Government Report

Media

Part of Government Report

Title: Government Report
Issue Date: Volume VII (Issue No. 17) July 12, 1976
Year: 1976
Language: English
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extracted text: GOVERNMENT REPORT PRODUCED BY THE SOUTH ROOM Printed By The National Media Production Center (Formerly The Basement) VOL. VII NO. 17 MANILA, PHILIPPINES MONDAY, JULY 12,1976 Tel. No. 47-5049 P.O. Brx No.4201,Manila ................ ............................................................ 1,1 ' ' ' --------------PIO Minimum Wage Effective May I, 1976 President Marcos ordered the full and immediate implementation of the PIO minimum wage increase provided under Presidential Decree No. 928 for full-time employes of the national government and of government-owned or controlled corporations, effective May 1,1976 Under Letter of Instructions No. 426, the minimum pay of all government employes shall be increased to Pl0 a day or P300 a month, as the case may be, applicable to full-time employes regardless of place of assignment. According to the LOI, the basis for the increase shall be the actual wage or salary, including all percentage adjustments and cost of living allowance, but excluding subsistence, clothing, laundry and similar allowances already received. In the case of provincial, city and municipal governments, salaries of employes may be upgraded to the extent of the financial condition of the local government concerned. Data gathered by the Budget Commission from the various government departments show that there are some 19,554 employes paid on a daily basis receiving less than PIO a day and 10,425 employes paid on the monthly basis receiving less than P300 a month, or a total of 29,279 national government employes receiving less than P300 a month. The commission estimates that Pl 2.9 million a year is required to raise to the new minimum wage the pay of these employes. It also said that this wage increase will inevitably affect the infrastructure program, “although this is already a consequence of the approved increase in minimum wage for the private sector.” Rough estimates indicate that about one-third of infrastructure project costs is for labor and that three-fourths is for workers paid at the minimum rate. The additional cost as a result of the wage increase, the commission added, at the on-going infrastructure level is, therefore, estimated to range from P300 to P400 million annually. 'I DECORATIONS. - President Marcos and the First Lady, Mrs. Imelda Romualdez Marcos, exchanged decorations with visiting President and Madame El Hadj Omar Bongo of the Gabonese Republic in a ceremony held at Malacañang last week. The President conferred upon President El Hadj Omar Bongo the Ancient Order of Sikatuna, rank of rajah, and the Order of Gabriela Silang to Madame El Hadj Omar Bongo. President El Hadj Omar Bongo, on the other hand, conferred on the President the Grand Croix de TEtoile Equatoriale and on the First Lady the Grand Croix de l’Ordre du Mente. The decorations are the highest within the gift of their respective countries. These decorations are conferred only to heads of state and their ladies. Photo above shows the visiting Gabo nese head of state conferring on the President the Grand Croix de TEtoile Equatoriale. The First Lady watches appreciatively. Other photo shows the First Couple and the visiting Gabonese First Couple wearing their respective decorations. (Welcome remarks of President Marcos at the Manila Inter national Airport on arrival of President Bongo of Gabonese Republic) On behalf of the Republic of the Philippines and its 42 million people, it is my honor and pleasure to welcome the first head of state coming from any of the states of Africa. This first state visit of a head of state of the various nations of Africa establishes the bridge between Africa and Asia. Mutuality of interests, objec tives, purposes, and aspirations binds our two nations. Our people are indeed happy, Your (Turn to page 2) (Response of President Bongo of the Gabonese Republic upon his arrival at the Manila Inter national Airport.) I would like, first of all, to thank you for the warm words of welcome that you have addressed to me as the first head of an African state to visit your country. On behalf of my own and Madame Bongo, we are very grateful for this enthusiastic and warm welcome that you have reserved for us. Allow me, first of all, to inform you that as the first African head of state to visit the Philippines as you have said a while ago, we share the same (Turn to page 2) . Mar day. J\dy 1? 1976 2 (Contiuned from page 1) Local Gov’ts Can Avail Of LBP Credit Facilities Excellency, to see you here and. they •..•xteuu u? you this welcome and the hospitality of our land and our people. You n iva ¿ravelled very far. indeed, to pioneer in this mis sis to ixdcg together of rhe lat/-,; un.'-.c-veú?nea au-as of Ib.e world Africa and Asia. I an; o?; r¿:m lh;r these efforts of Your Excellency are appre ciated not only by the Filipino people and by the peoples of the member nations of ASEAN - Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines - (Cjntiiiued i’or? page 1) sen tin.. ■ sv:- have traveled ir . <onJ.a~. r- • c : r. visit trie Pkiy; J.;-.s£and you be-W u'H ex'plc.v fields of c ' nJ. ’.’eb'- A is ?. . . t: i'cscn v ni a 7 -.- ' jn, '' -ny Jil'S me:. Uib Third World. And although most of tV , i ’ here with :.ic today. 1 am sure that they will appreciate the but also by the other peoples of i sÍ3. nd sea your country and O’-irc nave passed through a parallel story of deprivation, u upo ve rish m e n t, c olon ization, .md today cur efforts at developrAer attainment of poli tical independence. We therefore nreet you, Excellency, on behalf of the Filipino people, as well as the peoples of Ash’ on this, I repeat, the first visit of a head of state of Africa to the Republic of the Philippines. Welcome and Mabuhay. have given me through the Coh..?:-»ase media which you have wr ¡comed to the city of 11 añila. rd low me, Mr. President, to take this opportunity to tell you Ui.i v?c came to visit the Philippines to study your pro blems so that we may together be in a position to join hands í J r _ in their resolu tion. Again, Mr. President, I thank The Land Bank of the Philip pines announced that local gov ernments can now avail of the "LBP’s credit financing facilities, pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 752. The LBP will give financial assistance to local governments for the establishment, develop ment, or expansion of agricul tural, industrial, home financing projects, and other productive self-liquidating projects which will directly or indirectly benefit farmer-beneficiaries or agrarian reforms. Eligible borrowers are provin ces, cities ind municipalities where there are farmer-bene ficiaries of agrarian as defined under PD 717. Beneficiaries of the scheme include tillers, tenant-farmers, settlers, agricultural lessees, amortizing owners, owner culti vators, farmer-cooperatives and Trade Houses In Mideast Selling More Products The Philippine trading house in the Middle East achieved a big success during its initial opera tions because of the huge de mand for food products and finished consumer items by the oil-rich Arab states. Operated