The American Chamber of Commerce Journal

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Part of The American Chamber of Commerce Journal

Title: The American Chamber of Commerce Journal
Issue Date: Volume XXX (No. 2) February 1954
Year: 1954
Language: English
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extracted text: A. V. H. Hartendorp Editor and Manager Entered as second class matter at the Manila Post Office on May 25, 1921, and on December 10, 1945 Subscription rate: P5.00 the year; $5.00 in the United States and foreign countries Officers and Members of the Board of Directors of the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines Paul R. Parrette, President; W. M. Simmons, Vice-President; A. H. Henderson, Treasurer; F. C. Bennett, S. W. G. Lehman, John Oppenheimer, E. E. Selph, F. H. Spengler, and Paul H. Wood. Mrs. Virginia Gonder, Executive Vice-President; I. T. Salmo, Secretary Vol. XXX February, 1954 No. 2 Contents Editorials— The President and the "State of the Nation”..................................................................................... Points in the Address of Special Interest to Business....................................................................... The Trend to Youth in the Government.............................................................................................. The Barrios (The McMillan-Rivera Report)....................................................................................... Progress in the Mountain Province Measured (L. L. Wilson;...................................................... The “Blue Sunday” Employment Law................................................................................................ The New Chamber Officers and Board Members............................................................................... Needs of Barrios..................................................................................................................................................... Tondol, Pangasinan.............................................................................................................................................. Address on “The State of the Nation”................................................................................................... From the McMillan-Rivera Report. . . Anonymous......................................................... President Ramon Magsaysay.................. 43 43 44 46 48 49 54 49 50 52 The Business View— The Government........................................................................................................................................ Banking and Finance................................................................................................................................... Manila Stock Market................................................................................................................................. Credit............................................................................................................................................................... Electric Power Production......................................................................................................................... Building Construction................................................................................................................................. Real Estate..................................................................................................................................................... Port of Manila............................................................................................................................................... Ocean Shipping and Exports (Annual Figures)............................................................................. Freight Car Loadings................................................................................................................................... Lumber............................................................................................................................................................. Mining.............................................................................................................................................................. Sugar.................................................................................................................................................................. Manila Hemp (Annual Figures)............................................................................................................ Copra and Coconut Oil.......................................................................................................................... Desiccated Coconut (Annual Figures)............................................................................................... Tobacco............................................................................................................................................................ Imports............................................................................................................................................................. Food Products............................................................................................................................................... Textiles............................................................................................................................................................. Legislation, Executive Orders, Court Decisions.................................................................................. Philippine Safety Council................................................................................. ....................................... Cost of Living Index (1935-1954)..................................................................................... The “Let Your Hair Down” Column............................................................................................................. From Official Sources...................................... I. G. Spering.................................................... J. J. Ortic.as.................................................... D. Burn............................................................. J. F. Cotton..................................................... J. J. Carlos....................................................... A. Varias........................................................... W. S. Hurst.................................................... B. B. Tunold................................................... J. B. Libunao................................................... P. de Ocampo.................................................... H. A. Brimo...................................................... J. H. d’Authreau........................................... J. D. Conrad.................................................... R. J. McCombe................................................ H. R. Hick........................................................ L. A. PuJalte................................................... S. Schmelkes................................................... W. E. M. Saul................................................. W. V. Saussotte............................................. R.Janda............................................................ F. S. Tenny...................................................... Bureau of the Census and Statistics........... 54 58 58 59 59 60 60 61 61 61 62 64 65 67 68 69 70 70 71 72 74 75 75 77 50 CENTAVOS THE COPY WORLD’S LARGEST-SELLING MOTOR OIL— Why Accept Less For Your Car? u See Your Friendly ■ Mobilgas Dealer! Editorials “ ... to promote the general welfare” President Magsaysay’s initial address on the State of the Nation, delivered on the opening day (January 25) of the First Session of the Third The President on Congress of the Republic of the “The State of the Philippines, is of such importance Nation”. that it is reprinted in full in this issue of the Journal. It is true that it was printed in full in all of the Manila dailies, but the Journal has a good many readers, especially abroad, who do not read these newspapers, and it will no doubt be convenient to all to have the address available in such a monthly periodical as this which is generally preserved for reference. Since the address appears in full, no effort will be made here to summarize it,—which effort, at best, would be inadequate and fail to give the strong effect of the original. The address was delivered in a low and even, almost monotonous tone of voice, without special emphasis at any point, and this added to the seriousness of the impression created in those who heard it delivered. The President’s exposition of the state of the nation was in fact such that any suggestion of the rhetorical would have falsified the burden of the address which is that the Government is confronted by “problems of the first magni tude.” This is neither an over- nor an under-statement, but literally true. The President must have felt that the new Congress, filled with the high spirits of an overwhelm ingly victorious Party, should have the grave realities of the situation officially brought before it in a manner correspondingly grave. The effect must have been what the President desired, for while he was enthusiastically applauded as he entered the session hall and was applauded again after his address, the address itself was not once so interrupted. It was heard in the same serious manner in which it was delivered. Grave though the address is, and gravely as it was delivered, it is not somber, and is marked by pronounce ments of great determination and strength. Almost immediately he asked, “What do our people want?” and he gave this answer: “When our people cast their ballots in the recent election, they voted primarily for a great, sweeping change. They voted to throw out dishonesty, inefficiency, and waste. And they voted for a government that would act boldly and effectively to banish insecurity and fear, poverty and want. We promised all these things. The people voted for them. Now we must keep faith.” “Our first step,” he then said, “must be to take an inventory of the nation, to define our problems, and to set our goals.” The entire address is devoted to this inventory, to those problems, and to those goals. And in closing, he said: “Perhaps you will say that the people are asking for a miracle. But they, too, performed no less than a miracle when in one great ir resistible movement they dared every peril to preserve the right to have a government of their choice. Thus they proved to the whole world, to our friends and enemies, that Democracy has come of age in our land, that it has become truly and actively a part of the Filipino way of life. We have pledged to enrich that life. We can do it. We must do it. With the aid of Divine Providence, we shall begin and con tinue the work until we shall have fulfilled the great promise that gave our people strength to prove themselves worthy of their heritage of freedom.” In President Eisenhower’s State of the Union ad dress, delivered some weeks previously in Washington, he must have principally had in mind this coming of age of Democracy in the Philippines when he said: “In South Asia, profound changes are taking place in free nations which are demonstrating their ability to progress through democratic methods. They provide an inspiring contrast to the dictatorial methods and backward course of events in communist China. In these continuing efforts, the free peoples of South Asia can be assured of the support of the United States.” Points in the Address of Special Interest to Business In the foregoing, brief editorial, reference to those s of the President’s “State of the Nation” address of particular interest to Business was avoided in view of the general nature of the comment intended. Although Business is directly concerned with the progress and welfare of the nation as a whole and in the satisfactory solution of all of the problems which confront the Government, including those concerning the national security, land-ownership and tenantry, the barrios, foreign policy, government finance, morality in the civil service, etc., there are a few specific statements made in the address which are well worth bringing out and which, we may safely say, have been received by Business with satisfaction. Among these are the following: With reference to the Philippine-American trade relationship: “Most vital to our internal growth end development... is our trade relationship with the United States. Our Government has asked for a re-examination of the Bell Trade Act... We are confident that the Government and people of the United States will not look upon our proposals with indifference.’’ With reference to the promotion of foreign trade: “New emphasis will be placed on the promotion of foreign trade as one of our primary objectives. Our foreign service will everywhere have the new mission of contributing directly to the economic stability and expanding trade of our people.” With reference to private capital; “Private capital, from sources both at home and abroad, will be preferred to direct government financing whenever possible.” With reference to foreign capital: “We also welcome foreign capital, assuring it fair treatment. In the past it was perhaps discouraged by the uncertainty of our attitude, and I propose that we mark out clearly a stable basis on which foreign investors can put their capital to work in this country.” With reference to the government-owned corporations: “The Government will henceforth confine itself to these phases of development where its participation is absolutely essential to the public welfare.” With respect to the government economic controls: “My Administration is pledged to the eventual elimination of controls. I propose to effect this gradually... Meanwhile.. . controls will be administered honestly, fairly, and efficiently. We will not permit any government official or employee to utilize them for private gain.” With respect to tax collection: "The honest, realistic, and really economical way to run this Goyemment is to collect the present faxes efficiently, intensively. We must go after tax evaders without favoritism.” On labor unions: “We will encourage free unionism under responsible, enlightened leadership truly dedicated to the welfare of the laboring masses. But I warn those unscrupulous individuals who would use the labor move ment to exploit the workers that their activities will not go unpunished. We will be equally hard with interference by management in labor union activities.” These excerpts from the address outline a general government economic policy which Business is glad to support. issue of this Journal, attention was that the then President-elect, Ramon Magsaysay, was politically an entire ly post-war personality, differing in several significant respects from his predecessors, and that he was, first of all, younger, this appearing to personify a turn of the Philippine electorate to younger leadership. This same turn is noticeable in the elections to the House of Representatives. According to an article in the Sunday magazine of the Manila Chronicle of January 10, of the 102 seats in the House, 46 have new occupants and their ages range from 27 to 38 years. Of the 69 Nacionalista Party members, 33 are new-comers; of the 35 Liberal Party members, 8; and of the other 5 of the 46, 4 are Democrats and 1 is listed as Independent.1 The new men, however, are not all without experience in political or public life. According to the Chronicle writer, 4 were former provincial governors and several ■According to their “statements of candidacy”, of the 102 members of the House of Representatives, Third Congress, 57 were Nacionalistaa, 7 were identified with the Nacionalista-Democratic Coalition, 3 were Democrats, 34 were Liberals, and 1 In an earlier called to the fact The Trend to Youth in the Government others occupied various provincial and municipal positions; others included held various posts in the civil service or are lawyers, law-professors, teachers, and one, described as a farmer and fisherman, demonstrated an earlier leader ship in farmers’ and fishermen’s organizations. On the opening day of the first session of the Third Congress of the Philippines (January 25), Jose B. Laurel, Jr., oldest son of Senator Jose P. Laurel, was elected Speaker. The younger Laurel was first elected to the House in 1941, at the age of 28, and today he is 40 and, therefore, also comparatively youthful. Former Speaker Eugenio Perez is 57. The Senate, naturally, is a body of older men, not only because the Constitution requires that senators be at least 35 years of age, as against representatives’ 25, but because most of the hold-over senators are men who have served in that body for many years and all the newly elected or re-elected senators are old-timers, too, although three of them were not heretofore members of the Senate.2 The trend to youth is noticeable, also, in President Magsaysay’s appointments, although this does not hold true of all of the Cabinet appointments so far made. VicePresident Carlos P. Garcia, concurrently Secretary of Foreign Affairs, is 58; Jaime Hernandez, Secretary of Finance, is 61; Pedro Tuason, Secretary of Justice, is 69; Salvador Araneta, Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources, is 52; Oscar Ledesma, Secretary of Commerce, is 52. But Budget Commissioner Dominador Aytona is only 36; Commissioner Pacita Madrigal Warns, of the Social Welfare Administration, is 35; Leon Ma. Guerrero, Under-Secretary of Foreign Affairs, is 39; Jose M. Crisol, Director of the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) is 35; Manuel P. Manahan, Chief of the President’s Complaints and Action Commission, is 36; Salvador T. Villa, Acting Manager of the Manila Railroad Company, is 38; J. V. Cruz, Press Secretary, is 28; and Fred Ruiz Castro, who holds the important position of Executive Secretary, is 38. The Philippines is, of course, not unused to young men in high office. Sergio Osmena was only 29 years old when he became the first Speaker of the Philippine As sembly in 1907, and Manuel L. Quezon was 38 years old when he became the first President of the Senate in 1916. Most of the members of the Philippine Assembly and, later, of the Senate, were young men in those days, but they aged in office. However, even when Mr. Quezon became President of the Commonwealth in 1935, most of the mem bers of his Cabinet were men still in their forties. But today, most of the illustrious men of the first generation of Filipino statesmen are dead, and those in their prime during the days of the Commonwealth and who still survive are in their sixties. A major difficulty which faced President Osmena, and, after him President Roxas and President Quirino, was the lack of young men of known ability to appoint to important posts,—and there was, of course, also the natural desire of men in positions of power to hold on to them. As a consequence, high positions were rotated among a com paratively small group of officials. Some men, not so well known, rose to positions of responsibility after the war, but they were still more or less identified with the old groups and a number of them proved themselves unfit in character as well as ability. The people have now plainly indicated that they want new blood in their government and President Mag saysay, in his own appointments, is obviously trying to -The 24-member Senate is composed of 12 Nacionalistas, of whom 8 are hold overs: Briones, Delgado, Laurel. Locsin, Puyat, Primicias, Rodriguez, and Recto, and 4 elected or re-elected at the last elections: Cea, Cuenco, Mabanag, and Pe laez; 6 Democrats, of whom 4 are hold-overs: Abada, Cabili, Montano, and Sumulong, and 2 elected or re-elected at the last elections: Lopez and Kangleon; 4 Liberals, all hold-overs: Magalona, Paredes, Peralta, and Zulueta; and 1 repre senting the Citizens Party, Tafiada. The Senate is one member short because of the election of Senator Carlos P. Garcia as Vice-President. Of the new members in the Senate, Cea and Pelaez were formerly representatives and Kangleon, not before a member of Congress, was Secretary of National Defense. 44 February, 1954 AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL 45 "Bemy VALENTINE” every day-for a TREAT the pleasant way! Old Gold CIGARETTES p. Lorillard Company Established 1760, U.S.A. Subscribe to the JOURNAL To keep your file complete Every three seconds... There is a customer being served by one of our fully staffed branch offices in some commercially important world city every three seconds. This globe-wide service plus our unparalleled resources and 141 years of banking experience are available to you at THE NATIONAL CITY BANK OF NEW YORK BRANCHES IN THE PHILIPPINES MANILA Main Branch: Juan Luna Street Port Area Branch: 13th Street PAMPANGA: Clark Field CEBU: Cebu City carry out that mandate. A complete turn-over in that respect is neither recommendable nor possible, but there can be a considerable leavening, and this is in progress. In the new choices, mistakes will inevitably be made, but they will be mistakes of commission and not omission and it will be possible to correct them, given the will to do so, which President Magsaysay undoubtedly has. It is to be noted that many of the President’s appointments are to posts in an “acting” capacity. * Among other valuable publications received recently by the Journal, certainly the most valuable is the MSAPHILCUSA rural community The Barrios survey report, commonly cal(The McMillan-Rivera led the McMillan-Rivera Re Report) port, released to the public last month by order of Pres ident Magsaysay. The Report, in an edition of 5000 copies printed in October, 1952, had been gathering dust in a warehouse by order of the previous Administration which considered the facts revealed as damaging to the regime. The Report, entitled “The Rural Philippines” and running to 218 pages, is the work of the Philippine Rural Community Survey, a research project conducted co operatively by the U. S. Mutual Security Agency and the Philippine Council for United States Aid. The field work was carried out chiefly during the period from December, 1951, to March, 1952, in which a considerable number- of persons and various government entities took part. The preliminary drafts of the chapters on the family, housing, government, health and welfare, recreation, and community organization were prepared by Mr. Generoso F. Rivera and the final draft of the entire Report was written prin cipally by Mr. Robert T. McMillan. This Journal, in the issue of February, 1953, carried an editorial entitled “The Hardie and McMillan Reports”, but at that time only chapters II and V of the latter Report were available (in mimeographed form). The Hardie Report, by the way, entitled “Philippine Land Tenure Reform”, also created a furore at the time, but, as exclusively the work of the Special Technical and Economic Mission, Mutual Security Agency, it could not be suppressed, al though it apparently received no wide distribution. The McMillan-Rivera Report essays to present a cross section of rural life in the Philippines from the sociological point of view and is based chiefly on a detailed study of thirteen widely scattered and “fairly representative” barrios or villages, these being: (1) Cadcadir, Claveria, Cagayan, a community of small farms in the northern ex tremity of Luzon; (2) Auitan, San Pablo, Isabela, a tobacco growing community, not so isolated as Cadcadir; (3) San Pablo, Binalonan, Pangasinan, a small rice-growing com munity in Central Luzon; (4) San Miguel, Tarlac, a large barrio in the midst of a Spanish-owned sugar cane plantation and near Camp Ord; (5) San Pedro, San Simon, Pampanga, near the center of the area of Huk activity; (6) Bagong Pooc, Lipa, Batangas, a poor but peaceful village; (7) Padre Burgos, Quezon, formerly Tayabas Province, an isolated fishing village; (8) Baligang, Camalig, Albay, in a hemp-growing region, where the people also make slippers; (9) Tuburdn, Pototan, Iloilo, where most of the land is owned by absentee landlords; (10) Alegria, Murcia, Negros Occidental, a community in the sugar cane region of the south in which 96% of those engaged in agriculture are landless; (11) Cabadiangan, Compostela, Cebu, an isolated community of hill-side farms, badly eroded; (12) Lumbayao, Watu, Lanao, a typical Moro community; and (13) Tupi, Coronadal, Cotabato, a new settlement. With the exception of Auitan (Isabela) and Padre Burgos (Quezon), which are poblaciones, these are all barrios, all of them small except San Miguel, Tarlac, and most of them remote or isolated. In the opinion of the writer, it is to be questioned that these communities are indeed “fairly representative” (the words of the Report) of all the barrios of the country. Among the more than 17,000 barrios of the Philip pines, there must be many thousands in which life is easier and happier than in most of the barrios selected for the survey.1 It is not to be serious questioned that the people of the rural Philippines as a whole are far better off, econo mically, socially, and politically, than are the rural popu lations of any other country of Southeast Asia. Western observers are apt to gauge local conditions according to standards in their own countries which can not be rightly applied here. In the case of each of the barrios selected for survey in the McMillan-Rivera Report, the small number or entire absence of radios, movies, tele phones, newspapers, automobiles, etc., was brought out, and desirable as all of these appurtenances of civilization may be, and come, as they no doubt will, in time, life in the barrios can be quite pleasant without them. Western observers are likely to identify certain local conditions as causes of serious unrest which the local popu lation does not look upon as intolerable at all. Unemploy ment, for example, which would bring about grave conse quences in any highly industrialized country where people are absolutely dependent on their wages, and which is serious enough also in Manila and some other cities here, is far from being equally serious in the barrios where it is obvious that many people quite bask at least in under employment. A two- or three-hectare farm would be considered little more than a good-sized garden in some countries, but under present conditions in the Philippines this area is still about as large a one as the average farmer and his family can take care of and is big enough for them to make the sort of living to which they are accustomed and under which they continue happily to multiply. The Report states that 46% of the number of farmers surveyed were tenants on the land and not owners; the 1948 Census gives the figure of 37% for the whole country. These are high percentages, but the Report itself points out that 3/10 of the families surveyed leased it from kinsmen and that this “creates special tenure relationships between them which usually redound to the advantage of the tenant.” It is not so much the system of land tenantry which is making trouble today,—this being part of an ancient and accepted social system, but absentee landownership, which is a comparatively new development. The land owners used to live among their people; of recent years they have been moving to the cities, leaving managers and foremen in charge between whom and the people there does not exist the old-time sympathy and loyalty. Undeniably, there has been ana there remains serious unrest in a number of Philippine areas which is closely related io unsatisfactory conditions of land-ownership and the consequent poverty. But it should not be over looked that before the war much unrest was deliberately stirred up by the Sakdal and Ganap party agitators who were secret agents of Japan, and since the war by Huk leaders who are the agents of Russian imperialism. All this is not to say that everything possible should not be done to improve conditions in our barrios and rural regions,—as elsewhere in the country. But a sense of pro portion and of relative and pertinent local values should be preserved. Nothing that has been said here is to be taken as ad versely reflecting on the great practical value of the Mc Millan-Rivera Report as a well-nigh indispensable guide to the implementation of the plans of the Magsaysay AdlSee the contributed article in this Journal issue, "Tondol, Pangasinan”. 