrosa to study budgetary meaps of keeping them in tl^e service. He directs Secretary of Labor Pedro Magsalin to construct three swimming pools, — in Tondo, Paco, and Sampaloc, for the use of the public, especially the boys. He inquires of Secretary of the Interior Jose Zulueta as to how much money has been raised up to the present for the proposed Quezon Memorial and is told that over Pl,000,000 has already been raised for the purpose by the committee in charge. He suggests that a contest be opened for a suitable design and states he would like to lay the cornerstone on August 19, the birth day anniversary of the late President Quezon. April 8 — The President issues Administrative Order No. 50 authorizing the payment of accumulated pensions for one year of the retired teachers, constabulary officers and men, health officials, justices and employees of the Supreme Court, and veterans of the Philippine Revolution and other wars out of such funds as may be available. April 13 — By order of the President, the LST-842-, one of the vessels turned over to the Government by the U.S. Navy and recently repaired, will be sent to India to transport 1000 head of cattle from there recently purchased by the Government for breeding purposes. April 15 — The President, on a long-standing invita tion from Maj. Gen. E. L. Eubank, goes to the Clark Air Force Base, Pampanga, on an official visit. In the after noon he delivers a speech to the officers in the Kelly Thea ter, after which, feeling fatigued, he goes to rest at the residence of General Eubank, where he suffers several heart-attacks, dying at 9:23 P.M. April 16 — The body of the President is brought to Manila on a special train, reaching Malacanan at 9:20 A.M. April 17 — Vice-President Elpidio Quirino, who was on a cruise in southern waters on the Anemone at the time of the President’s death, arrives in Manila and takes his oath of office as President in the Council'of State room, Malacanan, at 9:26 A.M. He appoints a committee to take charge of the funeral arrangements for the late President and issues a.proclamation declaring a period of national mourning from April 17 to May 17. Sessions of Congress will be suspended until after the burial tentatively set for Sunday, April 25. April 18 — President Quirino orders the National Rice and Corn Corporation to sell rice direct to the people at P.90 a ganta. NARIC has been selling rice to’ dealers at Pl.00 a ganta and consumers have been paying between P3.00 and P4.00. Announced that 15,000 tons (330,000 bags) of rice have been allocated to the Philippines by the International Emergency Food Council, this rice to arrive soon from Bangkok. April 19 — The President signs a bill (Republic Act No. 201) which provides for the issuance by corporations of new certificates of stock in lieu of those lost, stolen, or destroyed. April 20 — At his first meeting with the Cabinet, tfie President receives the courtesy resignations of the members, but states that he will not “disturb the present set-up unless subsequent developments make it necessary”. He announces that he wishes to give each department head “substantial autonomy” and that only policy matters will be taken up at Cabinet meetings. He asks the Cabinet men to “intensify their cooperation and attachment to each other and to the Administration and to advise their respective personnel to so conduct themselves as to re establish the confidence of the people in the Government.” At a corffertnce with members of the press, the Pres ident announces that his main objectives will be the “es tablishment of peace and order and the restoration of the people’s faith in the Government.” He appeals to the press to do what it can to promote better understanding among all elements of the country and to form “an intelligent, alert, but cooperative public opinion.” Earlier in the morning, the President received the diplomatic corps, led by Ambassador Emmet O’Neal of the United States. April 21 — The President issues Proclamation No. 62 setting Sunday, April 25, as the day for the state funeral of the late President. He also discharges a justice of the peace in Cebu for “grave abuse of authority”. In an interview with representatives of foreign news services, the President reveals a readiness to disregard party lines to secure the best available men to reinforce the government. He states that “without disturbing existing policies, he is decided to approach the situation obliquely and create conditions that will foster public contentment”. “Among the measures he has in mind are: (1) to stimulate production, (2) to reduce prices, (3) to create conditions leading to increased employment.” He points to his order to NARIC to reduce the price of rice, and states that the National Development Company has reduced the price of yarn by 10%. He states he has in structed the Surplus Property Commission to study ways of improving its methods of transacting business. April 25 — The late President Roxas is buried in the Cementerio del Norte with impressive rites. April 26 — President .Quirino tells a delegation of pro vincial governors that the “Huk problem” concerns only a few provinces and that any attempt to make it a problem for all the governors is not justified. He tells a delegation from Ilocos Sur that if they want his administration to succeed, they must “drown whatever sectional feeling you may have”. Felix Bautista Angelo is sworn in as Solicitor General and Jose P. Bengzon as Undersecretary of Justice. May 1 — President Quirino delivers a Labor Day address at the Rizal Memorial Stadium. May 2—The President approves a suggestion to trans late the Constitution into ten principal Philippine languages for free distribution. 159

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159

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