by a private busi nessman - Sheik Taveer Hassari - on authority of the Depart ment of Trade, the Philippine trade house in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, posted a record sale of US$4,845,140 during a period of nine months. This nine-month performance surpassed the $2,474,795 export sales generated by the trade house in Toronto and the $2,048,000 sale posted by the Philippine Center New York during the same period. Tapping the list of products sold by Dubai House were: manufactured goods classified chiefly by materials, $2,555,058 followed by food and live animals, $2,140,059. The trade house in Dubai is one of the latest display and export promotion centers the Philippines established last year. The house coordinating office said the bulk of the country’s exportation to Dubai consisted of food, live animals and manu factured goods. The Dubai house is the 17th compact farms. The amount of loans that any local government ^entity may get, Land Bank said, depends on the actual requirements needed to establish the project on a self-sustaining basis or to keep it operating on a viable and profit able basis. LPB said repayment period for the loan will depend on the type of project to be financed and the paying capacity of a borrower as determined to exceed 10 years, including grace period. The loan requirements: • A resolution of the Sangguniang Bayan or Sangguniang Panlalawigan authorizing the local government to borrow from the LBP to finance a proposed project and authoriz ing the provincial governor, city or municipal mayor to sign all papers pertinent thereto: the Philippines has established abroad. Of the number, how ever, only 13 have reported their sales achievements. These are in Hongkong, Auckland (New Zealand), Vancouver (Canada), Okinawa, Sydney (Australia), Las Vegas (US), Singapore, Tokyo, Bladel (Holland), and Gotenborg (Sweden), aside from Dubai, New York and Toronto. All these have pooled a total of US$11,352,942. The four houses which have not yet submitted their reports are in Bangkok (Thailand), De troit (US’), Mainz (West Germany) and Peking. The breakdown of the in come of the 13 trade centers during the same period: New York, $2,048,000; Hongkong, $22,837.87; Auckland, $45,830; Vancouver, $15,990; Sweden, $50,838.72; Okinawa, $54,210.39; Toronto, $2,474,795; Las Vegas, $36,422.55; Sydney, $114,418; Singapore, $48,953.02; Tokyo, $1,274,940; Bladel, $320,567.15; Dubai, $4,845,139.70. Secretary of Trade Troadio T. Quiazon, Jr. said the Dubai house rose to prominence when it offered products at com petitive prices immediately upon its operation. • Endorsement or recom mendation of the project by the secretary of finance. • Feasibility study and sur veys - to be prepared by the appropriate government in strumentality - to justify self liquidating nature of the project. Included in the feasibility study are financial projections covering the project period. • Affidavit to be executed by the borrower that it has no other loan application with other financial institutions for the same purpose applied for with the LBP. With respect to loans already contracted, a certifica tion by the city or municipality and treasurer as to the amount approved will be required. • Financial statement of the local government prepared and certified by the Commission on Audit. GSIS Grants P14M Salary, X JUVU1 To Employes The Government Service In surance System has granted policy and salary loans totalling P14,356,835 to 10,736 members last month. These loans represent applica tions filed in the GSIS Metro Manila office which cover 234,621 members in three cities and 13 towns in the area. The cities are Manila, Caloocan and Pasay. Quezon City members are served by an extension office in that city, which also covers members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Also served by the Manila bureau are national offices lo cated in the city. The number of members served by the Quezon City extension office totalled 120,487. Of the 4,998 policy loan applications 4,576 were ap proved, 216 were rejected and 206 still being processed at the end of last month. Policy loans granted totalled P3,852,993. In the salary loan applica tions, 6,160 have been approved of 7,499 filed; 1,3 13 were rejected while 26 were still being processed at the end of May. Salary loans granted totalled P9,503,842. Government Report, Monday, July 12,1976 3 Filipinos Staying A broad Illegally Filipinos who left the Philip pines illegally are the continuing subject of a survey by Philippine diplomatic and consular estab lishments abroad. Several Filipino citizens left the Philippines with forged or improper travel documents. Many of them were recruited by unscrupulous agents who extracted from them substantial amounts of money on the false promise that they will be given gainful employment in their countries of destination. A great number of them are now facing immigration and technical problems in those countries. Their predicament is compounded by the fact that many of them possess passports and visas that are not valid. All foreign service outposts abroad have been directed to mount a survey within their territorial jurisdiction with res pect to the number of Filipinos in such situation. The Department of Foreign Affairs, of late, has discovered a large number of travel applica tions supported by false docu ments. The travel committee of the FM Orders Ople To Assume Control Over WCC^.ses President Marcos ordered Labor Secretary Blas F. Ople to assume and exercise effective jurisdiction over workmen’s compensation cases pending as of March 31, this year. Under Presidential Decree No. 952, the President vested the labor secretary “additional power and authority to deter mine, dispose of and to take final action on workmen’s com pensation cases pending as of the said date before the Workmen’s Compensation Commission and Workmen’s Compensation units in the labor department’s re gional offices, and those cases remanded or to be remanded by the Supreme Court for further proceedings.” Under the Labor Code (PD 442) the compensation commis sion and units, together with the Bureau of Workmen’s Com pensation, were abolished as of March 31, 1976. With the abolition of these offices, there were and still are workmen’s compensation cases to be acted upon or finally disposed of and similar cases on appeal in the Supreme Court which may be remanded for further proceedings. The President directed the labor secretary to take over these cases “in order not to prejudice the claimants and employers thereby assuring a speedy dispensation of justice.” All cases pending before and DFA has noted that many requests for business, technical training, attendance in con ferences or seminars, etc. have been submitted on letterheads that are fictitious or were obtained from respectable firms without authorization. In some cases, the request were made by certain firms to accommodate friends and relatives who are not officially connected with or employed in such firms. The applications, at times, were supported by fake or false invitation letters, income tax returns, financial statements, and other documents. A number of the applicants who have submitted such false documents are now under inves tigation and will be charged