46 February, 1954 AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ’m Reddy Kilowatt, the working man who works for everybody. I’m the guy with the energy to run the machines you operate, the drill presses you guide, the hoists you control. I’m the gent who brightens the stores you visit with welcoming light. ’m the fellow who helps the little woman at home all through the day in dozens of household chores. Yes, I’m the servant behind your electric switch, on duty 24 hours a day. I’m behind your switch and everybody’s switch. I work for skilled labor... I work for the housewife. And the best part about it all is that my work is so very low in cost. . . lower in comparison than almost everything else you pay for today! Yes, it’s true, folks—electricity does so much. . . costs so little! MANILA ELECTRIC COMPANY 134 SAN MARCELINO, MANILA TEL. 3-24-21 ministration to give special emphasis to the improvement of conditions in the barrios. This movement is indeed something new in Philip pine administration. Heretofore, government effort has been directed chiefly at improving conditions generally and especially in the cities and municipalities with the idea that the benefits would inevitably, if slowly, percolate to the barrio level. This has undoubtedly been the case, but the percolation has been slow. This is largely due to the fact that the barrios have been accorded such negligible rights of self government. The McMillan-Rivera Report points out in tliis con nection: "A unique characteristic of the barrio is its almost complete lack of legal self-government. A municipality is a legal entity consisting ordinarily of a poblacion and from 15 to 30 or more barrios. As a part of the municipality, citizens of a barrio participate in the election of a mayor and council who, in turn, can enact ordinances which must be approved by the Provincial Board. As a politic. 1 unit, the barrio is without legislative, executive, or judicial powers. The barrio lieutenant, a nominal counterpart of the pre-Spanish cabeza de barangay, is ap pointed by the municipal mayor although in practice the appointee usually is chosen first informally by residents of the barrio. His prin cipal functions are to assist the mayor in enforcing ordinances; settling petty disputes; raising funds for the annual fiesta, Red Cross,and other drives; and entertaining visitors. A municipality receives revenues from a tax on real estate amounting to 1% of the assessed value, a tax on specific occupations, a tax on vendors who sell in the public market, and levies on other minor items. Larger municipalities also operate slaughterhouses for profit. Citizens of barrios can not levy taxes for roads, schools, water supply, police or fire protection, or for any other purpose. The services which barrio people receive for taxes paid into the municipal treasury consist chiefly of medical care by the municipal physician at his office in the poblacion, periodic visits of the sanitary inspector, and an occasional visit of a policeman from the poblacion. Nearly all schools in barrios have been built by voluntary contributions of citizens and nearly all barrio roads have been constructed from materials and labor supplied by barrio people. However, with increasing frequency they are financed from municipal funds or ‘porkbarrel’ ap propriations of national congressmen.” The lack of legal self-government in the barrios, and the general restrictions as to self-government in the muni cipalities and fever) the provinces, is a result of the general centralization of government not only in Spanish times, but as deliberately decided upon by the early American administrators. This centralization was very necessary in those earlier days, but is much less so today, and this ties in with President Magysaysay’s announced plan to effect some general decentralization of government. In any program of barrio improvement, greater powers of local self-government should be accorded the barrios, because to encourage them in self-help is a far sounder thing than to submit them to being done good to by outside entities, necessary as this may still be for a time. But there should be no pampering, no mere giving. The barrios should be accorded greater rights in managing their own affairs, and, further, need only encouragement, opportunity, technical assistance, and, of course, protection against lawless elements. Three-fourths of the people of the Philippines live in barrios, and these should not be encouraged in any way to come to depend upon govern ment bounty. The barrios have so far been largely making their own way and the great majority of them have not done so badly. One has but to look at the many pages of photographic illustrations in the McMillan-Rivera Report to see that even in the barrios selected for the survey the people appear more content than the text would appear to indicate they have any reason for being. Our barrio people are, on the whole, an independent and self-reliant lot. Let them not be turned into public charges. A quite unique and valuable little book has come to hand,—“The Skyland of the Philippines,” by Laurence Lee Wilson (Baguio Printing and Publishing Co., Inc., 1953, paper-bound, 200 pp.). Progress in the The work of the well-known Mountain Province old-timer, “Larry” Wilson, Measured—L. L. Wilson gold prospector and mining man, to which pursuits, how ever, he did not confine himself, the book represents the fruit of the greater part of a lifetime of observation and study of the Mountain Province and its extraordinarily interesting people. As Sinai C. Hamada states in the Introduction: "Here is a bit of anthropology, archaeology, mineralogy, govern ment, human relations, folklore, social investigation, all blended into a rare text of history.” It is richly illustrated and contains the photographs of most of the old-time American officials in the Province whose names have become almost legendary. Of special interest to our industrialists and businessmen are the sections of the book dealing with the history of mining and lumbering in the region. Together with the book, came a reprint of an article by the same author published in the University of Manila Journal of East Asiatic Studies (for October, 1953). In this article he summarizes the economic advancement of the people of the Mountain Province in terms of wages and cost of living, as follows: “The legal minimum wage has been set by the Government at P4.00 per day and this is generally followed except in distant farming communities where living costs are lower. If we compare this wage with the 5-centavo-plus-meals wage of 50 years ago, it would at first appear that wages have soared tremendously. But in reality this is not so. Using rice as the price index, we see that in 1900 the price of rice was about 5 centavos a ganta and the daily wage was the equivalent of about 1-1/2 gantas of rice per day. Since the price of rice is now about Pl.00 a ganta, the daily wage is 4 gar.tas of rice per day. This is an increase of only 2.66% over the old days. “Furthermore a study of costs reveals that this increase is due not to a lowering of production costs (because of improved techniques, as it should be) but that the increased wages are simply added to the other (including special services) mounting costs of production. Neither the farmers, nor the mines, nor most of the industries are as prosperous as in pre-war days, and the heavy increase in tax rates reveals the mounting costs of government services without a corresponding increase in either the amount or efficiency of these services. This is an overall unhealthy economic condition which eventually will lead to industrial stagnation and should be corrected. However, this substantial increase of about three times the income over the bare subsistence standard of former days does represent a very definite improvement in the standard of living of the people. They live in better houses under more sanitary conditions, wear better clothes, eat better food, have more educational facilities, and enjoy many of the comforts of civilization. "It must be pointed out immediately, though, that this condition is not enjoyed by all. Some 64% of the people are illiterate, the Roman Catholic Church classifies nearly half of the people as being pagan, and many of them are still so isolated that we must estimate that only about 1/3 of them enjoy the above mentioned economic and social advancements and the remainder not to a full degree. “Still, the overall wealth of the people has increased greatly and life is much better, as they all agree. Government economists estimate that the wealth of the Mountain Province has, during the past 50 years, increased 5-fold, while the population has been doubling from 135,841 in 1903 to 278,128 in 1948. Moreover, this wealth is no longer in the hands of a few, but is spread out more evenly and there is a growing middle class of tradespeople and professionals who share a considerable portion of the wealth.” Mr. Wilson envisages a more rapid progress in the near future with the development of hydro-electric power along the great Agno River, regarding which he states in his book: “Of vast importance to the Mountain Province is the huge P105,000,000 hydro-electric project of the National Power Corporation at Ambuklao, Benguet. It will make an enormous change in the economy of all northern Luzon Island... The construction of this project will mean millions of pesos spent here for labor and materials, while its completion should bring abundant cheap electric power furnished to most of northern and central Luzon, including Manila,' thus to develop its many potential industries besides furnishing cheap power to the cities, towns, mines, and other present industries.” 48 Needs of Barrios* From the McMillan-Rivera Report, “The Rural Philippines’’ IN general, the barrios surveyed reflect serious inade quacies in many community facilities: roads, market ing, credit, irrigation, water supply, health, sanitation, housing, recreation, reading centers, farmers’ organizations, and community improvement groups. Many of these weaknesses in local facilities stem from the lack of barrio autonomy rather than from limited natural re sources and technology. Frequently the needs of barrios are ignored or neglected by government officials. The hope is that programs of amelioration functioning at barrio level can strengthen the Republic by broadening the opportunities of people to develop resources available in the barrios. The citizens of the barrios visited expressed a genuine interest and strong desire to cooperate in any activity of community improvement provided the benefits are shared fully by all income groups. Suggested Lines of Action Social planning and action involve the decisions of many persons or groups with diverse interests and motives. Therefore, induced changes occur at unequal rates of speed. In some problem areas, rapid change may be effected; in others little or no change can be discerned. Piece-meal treatment of social problems is better than none, although such an approach sometimes creates more problems than are solved. A unified approach involving several related problems at once definitely is more effective in the long run. It is proposed here to indicate several suggested lines of social action which would contribute to the solution of existing rural problems in the Philippines. These desired changes in natural resources, technology, social organiza tion, and population should achieve greater production of goods and services, higher incomes, and improved levels of living for people in all occupation groups: 1. Reduce holdings of large landowners by transfer ring land ownership to tenants and farm laborers. 2. Establish more equitable sharing-practices between landlords and tenants. 3. Survey and classify land for agricultural uses. 4. Resettle population voluntarily on unoccupied lands. 5. Classify land titles and facilitate their transfer to new settlers and other new owners of land. 6. Provide more adequate credit facilities to farmers and other business enterprisers. 7. Improve techniques of producing farm plants and animals and of reducing pests and diseases. 8. Increase the application of organic and commercial fertilizers. 9. Develop gravity and pump irrigation facilities. ♦Page 46. The italics are the editor's. 10. Use terraces and contours on farm land to save soils. 11. Develop a program of reforestation along with one of prudent use of existing timber. 12. Increase home and mass-production industries to furnish employment and goods needed. 13. Increase productivity and income of farmers, salaried workers, and wage laborers. 14. Improve the quality and the quantity of handi craft output. 15. Develop better methods of marketing farm and handicraft products. 16. Encourage development of fisheries. 17. Apply progressive property, income, and inherit ance taxes to limit more concentration of wealth and in come in the small upper economic class. 18. Improve the effectiveness of tax collections. 19. Prevent malnutrition by increasing the consump tion of enriched rice and by other direct measures. 20. Intensify nutrition-education among children and adults. 21. Institute a school-lunch program to improve health and mental alertness of children. 22. Consider techniques of controlling population growth. 23. Reduce deaths through better health measures. 24. Increase trained health-personnel and provide medical kits at the barrio level. 25. Increase the amount and quality of formal educa tion with greater emphasis upon agricultural, mechanical, and social sciences. 26. Encourage research in the sciences to accumulate useful knowledge in all aspects of human behavior. 27. Develop and coordinate facilities for educating children and adults to build better communities. 28. Utilize the community-improvement organizations sponsored by the public schools to achieve better living conditions at the barrio level. 29. Improve housing through better planning, better materials, and better construction. 30. Enforce the minimum wage law and develop more adequate public assistance and social security programs. 31. Increase the political autonomy of barrios. 32. Enable barrios to obtain more adequate roads, water supply, electricity, schools, reading centers, and recreational facilities through taxation, credit, cooperatives, and other means. 33. Develop more adequate means of communication, —press, radio, and mail service. 34. Stress the role of churches in promoting the social as well as the spiritual welfare of the population. The American Chamber of Commerce of the Philip pines, thanks to the cooperation of the then Acting Secre tary of Labor Aurelio Quitoriano The “Blue-Sunday” and of Mr. Cecilio L. Lim, AsEmployment Law sistant, Wage Administration Ser vice, had the opportunity to be of considerable service to its members in securing needed exemption, strictly under its provisions, of the so-called “Blue-Sunday” Law,—“An Act to Prohibit Labor on Sunday, Christmas Day, etc.” (R.A. Act No. 946). Last month, the newspapers having carried an official release to the effect that all previous permits of exemption granted by the Department of Labor would be cancelled. Mrs. Virginia Gonder, Executive Vice-President of the Chamber, called on Acting Secretary of Labor Pantaleon Pelayo on the matter and was informed by him that new requests for permits had to be submitted as of February 1, which permits, however, would cover the rest of the year instead of merely half a year as previously. The Secretary assured Mrs. Gonder that upon sub mission of these requests from members, through the Cham ber, as before, the permits would be granted as expeditiously as possible. The Secretary appointed Mr. Lim as Chairman of a committee to take immediate steps to set up the new forms to be used. 49 Tondol, Pangasinan Anonymous THREE-quarters of all Filipinos live in rural villages, the barrios. Everyone in Manila these days is talking about the barrios, sometimes confusing them with small country towns in general. It is highly possible that attitudes, customs, and life in general in the remoter barrios may differ significantly from those in villages along the principal highways, but until a scientific study of such villages is carried out, this point will remain undetermined. Recently the writer had the opportunity to visit a remote Christian Filipino barrio briefly. This was Tondol, on Cabarruyan Island which forms the Municipality of Anda in Pangasinan Province, Luzon. Tondol was chosen for a visit because, although two hours’ journey by launch or afoot from the nearest highway, it is only that same distance away from the Hundred Islands beach resort where boats and accommodations for visitors are available. How typical it is, can not be determined accurately. Some of the informed American and Filipino observers of the Philippine scene who have read the draft of this article believe that Tondol is above the national average in many respects, as the Communist-ridden barrios in Bulacan and Pampanga are below average in everything except com munications. Anda is one of the 46 municipalities in the Province of Pangasinan. The municipal area of 14,980 hectares is comprised almost entirely by Cabarruyan Island and a few tiny islets off its shore, set in shallow, reef-filled waters just off the Bolinao Peninsula which forms the western side of Lingayen Gulf. The 1948 Census of Agriculture shows that 61.8% of the farm area of 4,522 hectares was cultivated. The population in 1948 was only 11,213, indicating a lack of pressure on the land. Principal occupations are rice farming, coconut raising, and fishing. Anda, the poblacion (seat of government), is con nected with the outside world by a gravel road leading to a ferry (a surplus United States military landing craft) across the narrow strait to the mainland. There is a tele graph service. Jeepneys and buses run frequently to Alaminos, from which there is a direct, scheduled bus service to Lingayen, the provincial capital, and to Manila. The eight barrios of Anda are without all-weather roads. Some can be reached, though with difficulty, by jeeps in the dry season, but most intra-municipal communication is by foot, carabao, sled, or banca (dug-out canoe). The barrios" in the southern part of the Island find that the easiest route to the outside world is via banca or launch to Lucap on the mainland, from which they take jeepneys to the large market-town of Alaminos, 3-1/2 miles away. Because of its relative isolation, Anda Municipality has escaped most of the disturbances of the past half cen tury. Its residents watched invasions of nearby Lingayen by the Americans in 1899, the Japanese in 1941, and the Ajnericans again in 1945 without themselves being touched. When the Americans returned to Luzon the last time, the small Japanese detachment which occasionally had pa trolled the Anda barrios quietly marched away. The Huks, who were a serious menace to western Pangasinan from 1950 to 1952, never disturbed Cabarruyan Island. A few municipal policemen have kept the peace successfully. There have been no election disturbances. Western Pangasinan speaks three separate languages and dialects: Pangasinan, Bolinao Zambal, and Ilocano. The lingua franca is Zambal and there is apparently little friction between the language groups. Even a colony of Visayan fishermen who settled on Cabarruyan and married local girls has been quietly absorbed into the fold. Cabarruyan Island differs from the Philippine national average in religion, its people being about evenly divided between Aglipayans (an independent nationalistic and originally Catholic sect, now affiliated with the Episcopal Church) and Methodists. The majority of Filipinos are at least nominally Roman Catholic. The Rev. Mr. Weinert, a Methodist missionary and agricultural expert, is the first American to live on the Island. There is apparently no great friction of any kind among the people on Cabarruyan, although such a state ment should not be accepted until more than a superficial examination is made. Certainly, there are no vast gaps between rich and poor such as plague Pampanga and other Central Luzon provinces; no one is hungry, although some may be poorly nourished; and politics, although intensely interesting this year, is not regarded as a matter for violence. 't'ondol is the largest barrio of Anda Municipality; xwith a population of 1,944 in 1948, it was slightly larger than the poblacion. It is situated on the northwest shore of Cabarruyan Island, facing the Lingayen Gulf, about 5 airline miles ENE of Anda town and slightly over 8 miles north of Lucap wharf. The town of Agoo, on the opposite shore of Lingayen Gulf, is 21 miles east, and the high peaks of the Malaya Range are prominent on the eastern horizon. To reach Tondol from Manila, the visitor must first take a 5- to 7-hour trip by highway over roads ranging from excellent concrete to badly deteriorated gravel as far as Lucap wharf, just north of Alaminos, Pangasinan. Here he takes a small launch, and if winds and waves are favor able, arrives off Tondol in from 2 to 3 hours. There are no navigation markers; the boatmen know their own land marks for threading the narrow channels between the reefs and shoals. At most tides, the traveler rolls up his trousers and wades through several hundred yards of shallow water and wet beach to the shore. Tondol also can be reached from Anda, involving a 2-hour walk across the fields. During the dry season the track can sometimes be followed by jeep, but the slightest rain turns it into an impassable quagmire. The village is scattered widely along sandy paths which wind through the coconut groves, much as a Balinese village would be. Houses are built of thatch or bamboo, set on wooden posts. A few are constructed of wood and have galvanized-iron roofs, but these are in the minority. /casual observers of Filipino life often make the remark that “life in the barrios hasn’t changed in the past 500 years.” The older people in Tondol dispute that state ment. A white-haired and nearly toothless baket (old wo man), who came to Tondol from Alaminos 40 years ago as a bride, said her personal way of life had not changed much but agreed with other residents of 25 to 35 years’ standing, that things were different. They listed the following: (1) Education. There has been a school at Tondol since the early days of the American occupation, or for about half a century. Originally there was only one teacher, probably only an elementary-school graduate himself, and only primary grades were taught to a limited part of the population. Dr. Monico C. Calma, now Principal of the Pangasinan Fisheries High School, and the present Principal were teaching at Tondol in the 1920’s and agreed that even at that time much missionary effort was required to persuade parents to relinquish the time of. their children in the fields to allow them to go to school. Now there are 50 two schools at Tondol that offer education through the elementary level (6th grade, although the 7th grade, abo lished in 1940, will be restored under the present national educational policy). All children who want to go to school are accommodated. The seven teachers are all normal school graduates. All informants agreed this was the most im portant change in the Tondol way of life during their life times. A number of Tondol young people attend the two private high schools in Anda. One of these is run by a local board of trustees, but the Methodist Mission, which helps to provide financial support, obviously has a considerable say in its policies. Mr. Weinert teaches agricultural courses in this school. The other is a farm school of the Dagupan Colleges, teaching vocational subjects. Families will and do sacrifice their hard-earned pesos to send their children to school and provide them with good clothes, for they feel that education is the only way for them to have a chance to live better than the parents do. (2) Health and sanitation. Although primitive by some American standards, sanitation in Tondol prob ably would compare quite favorably with that of some parts of the South (United States) and most Asian villages. People have been taught through the schools and by sanitary inspectors the necessity for cleanliness, use of latrines, proper diets, and modern vaccines and medicines. The people are proud of their government-built sanitary well even though it delivers brackish water and they want more such wells to replace the shallow surface wells. (3) Travel. Although even today many Tondol resi dents have never been outside their home village, the pro portion of people who travel increases each year, partic ularly as youths go to the poblacion, the provincial capital, or even Manila for higher education. The outside world becomes more real to them every year. (4) Reduction of superstition. Although supersti tion is still a powerful factor in village life, its influence among the younger generation has been greatly reduced and its forms have changed. Today a Tondol resident will place the same faith in penicillin he once gave -an anting-anting (good luck charm) composed of magic phrases in Latin. Many of his superstitions are now com parable to those of the average American who forces apart ment-house owners to “omit” the 13th floor. Perhaps the greatest illusion today is that providing a child with a diploma automatically guarantees his success in life. Broadened knowledge has resulted in an increasing desire for improvements, particularly in the field of govern ment services. The barrio people realize more and more what they have been missing and are quickly learning the power of their votes in the struggle to achieve their rising expectations. the visit to Tondol was made less than a month before the national elections at which the Filipinos were to choose their President and Vice-President, and their Rep resentatives and eight of their Senators. Municipal officials were not up for election that year (1953). Two of the candidates for Congressman in the First District of Panga sinan had visited the barrio and made campaign speeches. Some of the houses were plastered with posters listing the names of one or the other of the political parties and its candidates.. People were not afraid to thus publicly ad vertise their choice. The election precincts were the two schools. Voting booths had been set up in the class-rooms for election day, November 10, a general holiday. The names of the new registrants were displayed in a book hung on the front porch of the school visited. Persons who voted in the last elections had not had to register. More than 1/4 of the population was then registered, a proportion which was said to represent virtually all of those eligible to vote. Tondol has never had any election troubles. The people were very much interested in the campaign and had learned, principally from the news sections of their vernacular magazines and through discussions with barrio people who travel to the provincial capital or Manila, the general qualifications of the presidential candidates. 