criminally together with their accomplices. In this connection, the De partment of Foreign Affairs is warning anew travel applicants against submitting false travel applications and is reminding the public again not to deal with travel fixers or any person not authorized to solicit travel busi ness, but only with agents. duly docketed by the units and the commission shall be pro cessed and adjudicated in ac cordance with law, rules and procedures existing at the time their causes of action accrued, according to the decree. Decisions, orders or resolu tions by the labor head on these cases may be reviewed on “certiorari” by the Supreme Court on questions of law upon petition of an aggrieved party within ten days from notice. The decree stipulates that all decisions, orders or resolutions of the labor secretary which have become final and executory shall be enforced and executed in the same manner as decisions or orders of the Court of First Instance. The labor secretary shall furthermore have the power to issue to the city or provincial sheriff or to the sheriff whom he may appoint such writs of execution as may be needed for the enforcement of such deci sions, orders or resolutions. Anyone who shall fail or refuse to comply therewith shall be punished by the labor secre tary for contempt. The decree empowers the labor secretary to draw person nel from his department and its attached agencies and those available from the Employes’ Compensation Commission, to assist in the disposition of and final action on the cases. Revenue Collections Reach P7.3 Billion The Bureau of Internal Rev enue reported last week a P7.3 billion gross collection from all internal revenue taxes for fiscal year 1975-1976 ending June 30. The amount represents an increase of >400 million over the P6.9 billion collected by the BIR in the preceding fiscal year. The P7.3 billion tax collec tion, however, is short by P600 million over the bureau’s goal of P7.9 billion. The deficit, according to the BIR, was due to the exhaustion of the BIR’s tax collection resources, including the expira tion of tax amnesty and taxes collected under Letter of In structions No. 308 which is non-recurrent. HUMAN SETTLEMENTS - President Marcos and the First Lady, Mrs. Imelda Romualdez Marcos, discuss with Brig. Gen. Gaudencio Tobias the establishment of industries around settlement vtes to give meaning to the country's human settlements program. Concurrently the Metro Manila governor. Mrs. Marcos provides inspiring leadership to the program that Tobias as general manager of the National Housing Authority gives concrete form. Propose Establishment Of Data Banking System The Planning and Project Development Office of the Department of Public Works, Transportation, and Com munication, has proposed the establishment of a data banking system in the government machinery to make information readily available to users in both government and private sectors. Data banking, according to the planning office, supports development planning in the country. The proposal is contained in a recent study on the subject which the planning agency com pleted recently. The study provides a perspect ive on the various attempts to organize data banks which at tempts were interpreted as mani festations of the increasing sop Non- Traditional Exports Increase Non-traditional exports posted an average annual in crease of 36.6 per cent from $107.06 million in 1970 to a high of $108.77 million in 1975. Traditional exports, on the other hand, rose by an average compound rate of only 11.6 per cent, from $1.02 billion in 1970 to $1.77 billion last year. The Board of Investments, analyzing the country’s export performance for the last five years, said the growth rate in non-traditional exports was sig nificant in the light of a World Bank study forecasting an an nual growth rate of only 17,5 per cent to reach a level of $198 million in 1975. The BOI explained that the performance record actually shows that the targetted amount was surpassed in 1973 to reach the amount of $373.38 million histication of planning, decision making, and policy formulation in the government The study notes that there exists a vast amount of data in various agencies of the govern ment, but these data cannot be used simply because they are not organized for the users, adding that government planners are hampered in their jobs because of disorganized data. A unique feature of the PPDO’s proposed data bank is its pragmatic growth strategy which may serve as a model for other organizations wishing to estab lish their own data banks. The strategy is built on the usefulness of the data bank at any given time. Usefulness is the principal purpose of any data bank, in 1975. The actual rate of growth, from 1972 to 1975, was 36.8 per cent against World Bank’s projected 17.5 per cent BOI Governor Conrado Sanchez said the BOI will focus on the area of non-traditional exports to develop and diversify the country’s export pattern. Last year, BOI-registered firms exported $170.77 million worth of non-traditional manu factured exports. These exports have been increasing at an average of 55.4 per cent per annum, a rate faster than the growth of total manufactured exports as a whole. The growth in non-traditional unmanufactured exports benefitted strongly from the in crease in banana, and lately, nickel exports, Governor Sanchez said. according to the PPDO, and this is achieved by being of im mediate service to users at any stage of the data bank’s evolu tion. Four inter-related com ponents are defined in the PPDO’s data bank report. These are the environmental data system (ENDS), the data and agency referral subsystem (DARES), the related programs projects subsystem (REPS), and the planning technique sub system (PLATS). The study also recommends the active intervention of an “information broker,” possibly the National Economic and Development Authority. The “information broker” will oversee the coordinated growth of a data banking system for planning in the country, the PPDO said. 4 Government Report, Monday, July 12,1976 Check Status Of 200 Mines In The Country The status of some 200 mines in the country will be reviewed by the Bureau of Mines with the view of finding out the extent of their actual operations and as a move to flush out the so-called “paper mines/’ The move will further aim to check the authenticity of periodic reports submitted by these mining firms to the Securi ties and Exchange Commission and the mines bureau. Initially, the Bureau of Mines will gather data on these mining firms. After data gathering activ ities are completed, competent government mining engineers will be sent to the mining sites for ocular inspection. Data gathered by these engineers will be compared with other data previously compiled. The move is also being under taken by that agency to find out which among the roughly 200 mining firms have actual mining operations and claims and/or operating agreements with claim owners. This task is in coordination with the action of the SEC which is the examination of registered firms that have not Young Medics Sent To Barrios For RHU Stint About 1,200 young medical graduates have been sent this year to the barrios for assign ment with rural health units all over the Philippines. These