'T'ONDOL school receives only the Free World magazine A from the U. S. Information Service output. Copies arrive via ordinary mail at the Municipal Building and are called for by pupils who happen to visit the town. The two copies sent are used by 6 teachers and 281 pupils and are then placed in the Community Reading Center. The teachers said that the contents of the magazine are “in teresting and informative” but they indicated they would prefer a publication which could be related directly to the school curriculum or used to improve barrio life, a feeling shared by a sampling of teachers in barrio schools in other parts of the Philippines. A few people in the village had seen the USIS mobile-unit film-showings at the Asbury High School in the Munici pality. No motion pictures have been shown in the village itself by any organization. The spot-check indicated that a majority of Philippine barrios had not seen USIS movies, which is obvious enough in view of their number and the lack of roads. There is one radio in the barrio, apparently unlicensed, since people were reluctant to disclose its location. Radio is a potential mass-medium of great value, but the high cost of receivers and batteries has so far prevented much actual development of the medium in the barrios. Tondol, like most barrios, has no public electricity supply. A field check indicated that the average receiver would have no difficulty in picking up the Dagupan Station and at least three in Manila during the daytime. At night, reception of China mainland and Taiwan stations is possible, while VOA Malolos and Poro are very clear indeed. No Tondol resident subscribes to a daily newspaper, although when a teacher goes to the poblacion or the pro vincial capital on business, he usually returns with a copy of the Manila Times or the Manila Chronicle. Most issues of the Philippines Free Press, a weekly news magazine, similarly find their way to the village school tea chers. On the other hand, the vernacular weekly magazines Bannawag (Ilocano) and Liwayway (Tagalog) are said to circulate rather widely among the population as a whole. Their news supplements are the chief apparent source of information on external events, although a detailed study is necessary to determine just what the real situation is. 't'ondol, like other such barrios, has a leader who, A however, the writer does not wish to identify here. Such a man is usually no longer the priest or the teacher and sometimes not even the barrio lieutenant. Often he is a jack-of-all-trades and his influence is largely due to the fact that he knows how to farm or fish better than his neighbors who seek his advice. Once a man in a barrio has proved his ability in the fundamental art of earning a living, his views have greater weight in other matters. Sometimes such a man is one who has seen something of the outside world. Generally he has a large enough income to enable him to spend some of his time in minding other people’s business. Also, he has a reputation for honesty and fairness in his dealings. Such men are readily identified by the barrio people. One need only ask whom they most respect, whom they go to for advice and comfort. In any efforts made to improve conditions in our barrios, it would be wise to gain the interest and support of such local leaders first of all. But not even the barrio leaders can speak for all the people. Direct approach to them is necessary, but if it can be demonstrated that there are feasible methods of improving their livelihood from their own resources, the way has been prepared. 51 Address on "The State of the Nation”* Mr. President, Mr. Speaker, Members of Congress: THE Constitution makes us equal partners in the patriotic task of serving our people. I am here today to start the job with you. What do our people want? When our people cast their ballots in the recent election, they voted primarily for a great, sweeping change. They voted to throw out dis honesty, inefficiency, and waste. And they voted for a government that would act boldly and effectively to banish insecurity and fear, poverty and want. We promised all these things. The people voted for them. Now we must keep faith. Our first step must be to take an inventory of the nation, to define our problems, and to set our goals. National Security Let us turn first to the security of the nation, which must be I must warn against complacency. Communist imperialism still threatens us from without and from within. Externally, the creeping advance of communism continues in Southeast Asia despite the truce in Korea. We must, therefore, move to strengthen our defenses. It is clearly in the national interest that we meet with the representatives of the United States Government to settle pending legal questions sb that the bases we have granted to that country can be immediately developed and fully activated. Internally, the absence of major armed conflicts in dissident areas does not necessarily mean that the Huks have ceased to be a threat. They are still trying to undermine the Government, not with as much open defiance as before, but slyly and secretly. Against this conspiracy we will continue our policy of "all-out friendship and all-out force.” I say again what I have said many times before: We will give every dissident who surrenders new opportunities for decent livelihood, but we will smash those who would overthrow our independent democracy in order to hand it over to an alien dictatorship. The Land Problem At the same time we will employ the manpower and resources of our Armed Forces to combat not only dissidence, but also the causes which breed dissidence. Troops and trainees of the Armed Forces will be mobilized for the construction of public works and economic deve lopment projects', as far as this may be compatible with their primary mission and with economy of operation. This will achieve a double purpose: to give these citizens training in useful and technical pursuits, and to help in the material progress of the nation. The existing civilian agency charged with resettlement work, the Land Settlement Development Company (Lasedeco), is in such a state of disorganization and disorder that it may be more convenient to liquidate and replace it than to reorganize it. I am afraid, however, that it will take some time before we can set up a new and effective agency, and I would suggest that the Engineer Development Corps (Edcor) be expanded end utilized to help not only surrendered Huks but also those landless Filipinos who have remained loyal. As much as the finances of the Government will permit, we should also buy large estates for resale to small farmers on liberal terms. In order to encourage agricultural production and eliminate absentee-landlordism, I propose that Congress study the advisability of imposing special taxes on lands left uncultivated for an unreasonably long period and without justifiable cause. Our laws on land registration and the disposition of public lands should be revised. We should make it easier for our people to get land of their own, free from any nagging technical doubts. The Government should extend greater protection to tenants who, because of ignorance or illiteracy, are often badly in need of advice with respect to their rights, especially in the liquidation of their harvests with the landlords. I urge Congress to strengthen the legal staff en trusted with the specific task of rendering this kind of assistance. Existing legislation on tenancy relations is confusing. There are too many laws in too many books. We need a single, concise, and easily understood farm-tenancy code. Our small farmers and producers should find it easier to borrow money when they need it to increase production. This means more rural banks and more ample working capital for the Agricultural Credit and Cooperative Financing Administration (A.C.C.F.A.). Producers’ co operatives should also be properly organized and financed. Our ultimate goal is to reshape the land-tenure system in such a way as to build a strong nation of small, independent, and contented farm owners, free from want, protected from injustice, and eager to contribute their share to the welfare and progress of the nation. Help To Farmers But our people must realize that individually, as well as nationally, we must help ourselves. The fundamental difficulty is that our farmers and workers do not earn enough money, largely because they have not been trained to work efficiently. We must extend the present facilities to educate our farmers in modern agricultural methods, such as th< use of fertilizer, mechanical equipment, seed selection, soil conservation, crop rotation, and other means to improve agricultural yields. We should do everything possible to increase the yield per unit area and to improve the quality of our export products in order to place us in a better position to compete with other suppliers of the world markets. The attainment of sufficiency in rice production and distribution is one of our major goals. We shall hasten the construction of more irrigation systems and encourage efforts to increase rice production yields, and at the same time take measures to bring the price of rice down to the reach of the common man. The development of cottage industries must be an integral part of our industrial program, not only to produce goods but also to help supplement the low income of our people in the barrios. In many areas our farmers are harassed by destructive plant pests and diseases. We should help them fight the cadang-cadang disease in the coconut regions, control mosaic disease in abaca, and eradicate rat infestation. I trust Congress will provide sufficient funds to finance research and control work on these diseases and pests now threatening our major crops. Improvements In Barrio Life As I have often pointed out, our barrio people do not even have safe water to drink. I must ask your fullest support for the Adminis tration’s program of building waterworks and artesian wells all over the country. Civic-spirited members of our community, particularly the Lions Club and the Liberty Wells Association, have spontaneously taken up the challenge to provide our people with artesian wells. I know you will not do less. I would also ask Congress to study the feasibility of granting sub sidies as a means of encouraging doctors and nurses to establish them selves in those remote areas which now lack essential medical and health services. We must have a healthy manpower as the most essential factor for economic advancement. No nation can go forward when it is crippled by disease. The Social Welfare Administration has mapped out a definite program of self-help projects designed to put needy individuals back on their feet. It will also cooperate actively in the settlement program and send social workers to the barrios to carry out rural improvement projects. Encouragement To Labor Unions In the industrial centers of population this Administration is committed to help labor attain maturity so that it may assume its place of responsibility side by side with management. Under my Adminis tration, I will not countenance any attempt on the part of the Govern ment or any of its officials to dominate or influence the labor unions. We will encourage free unionism under responsible, enlightened leadership truly dedicated to the welfare of the laboring masses. But I warn those unscrupulous individuals who would use the labor move ment to exploit the workers that their activities will not go unpunished. We will be equally hard with interference by management in labor union activities. Economic Planning What we need above all is a coordinated plan, theoretically sound and practically feasible, to increase the national production and provide opportunities for more jobs and higher incomes for our people, partic ularly in the rural areas. In the past, such programs have not made adequate progress because of ineffective implementation and insufficient support. I recommend that the National Economic Council be revitalized as a really effective agency to plan and put into effect a truly integrated program for economic development. Government corporations have been created purportedly for this purpose, but they failed to achieve their objective because they were manned by incompetent or dishonest officials, because they were diverted from their original functions, or because they were unwisely expanded. I have ordered an inquiry into the operations and activities of these corporations, and in due time, I will submit to Congress appropriate recommendations. Government And Private Enterprise The Government will henceforth confine itself to those phases of development where its participation is absolutely essential to the public welfare. Private capital, from sources both at home and abroad, will be preferred to direct government financing, whenever possible. 52 I hope that our own people will go into new ventures and take full advantage of the incentives now and to be provided by our Govern ment. These economic pioneers deserve our support. We also welcome foreign capital, assuring it fair treatment. In the past it was perhaps discouraged by the uncertainty of our attitude, and I propose that we mark out clearly a stable basis on which foreign investors can put their capital to work in this country. My Administration is pledged to the eventual elimination of con trols. I propose to achieve this gradually as the development of do mestic industry and trade renders controls unnecessary. In the mean time, we shall have to maintain them to conserve our financial resources and to channel them to fundamental development activities. Controls will be administered honestly, fairly, and efficiently. We will not permit any government official or employe to utilize them for private gain. Foreign Policy The joint Philippir.e-American program of self-help, designed to assist our country’s economic development, merits our vigorous sup port. Together with the representatives of the Foreign Operations Administration, we are now considering ways and means to speed up the assistance program, in our mutual desire to bring its benefits to our people at the earliest possible time. I trust that Congress will provide adequate counterpart funds. We shall also explore other programs of economic cooperation with nations in Asia and with the United Nations. Most vital to our internal growth and development, however, is our trade relationship with the United States. Our Government has asked for a re-examination of the Bell Trade Act in the earnest belief that the situation in which it was originally considered and drafted has changed, and that a new situation has arisen which calls for a new arrangement. We are confident that the Government and people of the United States will not look upon our proposals with indifference. Pending the outcome of those negotiations, we must be prepared to adjust ourselves to new conditions. It is my desire, as well as that of the Vice-President, that our foreign policy serve the economic needs of our people. Consequently, new em phasis will be placed on the piomotion of foreign trade as one of our primary objectives. Our foreign service will everywhere have the new mission of contributing directly to the economic stability and expanding trade of our people. As a good neighbor to the countries of Southeast Asia, we shall participate in all regional activities that will promote closer economic and cultural relations among us. We have ties with European countries, and, through our Spanish heritage, with the Spanish-American re publics. We shs.ll strive to establish mutually beneficial commercial relations with them. The restoration of normal relations with Japan through an early settlement of the reparations issue should open another avenue of pros perous intercourse. Government Finances Our principal difficulty, however, is money. Our General Fund deficit, as of June 30, 1953, was P124,900,000. Incomplete data on operations for the 6-month period ended December 31, 1953, indicate a further deficit. There are obligations unrecorded in the books amounting to ?99,700,000. The General Fund owes the various special funds P 17,000,000. Our public debt, as of September 30, 1953, was Pl,070,740,782.79. This figure includes the extraordinary advance of P 200,000,000 from the Central Bank for economic rehabilitation and development, all of which has been released; P550,000,000 in back-pay obligations; and P178,400,000 in various budgetary loans. All these obligations have to be liquidated out cf General Fund receipts. If we consider that the average annual income of the Government was less than P600,000,000 in the past, we will readily see that we have a problem of the first mag nitude. We must, therefore, maintain our existing sources of revenue, and discover ways and means of increasing government income without creating new tax burdens. I am constrained to request Congress to extend the tax laws which have expired, or are to expire, this year. Our failure to do so would mean a loss of about P150,000,000 in revenues, which would impair essential public services. The honest, realistic, and really economical way to run this Gov ernment is to collect the present taxes efficiently, intensively. We must go after tax evaders without favoritism and drive home the lesson that they deserve no mercy. To this end, I recommend that Congress make the penalties for tax evasion more severe. These increased penalties should take effect after a fixed date, up to which tax evaders or delin quents should be given a chance to settle their obligations. After the deadline, no compromises should be entertained and the law should be enforced to the letter. On the other hand, we must tighten our purse strings. We must abandon the practice of authorizing appropriations far in excess of funds actually in the Treasury and those reasonably anticipated. I recommend that Congress make a distinction between expenses needed to run the Government and render essential public services, and those expenses which are really capital investments. The ordinary operational expenses should never exceed the total revenues in any fiscal year. We must live within our means. We should not try to balance our budget with loans, as we have tried to do in the past. We must support ourselves. This does not mean, however, that we are opposed to the financing of capital expenditures to increase production and provide public works, through public borrowing. Capital expenditures of this type should be regarded as investments in the future economic stability and security of our country. Public Works In great part these investments take the form of public works projects. Politics often dictated when, where, and for how much such projects would be undertaken. Much money and effort went to waste that way. Public necessity should now be our criterion. Our needs are great but our resources are small. This calls for careful planning, intelligent selection, and consistent and economical implementation of projects. I am for the adoption of a public-works program that will bring the benefits of democracy to the nipa huts of the poor. All too often our small farmers have to carry their products to market on their backs because we have neglected barrio roads. These, in turn, would not be fully effective unless they feed a system of national highways. Our aim would be to make them consist principally of concrete pavements, financed through public borrowing, to be serviced from the Highway Fund. The large first cost of this undertaking will be more than com pensated in the form of reduced road-maintenance and vehicular-opera tional costs. In the past our attempts to provide our children with adequate school buildings have been half-hearted, piecemeal. We should now consider a school-building program on a national scale. I propose the manufacture of prefabricated buildings in plants located in strategic places, from which buildings can be transported to the remotest barrios, where they will be installed with the help of the people themselves. A more rapid pace of school-building construction is needed, if we are to accommodate the large number of children coming of school-age every year. Morality In Government And now let us consider the moral state of the nation. There is little in the immediate past of which we may be proud. Since the change of administration, we have unearthed one case after another of outrageous corruption, abuse of power, and manipulation of the laws for self-enrichment. The sordid record is just beginning to unfold. I fear that further inquiry will yield even uglier facts. What, we have been asked, are we going to do about all this? We must, first of all, i emove unworthy government officials and employees. Where the evidence so warrants, we will prosecute those who justly deserve prosecution. Not only considerations of morale and discipline, but also the very progress of our work, make this demand upon us. We shall not be able to move ahead for as long as those en trusted with the promotion of the public welfare are busy exploring j.nd exploiting opportunities for selfish ends. We simply cannot tolerate such men in the Government. They must go. I wish to make clear that the spirit of justice, not of persecution, will guide us in this undertaking. The innocent, the honest, and the efficient need fear nothing from us. This Government will protect and defend their rights by enforcing impartially and without political bias our civil service rules and regulations. In the Executive Department, I will not permit anyone to exact political vengeance on honest and efficient employes by dismissing them without cause or harassing them in any other way. The victory we have won is not a license for political persecution. To guide us in the conduct of public business, we must return to the timeless moral and political principles which we have either forgotten or taken for granted. There is the principle that honesty is the best policy in public as well as in private life. There is the principle that, while politics is indispensable for the workings of democracy, it cannot be superior to the interest of the nation. In the effort to secure for ourselves and our children a government of integrity and efficiency, I will welcome whatever legislation may be enacted by Congress that will serve to prevent, deter, and discourage corruption, increase the penalty for malfeasance in office, and lay down definite rules of ethical conduct in government. In the last few years there has been a decline of morality. Character building alone, without a solicj moral foundation, has been found in adequate in developing a sound citizenry. We should improve and strengthen the implementation of the Constitutional provision on op tional religious instruction through practical and just measures. I shall address to the Congress on another occasion a special message on the problems of students, who have proved their right to participate in public affairs, as well as on the need to stimulate and foster the growth of our native culture among our youth. Action and Unity These, then, are the problems that we are committed to solve. To be sure, many more will arise in the course of this Administration. But I sincerely believe that solutions to them will be found, just as I am confident that we shall be able to dispose of the difficult business at hand. I must remind you of an all-important fact: that what we have set out to do can be realized only through concerted action and unity. (Concluded at the bottom of the next page) 53 The Business View A monthly review of facts, trends, forecasts, by Manila businessmen The Government From Official Sources JANUARY 2, 1954—The President issues a proclamation declaring January 10 to 15 “Statistics Week”, declaring that it is “desir able to encourage and promote the use of statistical data to solve the country’s social and economic problems.” The President boards the presidential yacht, S. S. Apo, for Mariveles to inspect the government shipyard there, accompanied by officials of the Metropolitan Water District and a number of labor leaders, as well as a group of newspapermen. He inspects the National Shipyards and Steel Corporation plant and states that a special com mittee which has been studying the situation has reported that NASSCO’S repair and dry-dock charges are higher than similar charges in Hongkong and Japan and that it must operate more efficiently if it is to survive; he listens to workers’ complaints about the inadequate housing and the high cost of rice. The President in a ship-board con ference states he has asked Executive Secretary Ruiz Castro to drop his teaching in a local school and that this would be required of all top officials. He states that the studies by special committees concerning the administration of justice, the situation with respect to rice, and the financial position of the Manila Hotel have been completed, also those of the special fiscal and budget committee and that the latter is now completing a draft of the 1954-55 budget. Jan. 3—Agreement is reached aboard the Apo to settle the 10-day Metropolitan Water District strike, the President persuading the labor leaders to accept temporarily the District’s offer of a wage-increase of P0.50 as against the P1.00 demanded, pending an examination of the District’s ability to accord to full increase; he also authorizes additional representation of labor on the District’s Board of Directors from one to two members, one for the office employees and the other for the laborers; during the conference he announces that he has designated Manila Mayor Arsenio H. Lacson and Rizal Province Governor Wenceslao Pascual as members of the MWD Board. The President releases a statement of his assets and liabilities showing total properties worth P39,446.10 and total debts of P13.087.76, or a net worth of P26,358.34, as of December 30, the day of his inauguration; he points out that President Manuel Roxas issued an order requiring such statements from ranking officials, but that this has been disregarded and that he will have the order revised to include "practically all” public servants in the Executive Department, par ticularly those in the tax-collection agencies; he states that those who submit suspiciously incomplete statements will have their properties inventoried. The President, still aboard the Apo, announces he will issue an order tightening control of the purchase and disposition of dynamite and blasting caps to curb illegal fishing; he has instructed Commodore Jose Francisco, Philippine Navy Chief, and the Commanding General of the Constabulary to draft an order requiring permits for the pur chase of these explosives by mining firms to be approved by both of these officials; the mining companies will be required to construct strong vaults to store them and to make weekly reports of use, etc. The President tells newsmen he has instructed Lt. Col. Job Mayo, Iloilo Provincial Commander, to report at Malacanan to coordinate security arrangements there; it is understood that the President con templates the establishment of a secret service, patterned after the United States agency, to take charge of security measures for the Pre sident and his family. The President informally visits the U. S. Naval Base at Subic, Zambales, spending two and a half hours there “to acquaint the press and myself with the improvements made on this installation by the United States Government.” He states he wanted the newsmen ac companying him to see the base as many had only a hazy idea of the present United States installations in the country and the improvements made. Jan. 5—The President meets with Democratic Party leaders in both the Senate and the House and issues a statement later revealing that Se nator Fernando Lopez will not seek election as President of the Senate and has released those who had committed themselves to support him for At the 1954 annual meeting of the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Inc., held on the Chamber premises on January 29, the election The New Chamber of members of the Board of Di Officers and rectors resulted in the re-election Board Members of all eight of eight members of the 1953 Board who had been nominated for reelection, and the election of one new mem ber, Mr. John Oppenheimer, of the Pan American World Airways, Inc. The Acting