young medical grad uates have already taken, the board examinations and are awaiting the results of these examinations. Their assignment to the rural Define Rural Banks Equity The Central Bank ruled that equity investments in any partic ular rural bank of a holding corporation whose majority vot ing stock is owned by any one person or by persons related to each other within the third degree of consanguinity or af finity should not exceed 20 per cent of the voting stock. In the case of equity invest ments of holding corporations owned by 100 per cent Filipino been operating for at least five years. Examination of the records of the mining firms will center mostly on those that are listed on the board of stock exchanges. The SEC and the bureau are also involved in the formulation of guidelines to prevent the listing or registration of the so-called “paper mines.” “Paper mines” are non existent mining concessions being claimed as being operated and/or owned by mining firms. The roughly 200 mining firms eyed for audit practically make up the total mining firms in the country. This number, however, does not include oil mining firms or concession holders. These sectors, have been transferred to the energy development council. It used to be under the bureau of mines. A special section is now being formed by the bureau to handle the task of data gathering. As an adjunct to the investi gation, forms will be sent out to all claimowners and leaseholders to find out development works in their respective mining claims. areas is part of the government's rural practice program. This program requires doctors and nurses awaiting results of their bóard examinations to serve for six months in the rural areas. Proof of this service must be presented before they can be issued their license by the Professional Regulations Com mission. Transportation to and from their place of assignment at the beginning and end of their six-month stint is free. They will receive P300 monthly stipend if assigned in non-difficult areas and P400 a month if detailed to a difficult area. No transfers are allowed and all are covered by insurance during their period of service. corporate investors participation shall not exceed 30 per cent of the voting stock of any partic ular bank. The CB circular also provided that all equity investments by these holding companies in rural banks should have prior approval of the Monetary Board. No limit was imposed before on the equity participation of holding companies in rural banks. SPECIAL REPORT The integration of all garbage services in the four cities and 13 municipalities of Metro Manila was recently ordered by Gov. Imelda Romualdez Marcos “to ensure effective execution and implementation of orders, ordi nances, plans and policies ap proved by the commission.” The move was the major step taken to date to put the garbage collection problem out of the way. Taking a frontal attack on the issue, however, President Marcos ordered an intensive study on ways and means of solving once and for all the chronic garbage dilemma in the Metro Manila area. Acting on orders of the First Lady and Metro Manila Gov. Mrs. Imelda Romualdez Marcos, MMC Executive Secretary Eduardo R. Solimán, Jr., organ ized the Refuse and Environ mental Sanitation Center and placed under its direct control and supervision all local public services departments. Under the arrangements, all existing dump sites, including operational equipment (tools, machinery, supplies, materials, etc.) are now under the new agency’s operational control. Research projects, pilot prog rams, and experiments on refuse management and environmental sanitation in the cities and nnicipalities. will continue under the control and coordina tion of the center. The integration order also provides that: • The city and municipal mayors will forward directly to the governor’s office all advices, complaints, suggestions, and re commendations regarding refuse management and environmental sanitation services. • The existing functions, duties and responsibilities of the local DPS shall continue to be performed unless otherwise directed in guidelines, systems, and procedures that may be issued by the Center. • The administration arm of the local DPS shall continue to perform its functions, duties, and responsibilities, which shall include personnel, property, budget preparation and control, accounting, internal audit, and security management. • Budgetary proposals for operation requirements of the lo cal DPS from July 1 to Dec. 31, 1976, which were included in the local executive budget submitted to the action officer for finance, shall be submitted by the mayor to the center not later than July 6 for inclusion in the Metro Manila budget. For effective control and supervision, the commission divi ded the metropolitan area into four sectors, as follows: North sector: Quezon City, Malabon, Valenzuela, Caloocan Set Measures To Relieve Metro-Manila Of Garbage City, Navotas, and San Juan. South sector: Makati, Paraña que, Muntinlupa, Pásay City, Mandaluyong, and Las Piñas¿ East sector: Pasig, Pateros, Marikina, and Taguig. West sector: Manila. Each sector will be headed and managed by a sector refuse and environmental sanitation manager who will exercise super vision over the the local DPS of the cities and municipalities assigned to him. All officials and employes, as well as casual and emergency workers, will continue in office without the necessity of being reappointed and with the same salaries, allowances, or wages. On the use of existing equip ment and personnel, the fol lowing guidelines have been established: • Regular operations: All regular or usual operational activities will continue to be serviced by existing equipment and personr 1 in each area. • Specif.' operations: The equipment and personnel of one or more areas or sectors may be deployed and utilized in other areas or sectors within Metro Manila as required in the opera tions plan for special projects or unusual situations. • Special projects and opera tions currently assigned to and undertaken by local DPS may be continued to prevent disruption or dislocation, subject, however, to the usual audit of funds and personnel utilization. On the order of President Marcos to conduct an intensive study to solve the chronic garbage problems in Metro Manila, the Chief Executive created a three-man committee to evaluate various methods proposed by private and public entities to solve the garbage situation. The President said the study shall not be confined to collec tion and disposal processes alone but shall also involve garbage recycling. The three-man committee created by the President has the secretary of public works, trans portation and communications as chairman, with the secretary of finance and the commissioner of the National Pollution Con trol Commission as members. At this stage, five processes or facilities face the evaluation of th^ committee. They are the Gon lard, Dano and Prat process es oi garbage disposal, the Ever-Rise Composting Plant, and the Peacock Brand machinery. The Gondard process is a turnkey project which calls for the establishment of at least three Gondard composting plants in Metro Manila. Under this method, garbage is recycled and converted into organic fertil izer, a nutrient