President, Mr. W. C. Palmer, III, with drew from the nominations because he will leave the Philip pines shortly for an extended vacation, and Mr. R. J. Baker, the Chamber Treasurer, was not presented for nomination as he is retiring as Comptroller of the Manila Electric Company and will return to the United States to make his home there. At the organization meeting of the Board, held on February 1, Mr. Paul R. Parrette was elected President, Mr. W. M. Simmons, Vice-President, and Mr. A. H. Hender son, Treasurer, Mr. I. T. Salmo being reelected Secre tary. Mrs.' Virginia Gonder remains Executive VicePresident. The following are the business connections of the officers of the Chamber and the other members of the Board: Mr. F. C. Bennett, Vice-President and Sales Manager, Atlantic, Gulf fie Pacific Company of Manila. Mr. Arthur H. Henderson, President, American In ternational Underwriters for the Philippines, Inc. Mr. S. W. G. Lehman, General Manager, Standard Vacuum Oil Company, Philippines. Mr. John Oppenheimer, Director—Philippines, Pan American World Airways, Inc. Mr. Paul R. Parrette, President and General Manager, Philippine Manufacturing Company. Mr. E. E. Selph, Member of the firm, Ross, Selph, Carrascoso & Janda. Mr. W. M. Simmons, Manager, National City Bank of New York, Philippines. Mr. F. H. Spengler, Manager, Philippine Office, Amer ican President Lines. Mr. Paul H. Wood, Vice-President and General Man ager, International Harvester Company of Philippines. More than ever, we must think, plan, and work as one, with only one supreme goal in mind—the promotion of the welfare and happiness of our people. Perhaps you will say that the people are asking for a miracle. But they, too, performed no less than a miracle when in one great irre sistible movement they dared every peril to preserve the right to have a government of their choice. Thus, they proved to the whole world, to our friends and enemies, that Democracy has come of age in our land, that it has become truly and actively a part of the Filipino way of life. We have pledged to enrich that life. We can do.it. We must do it. With the aid of Divine Providence, we shall begin and continue the work until we shall have fulfilled the great promise that gave our people strength to prove themselves worthy of their heritage of freedom. 54 that position; the President congratulates him and other Democratic senators and representatives for their sincere desire to cooperate. The President announces he will soon convene a meeting of Nationalista Party leaders to inform them of conditions in the governmentowned or controlled corporations and to formulate a pojicy regarding them. He states the total indebtedness of the Manila Railroad Com pany amounts to P104,000,000 and that it is suffering operational losses of P3,000,000 yearly, which, added to the P2,000,000 yearly that it has to pay in interests on bonds held by British holders, sets the Company back P5,000,000 a year. The Manila Hotel, a Railroad Company subsidiary, is losing on the average of P50,000 a month and is now P876.000 in the red. The NASSCO is losing money at the rate of Pl,000 'a jday. Other corporations whose “future is to be decided upon” include the National Rice land Corn Corporation, the Price Stabilization Corporation (PRISCO), and Cebu Portland Cement Company, the National Development Company, the Land Settlement and Development Company, and the People’s Homesite and Housing Corporation. Judge Emilio Rilloraza of the Court of First Instance of Pasay City, issues warrants for the arrest of former Secretary of Justice and acting Secretary of National Defense Oscar Castelo, a sister and another woman associate, Bienvenido Mendoza (alias Ben Ulo) and 12 others accused of conspiring in the murder of Manuel P. Monroy on June 15 last year. Castelo and his two women associates surrender themselves to Gen. Jesus Vargas at Camp Murphy. Jan. 6 — Castelo and the women are released on bail. Jan. 7 — The President issues an executive order dissolving the Malacanan Property Requisition Committee and transferring its func tions to the different executive departments “to expedite procurement of much needed equipment and materials” and to relieve the Office of the President of a heavy administrative burden. Jan. 8 — The President, accompanied by a group of officials in cluding Col. Harry A. IBrenn, Director of the U.S. Foreign Operations Ad ministration, FOA highway specialist Alonzo Taylor, Filemon C. Rodriguez, Manager of the National Power Corporation, and a number of provincial governors, leaves Manila on the Apo on an inspection trip. Aboard the Apo the President releases the names of entities granted large areas of land within the Davao Penal Colony reservation during the last days of the Quirino Administration and states he is asking Secretary of Justice Tuason and Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources Araneta to challenge these releases in order to make the holding available for redistribution in 10-hectare lots. The President tells newsmen he plans to abolish the present Na tional Economic Council, the Office of Economic Coordination, and the Philippine Council for United States Aid, and combine them into a new National Economic Council, to be composed of 11 members instead of 15 as at present, which will have full charge of the planning and pro gramming of the Government’s economic projects. He states he has also directed the immediate organization of a 250-jman construction battalion in the Philippine Navy, patterned after the United States "Seabees” organization, to concentrate on the installation of centrifugal pumps for irrigation. The President and his party arrive at Masbate and extends execu tive pardons to 25 under-nourished prisoners in the provincial jail for violation of the kaingin (forest -^clearing) laws, instructing local officials to make public lands on Burias Island available for them in plots of 6 hectares each, food and clothing to be provided them and their families meanwhile by the Social Welfare Administration. He inquires about the food of the other prisoners and directs the local health officer to fumigate the jail. Later he boards his Philippine Air Force plane, the Pagasa, for Virac, Catanduanes. Jan. 9—The President inspects the P280.000 hydro-electric and water-works project at Balongbong Falls, Bago, Catanduanes, and instructs NPC Manager Rodriguez to open bidding on the construc tion immediately. The President reveals his plans to request a study of the penal system in various parts of the country in order to reconcile tribal laws and customs with the laws of the Republic; he points out that much dissatisfaction in the Moro provinces is due to the conflict between the laws of the Republic and the customary law which guides the decisions of the native agama courts. Jan. 10 — Returned from his southern trip, the President visits Camp Oliveros, Plaridel, Bulacan, where he interviews several sur rendered Huks. He orders the Constabulary to take control of Lubao, Pampanga, because of disorders there, and to withdraw its forces from Guagua, Magalang, and Mabalacat, and directs the immediate re examination of the so-called "civilian guards” with a view to their ultimate disbandment. He also directs the investigation of reports that the Huks are still imposing “contributions” upon wealthy citizens of Angeles, Pampanga. The President visits San Luis, Pampanga, home-town of Hukleader Luis Taruc, and then Sta. Monica and other barrios where an army task force of some 1500 officers and men under Col. Manuel Flores, is at work building roads and bridges, digging artesian wells, and clearing away vast growths of talahib grass to facilitate the return of the people to their abandoned farms. With written authority from Secretary of Justice Tuason, Com missioner Manuel Manahan, of the Presidential Complaints and Action Commission, seals the files of the National Bureau of Investigation; reported that various records and documents are missing. Jan. 11 —Executive Secretary and Mrs. Fred Ruiz Castro and family, report, as of January 1, 1954, their assets minus their liabilities as amounting to P29.320. Malacanang announces that the premises will be open to guided tours for the general public only on every Saturday, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Jan. 12 — The President spends the whole day on the yacht Apo, anchored in Manila Bay, but retains contact with Malacanang via the ship’s radio. The President stops the loading of 7,000 tons of scrap-iron aboard the Tatsaharu Maru, being exported by the Marcelo Steel Corpora tion, which was being carried out in spite of the order of Col. Jaime Velasquez, acting Commissioner of Customs; it is reported that the President is studying a plan to exchange scrap iron with water-pipe. Malacanan announces the release to the public of the MSA-PHILCUSA rural community survey, commonly called the MacMillanRivera Report, following representations made by rural sociologist Cornelio M. Ferrer with the Presidential Complaints and Action Com mission; 5,000 printed copies of the report have, since Octobre, 1952, been stored in a warehouse of the Foreign Operations Administration (formerly the Mutual Security Administration), “padlocked by the Liberal Party Administration... for unknown reasons,” according to Mr. Ferrer. The President approves an offer of a prize of P100.000 by the Government to any Filipino or foreigner who discovers a virus which will exterminate rats without harm to man or other animals; use of the present virus has been found harmful in this respect. The President, at an earlier Cabinet meeting, asked Secretary of Agriculture Araneta to accept the offer of the WHO (World Health Organization) to send an expert to the Philippines; meanwhile a team of FOA, WHO, De partment of Health, and Department of Agriculture and Natural Re sources team of rat-control experts will go to Cotabato this week to study the situation there which is resulting in a complete destruction of crops. Judge Rilloraza grants the dismissal of the charges against the two women implicated in the case against Castelo and the others for the murder of Monroy. Jan. 13 — The President makes a surprise trip to Masbate to follow-up the implementation of several orders he issued there on his brief visit last week; he finds that the settlement project for the 51 pardoned prisoners has already been started on a 1000-hectare area. Announced that the President has ordered the dissolution of the Malacanang guard unit formerly headed by Col. Agustin Marking. Malacanang announces the private organization in the Mala canang Social Hall of the “Liberty Wells Association” which will raise funds for the construction of artesian wells in line with the President’s barrio-improvement program; among those present were Albino Sycip, originator of the plan, Ambassador R. A. Spruance, Colonel Brenn and other officials of the FOA, and others, including many Chinese who contributed from P5000 to P15000 each; P150.000 has already been raised in voluntary contributions; it is estimated that P3,000,000 is needed to construct the estimated 67,000 wells required to provide safe water for the entire country. Secretary of Health Paulino Garcia, under whose department the well-building project falls, is chosen chair man of the executive committee of the Association and Arsenio Luz executive secretary; the President is Honorary Chairman. Jan. 14 — On returning to Manila the President inducts into office Justice Pastor Endencia, of the Court of Appeals, as Secretary of Edu cation; the President states to the new Secretary, who is a prominent Catholic layman leader, that one of the best weapons in combating communism is religious education. The President refers the matter of the scrap-iron shipment by the Marcelo Steel Corporation to Secretary of Finance Hernandez for study and disposition. The President orders the immediate relief of Maj. Alejandro Trespeces, provincial commander of Marinduque, reportedly on the grounds that he did not take appropriate action against a sergeant involved in rape and extortion charges; the sergeant is ordered to be brought to Camp Murphy for investigation and court-martial if the evidence so warrants. The President orders the Masbate provincial commander to eliminate illegal fishing and check unnecessary butchering of carabaos. He orders the Philippine Navy to intercept a shipload of carabaos which had left Masbate for Manila for the purpose of verifying whether the animals intended for the slaughter-house are really unfit as work animals; it is reported that work animals are being deliberately disabled by driving nails into their hoofs, and the President wants the practice stopped. Jan. 15—Bureau of Customs authorizes scrap-iron shipment to Japan on condition it is returned in the form of ingots. The President spends the entire day aboard the Apo in Manila Bay in going over numerous recommendations for various appoint ments. The President issues a statement of regret and condolence on the loss, yesterday, of the Philippine Air Line plane, the Mindoro, on the Manila-London route, while nearing the Rome airport, as a result of what appeared to some observers, as reported, to be an 55 explosion; all aboard perished, including 9 crew members and 7 pas sengers, one from Manila; the Company is sending several officials to investigate and report. A group of around a hundred members of the Tambobong Estate Tenants Association calls on the President to petition him for a “more consistent” policy in disposing of the land. Reported that two inter-island vessels were intercepted by the Philippine Navy, one being found to carry 12 carabaos, 8 of which were fit for work, and the other 24, 3 of which were fit; one of the ships was found to be carrying 130 persons, though the limit is 74. Jan. 16 — The President holds a conference with Maj. Gen. Vargas and Maj. Gen.'Robert M. Cannon, Chief of JUSMAG, concerning general policies affecting the armed forces and also the matter of equipping