containing elements essential to plant growth. The Dano method is a con tinuous and fully mechanized biological way of transforming refuse into compost under hy gienic conditions. It allows sew age-sludge to be processed along with the dry refuse. This method is said to be flexible enough to make possible the treatment of small and large quantities of refuse under widely varying conditions. The Prat system, on the other hand, uses aqrobic fermentation of raw materials, like cans, boxes, papers, cardboards, pieces of wood, plastics, etc. The fermentation process requires ohly five days during which the organic matters undergo chem ical transformation. Fourthly, the Ever-Rise com posting plant, which has a rated capacity of 2,400 metric tons (2,400,000 kilograms) per day. The daily garbage collection in Metro Manila, estimated to be only 1,200 metric tons (1,200,000 kilograms) per day, can therefore be safely handled by this plant, it was claimed. Components of the plant can be obtained from Germany, ac cording to its proponents. Finally, the Peacock brand machine, which also produces organic fertilizer, churning rub bish into valuable elements that can enhance plant growth. The equipment, patented by both the Chinese and Japanese gov ernments, has many revolution ary designs. The three-man committee organized by the President to determine the merit of the proposed systems of garbage disposals has exactly one month to do its job. The study will be conducted on three over-riding criteria: • Capability and reliability of the machine or equipment. • Value of the process on the basis of cost and benefit to the government. • The financial viability of the scheme under which the machine or equipment may be procured. Government Report, Monday, July 12,1976 5 FM Accepts Credentials Of Sokor, Romanian, And Gabonese Ambassadors The credentials of the new envoys to the Philippines of three developing countries of Asia, Eastern Europe, and Africa, were accepted last week by President Marcos. Received by the President in separate ceremonies were the letters of credence of. 1) Ambassador Yung Kyoo Kang, as ambassador extra ordinary and plenipotentiary of South Korea to the Philippines, vice Ambassador Chi Ryang Chang; 2) Ambassador Filip Tomulescu, as the first resident ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of Romania to the Philippines, and 3) Ambassador Joachim Pallard, as the first resident ambas sador extraordinary and pleni potentiary of the Gabonese Re PILGRIMAGE - The First Couple made their traditional annual pilgrimage to Leyte on the feast day of the patron saint, Sto. Niño de Leyte. While in Leyte, President Marcos addressed officials and barangay leaders, calling upon them to participate actively in the movement to strengthen the people’s moral fiber. This, he said, is essential to ensuring the growth of the New Society. public to the Philippines. In receiving the credentials of South Korean Ambassador Yung Kyoo Kang, the President ex pressed appreciation for the repeated calls of South Korea to North Korea for the resumption of their dialog which was broken off in 1973, and confidence that the dispute between the two Koreas will be achieved through peaceful means. The South Korean envoy recalled with deep gratitude the participation of the Philippine Expeditionary Forces (PEFTOK) in warding off aggres sion in their country, and the support given them by the Philippines, particularly in the field of international relations. The South Korean envoy expressed firm belief that efforts of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) to pro mote peace and prosperity throughout the region would succeed. At the same time, he also congratulated the President for the rapid strides towards devel opment in every field made by the Philippines under the New Society. To Ambassador Tomulescu, the President said that when the Philippines decided to dismantle its ola foreign policy and estab lish relations with Socialist coun tries, the Philippines chose Ro mania, with the first Philippine resident ambassador to any so cialist country being assigned to Bucharest. On the visit of Romania’s President Nikolai Ceausescu to the Philippines in April 1975, the President cited the various agreements in the fields of economic and cultural relations which made the visit meaningful. As a new member of the Group of 77, the President reminded Ambassador Tomu lescu, that “the world is beset with crises and it is incumbent on developing countries to assert their right to participate in the formulation of world economic policies.” Later, in receiving the creden tials of Ambassador Pallard, the President expressed confidence that the talks between him and Gabon President El Haj Omar Bongo, who arrived Thursday last week on a four-day state visit, would lead to more friendly and cordial relations between the two countries. Born Joachim Pierre Maurice Pallard, in his native Libreville, capital of the (Gabonese Repub lic, the first resident ambassador of any African state to the Philippines, started his public career as a school teacher. With the outbreak of the Second World War, he offered his services to the French Army and fought for the duration of the war against the Germans, both in North Africa and in France. With the allied victory in Europe, he was sent to Vietnam, serving in the French Expedi tionary Forces up to 1954 when he was promoted to the officer rank and sent to Algeria in French Equatorial Africa. In 1960, with the proclama tion of the independence of the Gabonese Republic, he helped establish his country’s army, serving as chief of the Third Bureau (Instruction and Logis tics) and later the Fourth Bureau, until he was promoted to the command of the First Battalion, and ultimately deputy chief of staff of his country’s army. From there, he moved over to the foreign service, serving as first counsellor and military attache of the Gabonese embassy in Israel, and lateras first coun sellor in the Gabonese embassies in Formosa, Geneva, and Japan,, respectively. In October 1974, he was assigned as ambassador to Lebanon, his last post until his transfer to Manila. Every inch a soldier, Ambas sador Pallard is the holder of numerous military medals, namely: Commandeur de la Medaille de L'Etoile Equatoriale, oficier de la Medaille de la Reconnaissance Gabonaise, Oficier de la Medaille de la Reconnaissance de la Republique Centralficaine, Me daille Militaire, Croix de Guerre “39/45” (Forces Francaises Libres), Croix de Combattant Volontaire Croix de Guerre “T.O.E.' and Oficier de la Medaille de la Reconnaissance Vietnaminne. Ambassador Yung Kyoo Kang on the other hand, studied law, entering the college of law of Seoul National University and later the graduate school of New York University. In 1951 he entered the foreign service and by 1954 was third secretary at the Korean mission to the United Nations. From there, he was promoted to chief of the Asian division, Political Bureau of the Foreign Ministry, then chief of the protocol division. In 1959, he was appointed consul at the Korean Consulate General in Los Angeles, rising to chief of the general affairs division in the Foreign Ministry, then second secretary at the Korean embassy in Thailand, and director general of the Asian Affairs Bureau of the Foreign Ministry. Ambassador Tomulescu took up sylvic engineering in Bu charest and, for sometime, prac ticed his profession as sylvic engineering economist. In 1943 he was assigned chief of the provincial forestry direct orate of Focsani, from where he was transferred to Murest, three years later, rising to general manager of the General Director ate of Forestry of Murest region. Lim Inducted President Of PITC And PEC Dominador Lim was inducted by President Marcos as president of the Philippine International Trading Corp. (PITC) and pres ident-chairman of the Philippine Export Council (PEC, In view of the fact that Lim vacated the presidency of the Confederation of Filipino Ex porters (CFE), the President swore in CFE vice president Eulogio Balao as CFE president in order not to disrupt the leadership of that private organi zation. In appointing Lim to head both the PITC and the PEC, the President underscored the need to coordinate the efforts of both the implementing arm and the policy-making body in view of the policy to stimulate trading with all socialist countries of the world. The PITC is, by law, the only corporation authorized to en gage in the export and import trade with all socialist countries. As head of both the PITC and the PEC, Lim will, in coopera tion with Trade Secretary Troadio Quiazon Jr., and in consultation with both the gov ernment and the private sectors, formulate the necessary regula tions.' Following the oath taking, the President and the First Lady, Mrs. Imelda Romualdez Marcos viewed a scale model of the Philippine Trade Center being built adjacent to the Convention Hall and the Cultural Center of the Philippines. A project of the First Lady, the trade center was started only last month but is scheduled to be completed in August, in time for the Internationa! Monetary Fund meeting to be held in Manila this year. The former president of Legaspi Oil Co. and the Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Lim was with the Philippine trade mission which went to Soviet Russia last month. Lim headed the trade mission sent by the CFE to the Euro pean Economic Community, and was a member of the first trade mission (1968) to European socialist countries, the official trade mission to the People's Republic of China (1974), and the RP-UNDP mission to social ist countries of Eastern Europe (1975). Balao, on the other hand, led the Filipino panel which nego tiated the $32-million veterans benefits with the United States in 1966 and participated in the negotiations for the PhilippineJapan Highway loan of $30-million. Balao was also on trade missions to the Middle East and the European Economic Com munity. A war veteran, Brig. Gen. Balao was national defense secre tary under President Magsaysay and President Garcia, former chief of the Philippine Repara tions Mission in Tokyo, and a former member of the Philippine Senate. He now heads the Cagayan Sugar Corp., the Tropical Philip pines Plywood Co. and Trident Stevedoring Co. Among those present at the oath takings at the Hall of Unity and Brotherhood of Malacañang, besides the President and the First Lady, were close relatives and friends of the inductees, headed by Trade Secretary Troadio Quiazon Jr., Agriculture Secretary Arturo Tanco Jr., Budget Commissioner Jaime C. Laya, Antonio Floirendo, and Henry Brimo. 6 Government Report, Monday, July 12,1976 Massive Reforestation Program 41 Nations To Join RP Int’l Trade Fair Forty-one countries, including the Philippines, will participate in the 1976 Philippine Inter national Trade Fair to be held October 1-31 at the Philippine Center for International Trade and Exhibitions. The fair is a project of the First Lady, Mrs. Imelda Romualdez Marcos. It coincides with the joint annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank to be held at the convention center in the Philippines. The First Lady conceived the project to provide foreign visit ors an opportunity to see for themselves the viability and prospects of the Philippine eco nomy. They will also get a chance to look at and examine the produc tion capabilities of the local economy in terms of inexpensive trained manpower, natural re sources, management know-how, financial systems, and the gen eral investment climate as re gards foreign investment si On the other hand, the local exhibitors are expected to estab lish contacts with the foreign visitors to the fair. Thus, the fair will serve as a market place for the expansion of Philippine trade with other countries in pursuit of the government's policy of expanding commercial and diplomatic relations. BUSINESS CONFERENCE - The 2nd National Business Conference winded up its sessions attended by over 400 representatives of trade, commerce, industry and agriculture from all over the country with the presentation of all its resolutions to President Marcos. At his address before the conferees, the President announced a series of directives aimed at boosting small and medium-scale industries. Carried under the sponsorship of the Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, the meeting was chairmanned by Benjamin Gozon, S. Colayco, Paulino Dionisio, Edgar J. Borbon, A. U. Valencia, Jose S. de Leon, Oscar Mabilog, V. Lim and Francisco Wenceslao. BFD Takes Charge Of Processing Applications For Farming Leases The Bureau of Forest Devel opment has been charged with the mission of processing ap plications for industrial planta tions and tree farming leases. The mission was assigned by Natural Resources Secretary Jose Leido even as forestry rules and regulations are still being revised and consolidated in order to accelerate the rehabilitation of denuded forests and to boost the supply of raw materials to the wood industry. In a memorandum to the BFD, Secretary Leido issued the standard operating procedure for the processing of industrial plantation and tree farming leases. Accordingly, applicants are required to submit feasibility or project studies covering the reforestation and management plan, forest protection, and economic and technical feasi bility. Applicants are also required Sound Call For Vigorous Of Coco Farms President Marcos renewed his call for a vigorous program of replanting existing coconut farms and idle lands with super ior hybrid coconut trees to increase copra production and strengthen the country's posi tion in the world copra market. The President stressed that in carrying this out, first considera te submit field survey reports on the area applied for. These reports shall cover the following: • Perimeter survey - survey and delimit on the ground the potential areas applied for with the use of a transit. Marking of boundaries shall follow the pres^ cribed LC procedures and standards. • Timber inventory - deter mine the approximate volume content of the area surveyed. Data gathered should be coun ter-checked with the latest serial photogrammetric data. • All expenses incidental to the above surveys shall be borne by the applicant and reports shall be under oath. A nominal filing fee of P0.60 per hectare shall be collected for each application for industrial tree plantation or tree farm lease. A bond of P0.60 per hectare or fraction thereof during the tion should be made to ensure that the small coconut farmers share in the projected increased income from the project. The President said that in creased coconut production would enable the country to compete better in the inter national vegetable fats and oils market period of development shall be collected. And beginning with the first harvest, the bond shall be equivalent to the annual rental. The following is the schedule of the paying of rentals for areas long denuded and certified by the director and approved by the secretary: • No rental shall be collected during the full term of the lease which shall not exceed 25 years; • For the first five years following the renewal of the lease, the annual rental shall be P0.50 per hectare; • Thereafter, the annual rent al shall be Pl per hectare. For areas uncertified by the BFD and the DNR the following is the schedule of payment of rentals: • No rental shall be collected during the first five years from the date of the lease; During a meeting in Malacañang last week, the President was presented an operational plan by the Philippine Coconut AdnJiimstration ^d coconut in dustry leaders for the replanting of the 2.2 million hectares of existing coconut farms. Pro grammed for a period of 40 years, thei plan calls for the replanting of some 60,000 year ly. After poring over the pro posed plan the President made the following initial instructions: 1. That a province-toprovince survey of the coconut farmers be made to ensure the participation of small coconut farmers; 2. That instead of a demon stration farm of 50,000 hectares centered in one province, several demonstration farms of 500 to 1,000 hectares spread out in various parts of the country be set up for the benefit of the coconut farmers; 3. That instead of merely replanting existing coconut farms, new areas be opened to coconut planting so that other areas in the country may also benefit in this export-oriented industry; 4. That a sturdy, high-yield ing variety known as the milano coca be grown in the country, starting with demonstration farms to prove its adaptability and high-yielding potential, and 5. That efforts be made to prepare the minds of the people to the replanting program so that they may appreciate fully the value of the program and participate in it. School Tots, Barangay Units To Join Campaign President Marcos has ordered the launching of a massive reforestation program with the participation of barangay units and schoolchildren. This was one of three pro blems he took up with his cabinet during a meeting last week. The two other subjects were the repair of infrastructures destroyed or damaged by the last typhoon' in Central Luzon and the strict vigilance to pre vent a resurgence of obscene literature, movies and radio-tele vision program. The President said that during his grade school days, the students were asked not only to plant trees but also to take care of them. He lamented that there is no such program today. In his visit to the Soviet Union, the President said he and members of his party were fascinated to find one-third of Moscow and one-half of Len’^qrad forested. The President was also con cerned over the fact that some private concessionaires were able to acquire titles to parcels of land in areas previously declared as national shrines. These shrines include Mt. Samat and Mt. Makiling. “It is about tnru there 7s 1 national agency to insure that national shrines are not violat ed,” the President said. He urged that these be dec lared government property and off-limits to unauthorized per sons. Regarding the continued aestruction of forests by "kaingineros,” the President said this demonstrated inefficiency on the part of the barangay units. On the recent floods in Central Luzon, the President instructed the department of public highways to find out whether the highways are partly the principal causes of floods. These instructions were prompted by the observation that in Luzon, the flood waters receded slowly. The public works department was asked to put up a bailey bridge across the channel in barrio Magallanes, Tayug, Pangasinan, to establish communica tions and access to four towns in the province that have been isolated. The channel was constructed by the public works department as an outlet for the Dipalo and Garay rivers. Another worry of the Pres ident stemmed from reports that the road connecting the towns Of Lupao and San Jose in Nueva Ecija has become impassable due to the destruction of five bridges. Government Report, Monday, July 12,1976 7 145,000 Hectares To Be Irrigated National irrigation Admin istrator Alfredo Juinio disclosed last week that some 145,000 more hectares of ricefields in 10 provinces will be irrigated. Nine special irrigation systems are now being constructed by the government at a cost of P4 billion in local funds and $292 million in foreign exchange. Totalling nine projects, their completion is staggered to late next year. These projects are located in Bulacan, Isabela, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, Davao del Norte, Mindoro Occidental, Min doro Oriental, Bukidnon, and Agusan del Sur. According. to Administrator Juinio, the foreign exchange costs come from the Asian Development Bank, Inter national Bank for Reconstruc tion and Development (World Bank), Overseas Economic Cooperation Fund of Japan, and the United States Agency for International Development. The nine foreign-assisted proj ects are: 1. The Angat-Magat integratagricultural development project in Bulacan and Isabela. Rates For Hotel Rooms The government has taken steps to prevent the hotel industry from destroying itself i.—.V-' ' 1 ' u.Huncuea undercutting in room rate quotations. President Marcos last week signed a Letter of Instructions directing Secretary of Tourism Jose Aspiras to promulgate a schedule of viable minimum es for the different hotels, ...id to adopt means and safe guards to enforce the floor rates. The LOI was also directed to the Secretary of Labor and to the Commissioner of Immigra tion and Deportation. The move is intended to protect the huge investments of the government in the hotel industry and to prod the indus try against the possibility of self-defeating operations that may be brought about by undue competition. In a report to the President, Secretary Aspiras pointed to the apprehension among hotel own ers and managers of a prolonged oversupply of rooms after all the new hotels, 14 of them, are in operation, making a total of 12,000 hotel rooms. This has set off keen competi tion in the form of undercutting of room rates quoted, to a point where five-star (top category) deluxe hotels are in competition with existing four-star hotels. The prevalent practice of .hiring foreign managers on the basis of a percentage of the gross receipts without regard to profit ability of the business is not The municipalities to be benefit ed are Angat, Bustos, Pandi, and San Rafael in Bulacan, and Alicia, San Mateo, Cabanatuan, Santiago, Luna, and Angadanan in Isabela. As of May 31, the project was 52.8 per cent com plete. 2. The Aurora-Peñaranda irri gation project in Bulacan Nueva Ecija, and Pampanga, a trans basin diversion project with irrigation as its primary func tion. This project would divert the waters of the Canili and Diago rivers to the Pantabangan reservoir through the Digoliat river. Towns to be benefited are San Miguel and San Ildefonso in Bulacan, Cabiao, San Isidro, Peñaranda, and Gapan in Nueva Ecija* and Arayat in Pampanga. As of May 31, the project was 58.3 per cent complete. 3. Magat River multi-purpose project in Isabela and Quirino with irrigation and power gen eration as its major functions The project would also serve as domestic water supplier, fish conservation, flood control, and recreation facilities. The power potential of the project was estimated at 300 megawatts. It helping to discourage destructive competition, Aspiras said. In his LOI, the President directed the cancellation of the working permit and subsequent deportation of any non-Filipino found guilty of violating the minimum rates to be pro mulgated by the Department of Tourism. Meanwhile, Secretary Aspiras disclosed that he is proposing an innovative and “fair structure” on the airline policies of mem ber-countries of the Association of South East Asian Nations. The proposal calls, among others, for ASEAN countries to arrange a standard price struct ure based on per mile computa tion exclusively applicable to ASEAN members. The tourism secretary noted that all airlines in ASEAN countries are either partially or fully subsidized by their respect ive governments, therefore a government-to-government negotia tion will facilitate adoption of the policy. The regional travel program will also include policies which may facilitate going in and out of tourists from one ASEAN country to another with the use of only one travel card, Aspiras said. The tourism secretary said that he expects a favorable reaction from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the international con sultative agency for airlines all over the world. was at a pre-engineering stage as of May 31. 4. Davao del Norte irrigation project which will cover the towns of Saug, Compostela, and Maguapo. The project will tap the Saug and Ba tutu rivers to benefit potential irrigation area of about 12,000 hectares. As of May 31, the project was 47.9 per cent complete. 5. Tarlac irrigation system improvement project which con sists of four components, name ly: rehabilitation and improve ment of the Tarlac river irriga tion system, the Camiling river irrigation system, and the San Miguel-O’Donnel river irrigation system: a ground-wat er pilot project; a national irrigation system improvement study; and water management training. As of May 31, the project was 10 per cent complete. 6. Pulangui river irrigation project whose main components are the construction of the diversion work across the Pulangui river in Bukidnon, distribution and drainage system, and construction of service roads, 7. Philippine rural developRP Ratifies Code Of Conduct For Liner Confabs The Philippines has ratified the Convention on a Code of Conduct for Liner Conferences. The Convention was framed in Geneva on April 6, 1974 by states desirous of improving the liner conference system. The Department of Foreign Affairs said the Convention took into account the special needs and problems of the developing countries with respect to the activities of liner conferences serving their foreign trade. Ratification of the Conven tion, according to the Foreign Office, is especially timely at this period because of the current Ministerial Meeting here of the Group of 77 of the UN Conference on Trade and De velopment (UNCTAD). Adoption of the Code is considered a major victory for the developing countries. The foreign office said that the unilateral imposition of freight-rate increases by con ferences has long been a stigma associated with the arbitrary liner conference system. The provisions, therefore, on freight fixation, including surcharges, are welcome respite to shippers who have been perennially plagued by the problem. ment project in the provinces of Mindoro which will provide irrigation facilities, construct roads and bridges, improve port facilities, carry out a schistoso miasis control program, and assist the people. 8. Agusan del Sur irrigation project which will provide for the construction of irrigation and related agricultural facilities, in The National Seamen Board of the Department of Labor reported that the amount of $10,145,598.24 was sent to the Philippines by Filipino seamen working on board foreign mer chant ships during the first quarter of the year. * * * June 8, 1976 - President Marcos, fresh from his Russian visit, drove straight from the airport to a meeting in Malacañang with his cabinet where he ordered the release of funds for rehabilitation work in areas damaged by typhoon Didang. * * * A motion to quash rape charges filed against six scions of wealthy families was denied yesterday by Military Commis sion No. 12 headed by Col. Jesus S. Dizon. * * * President Marcos assured that the establishment of diplomatic relations with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics does not detract from the ties now existing between the Philippines and its friends and allies or with any other nation. He added that neither does it mean any altera tion of our social, economic, or political system, nor should it alter the government’s basic policy on internal security. * * * Health officials advised the public to take precautions against respiratory and gastro intestinal diseases because of an increasing incidence of these ailments. * * * Judge Onofre A. Villaluz of the Rizal circuit criminal court cited a Constabulary lieutenant colonel for contempt and sen tenced him to 10-day imprison ment and a fine of P200. Cited for contempt was Lt. Col. Donato L. Mata, commanding officer of the Camp Sampaguita Rehabilitation center in Muntincluding the development of second-growth forest in the towns of Bunawan and Sal vación. 9. The Upper Pampanga river project which will provide irriga tion facilities for about 22,000 hectares of ricefields. It would also serve as a power generation project lupa. * * * Application forms for the study-now, pay-later plan will be available in the Department of Education and Culture’s regional and division offices before the week ends. This was announced by Education Secretary Juan L. Manuel. * * * June 9, 1976 - President Marcos met with members of the Philippine panel that will nego tiate with their American coun terparts on the question of military bases being used by the United States in this country. The bases negotiations are sched uled to resume in Baguio city on June 15. * * * The Constabulary and the Price Stabilization Council start ed filing criminal charges against 174 alleged price violators in Luzon before various fiscal’s offices in the area. * * * Two 30-inch flood control and drainage lines designed to minimize Hooding at the western end of España street are ex pected to be completed tomor row in time for the June 14 school opening. * * * The Department of Social Welfare has increased by 100 per cent its standby funds for emergency operations in all regions, provinces and cities prone to disaster. This was reported to President Marcos by Welfare Secretary Estefanía Aldaba-Lim. * * * The Manila Electric Company announced a six per cent reduc tion in its electric bills this month to customers. This was the result of the decision of the Oil Industry Commission up holding the Meralco overprice case against Caltex.