two additional engineering battalions for road construction and other rural improvement projects. The President instructs Philippine Navy and Customs officials to revoke the licenses of fishing-boat operators who reportedly have suspended operations because of the government campaign against illegal dynamite-fishing in order to embarrass the Administration. Reported that another ship was found carrying a shipment of 28 cara baos of which 19 were still fit fcr work; the animals are being held to be used as evidence against officials responsible for authorizing their slaughter against the provisions of the law. The President issues a proclamation setting the period from Feb ruary 14 to March 31 of this year for the annual Red Cross fund cam paign; in a meeting with Red Cross officials he expresses his desire to award Mr. Ray Higgins the Legion of Honor decoration in recognition of his humanitarian services to the country. The President directs Assistant Executive Secretary Quema to take all the legal steps possible in assuring the proper distribution of the Tambobong Estate lands. Jan. 18—The President addresses the provincial governors and city mayors at the opening session of their 3-day convention at Malacanang Park asking for their cooperation and speaking of his plans of extending greater autonomy to local governments which, he states, would give the national government more time to concentrate on national prob lems; he urges the necessity of uniting the two leagues of governors and mayors formed during the previous Administration,—the Liberal Party League headed by Governor Eliseo Quirino, and the Freedom League of the Nacionalistas headed by Governor Juan de G. Rodriguez. The President receives former Representative F. M. Serrano, who, having been requested by him to inquire into the wheat-flour business, submits his report. Announced that the Philippine Navy yesterday apprehended an Okinawan fishing vessel, the Omitaka Maru, 31 gross tons, with a crew of 44, one mile off the Mayan Landing at Itbayat Island, Batanes, the vessel being t6wed to Basco for further investigation. Col. Jaime Velasquez, special technical assistant to the President in charge of the Bureau of Customs, discloses that he has been compiling information on the over-loading of ships and that the shipping com panies have been warned to observe the law. Jan. 19 — The President receives the credentials of Minister Young Kee Kim of the Republic of Korea. The President accepts and expresses thanks for the offer of the SOO-man complement of the U.S.S. Salisbury Sound, flagship of the Formosa Patrol, U. S. Navy, now anchored at Sangley Point, Cavite, of a mass blood donation to the Philippine Red Cross Blood Bank. The President, aboard the presidential yacht Apo (“grand-father,” “chief”, renamed, at the suggestion 'of Senate President Rodriguez, the Pagasa, meaning “hope”), anchored in the Bay, holds a conference with a number of leading senators and representatives; they agree that the Manila Hotel, which has been operating at a loss, should be leased to some private interest, but that offers of private parties to purchase the Cebu Portland Cement Company and the cement com pany at Bacnotan, La Union, should be declined, the Government to continue to operate these entities; no decision is made as to the Manila Railroad Company which, the President states, has been losing at the rate of P4,500,000 a year and has already incurred a total loss of P105,000,000; the President’s suggestion that all government purchases and contracts amounting to Pl0,000 or more should be secured through public bidding, is unanimously endorsed; the President’s recommenda tion that scrap iron be bartered for 6-inch pipe from Japan, is also agreed to, the President explaining that in exchange for 6,000 tons of scrap iron, the Philippines would receive 1,000 tons of the pipe needed badly for the construction of water systems throughout the country; various appointments are discussed and agreed to; the President states that senators and representatives who have business to transact with him will be given priority in seeing him. The President announces a plan to settle Malacanang job-seekers in farm areas and names Bernard Gaberman chairman of a committee to receive, process, and channel their applications, with the acting General Manager of LASEDECO as a member and another member to be appointed to represent EDCOR; groups of from 200 to 300 settlers at a time would be transported on Philippine Navy ships. The President broaches a plan to require medical students to spend a part of their internship in the newly settled areas. The President orders the demilitarization of artillery shells scat tered over Corregidor Island and to post a guard there to prevent un authorized persons from collecting them for dynamite-fishing purposes. Jan. 20 — The President authorizes the Cebu Portland Cement Company to buy coconut-shell charcoal to mix with coal for its fuel needs; the measure would utilize a product that has been going largely to waste. T 1ST of important appointments and designations made by President Mag■*-' saysay as of January 22, 1954: I. Department secretaries, undersecretaries, chiefs and assistant chiefs of bureaus and offices, provincial governors, and city Mayors (a) Appointed ad interim: Carlos P. Garcia Jaime Hernandez Paulino G. Garcia Salvador Araneta Position Secretary of Foreign Affairs Secretary of Finance Secretary of Health Oscar Ledesma Pedro Tuazon Pacita Madrigal Warns Fred Ruiz Castro Jose Gil Jesus Vargas Eulogio Balao Mariano A. Yenko, Jr. Leon Ma. Guerrero Leroy S. Brown Ramon Blanco Tomas Dizon Antonio P. Sibulp Jose A. Rono Teofilo Guadiz Mariano F. Perdices Benito C. Labao Enrique C. Quema Pastor M. Endencia Rafael Tumbokon Panteleon Pelayo Felipe R. Amos Ramon O. Nolasco Jesus Barrera Secretary of Agriculture and Na tural Resources Secretary of Commerce and In Secretary of Justice Social Welfare Administrator Executive Secretary Commissioner of Civil Service Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines Vice Chief of Staff, AFP (designa tion only) Assistant Executive Secretary Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Mayor, City of Basilan Mayor, City of Roxas Mayor, City of San Pablo Mayor, City of Naga Mayor, City of Calbayog Mayor, City of Dagupan Mayor, City of Dumaguete Mayor, City of Iligan Assistant Executive Secretary Secretary of Education Undersecretary of Health Undersecretary of Labor Director of Forestry Provincial Governor of Lanao Undersecretary of Justice 31 Jan. 1, 1954 Abenir Bernales Leon C. Miraflores Leon L. Fernandez Marcos Resifia Manuel Solidum Tomas S. Martin Luis P. Torres Bado Dangwa J. Antonio Araneta Alfonso Tabora Mateo Ferrer D. Mohammad de Venancio Zacarias S. Pizarro Baldomero S. Reyes Alfredo Bunye Dioecoro de Leon Urbano Caldoza Antonio C. Adaza Domingo Bailon Justiniano R. Borja Provincial Governor of Cotabato Provincial Governor of Negros Occ. Provincial Governor of Sulu Provincial Governor of Bukidnon Provincial Governor of RomProvincial Governor of Bulacan Commissioner of Immigration Provincial Governor of Mountain Province Collector of Internal Revenue Mayor, City of Baguio Assistant Director of Printing Commissioner, National EmployMayor, City of Butuan Mayor, City of Lipa Director of Prisons Provincial Governor of Nueva Administrator, Civil Aeronautics Administration Provincial Governor, Zamboanga del Norte Mayor, City of Legaspi Mayor, City of Cagayan de Oro II. Chairmen and members of governing boards of government corporations <b) Designated in actir Arsenio Lugay Dominador Aytona Horacio Rodriguez Dominador Mangubat Jose M. Crisol Vene Pe Benito Hector Suarez Cosain Ali Usman Provincial Governor of Tarlac Commissioner of the Budget Provincial Governor of Cavite Mayor, City of Cavite Director, National Bureau of In vestigation Provincial Governor of Abra Mayor, City of Zamboanga Provincial Governor of Lanao Dec. 31, 1953 Jan. 3 (a) Appointed ad interii Dolores Paredes-Leviste Oscar Ledesma Antonio F. Garcia Oscar Ledesma Vicente Araneta Gerardo Flores Sergio Bayan Manuel V. Arguelles Member, Board of Review for Moving Pictures Chairman, Board of Directors, PRISCO Member, Philippine Veterans Member, Board of Supervisors, Philippine Tourist & Travel Association, Inc........................... Chairman, Board of Governors, ACCFA Member, Adv. Bd., Institute of Science and Technology Member, Adv. Bd., Institute of Science and Technology Member, Adv. Bd., Institute of Science and Technology Jan. 6 14 16 2 56 The governors and city mayors on the last day of their convention adopt a number of resolutions including one proposing a single national election every 4 years, the next to be held at the same time as the pre sidential election in 1957, and others proposing to pattern all city char ters after the Manila charter and making all city mayors elective, making all provinces regular, creating provincial legislatures and ca binets, granting veto and pardoning powers to provincial governors, etc. Jan. 21 — The President is informed by Mariano del Rosario, district governor of the Lion’s Club, that 1000 tons of farm implements and 530,000 in cash, donated by the California and Nevada Lions, are ready to be sent to the Philippines to aid in the resettlement program. The President visits the government-owned Tambobong Estate at Malabon, Rizal, and interviews the tenants to look into their griev ances. Jan. 22 — The President issues a proclamation declaring the period from January 16 to February 15, 1954, as Philippine Tourist Month. Two international travel conferences will be held in Manila,—the Asian and Far Eastern Travel Commission (January 25-27) and the Pacific Area Travel Association (January 27-February 1.) The President receives the members of the Code Commission, accompanied by Under-Secretary of Justice Jesus Barrera, who present him with copies of the new proposed Code of Commerce; members of the Commission who called are Jorge Bocobo, Chairman, and Messrs. Pedro Y. Hagan, Francisco Capistrano, and Carmelino Alvendia. The President announces that machinery for the construction of prefabricated school houses is being readied for shipment to Palawan and Agusan after a discussion of his plans with Nicanor M. Bautista, architect, who has suggested a design; the proposed buildings will be of wood, with galvanized-iron roof, built 4 feet above the ground and 12 feet high, and with a floor-area of 1,357 square feet. The President gives a beer party for men of the U.S.S. Salisbury Sound, who donated some 90 gallons of blood (valued at almost P300,000). Malacanang announces that the President’s order to ease unem ployment by settling the unemployed in Mindanao is being carried out by the National Rehabilitation and Resettlement Project (NRRP) of which Bernard Gebermann, Malacanang technical assistant, has been designated the head; Benjamin Gaston, acting Manager of LASE DECO and member of the committee, has flown to Cotabato to prepare the ground; the Social Welfare Administration will cooperate; Gabermann announces that only those who want to farm should apply; others are referred to the National Employment Service. Malacanang announces the creation by the President of the Peace and Amelioration Commission under Executive Order No. 7, signed January 7, with Manuel Elizalde as Chairman and W. C. Palmer, III, as Vice-Chairman and Treasurer, and a number of other private persons as members; unexpended balances of the Peace Fund and all properties end records of the Peace Fund Campaign Commission created under a 1950 executive'order and transferred to the Department of National Defense in 1953, will be transferred to the new Commission, and these funds and funds to be raised by it will be used for the purchase of loose fire-arms and for other purposes connected with the peace campaign. Vice-President Carlos P. Garcia, concurrently Secretary of Foreign Affairs, issues a statement that the Foreign Service Act contains defects which should be corrected and that the new Administration should be given the opportunity to select foreign-service officials in its con fidence, but that the Department will not be used as a “dumping ground for political proteges” as reported in sections of the press. Jan. 23 — The President directs the Agricultural Cooperative and Credit Financing Administration to advance loans of P7.20 a cavan of palay to producers in Central Luzon and at any point of embarcation in Mindanao; earlier, in inducting former Governor Juan O. Chioco of Nueva Ecija as acting Chairman of the NARIC board of directors, he directed him to take up his duties with a view to liquidating the corporation, a new organization being planned to take its place. Press Secretary J. V. Cruz corrects the report that 19 hectares of the fish-ponds on the Tambobong Estate will be filled to provide addi tional lands for distribution to tenants, stating this is only one of several measures being studied. His office stormed by 1000 would-be la nd-settlers, Bernard Ga bermann, head of the NRRP, states that he will observe the rule of "first come, first served”. January 25 — The President spends the morning on the yacht Pagasa, and in the afternoon delivers his State of the Nation message before a joint session of the Senate and House of the Third Congress of of the Philippines; earlier, Eulogio Rodriguez was elected President of the Senate and Jose B. Laurel, Jr., Speaker of the House. The President spoke for 30 minutes and from the Congress session hall returned to the Pagasa. (See the editorials in this issue of the Journal.) ViceJ’resident and Foreign Secretary Garcia, addressing the meet ing of the Asian and Far Eastern Travel Commission, states that— “under the policy of the new administration of President Ramon Magsaysay, we are going to throw wide open the gates of our country to bona fide world tourists and travelers by making their entrance most easy, most simple, and most direct.” Jan. 26 — The President issues Executive Ordtr No. 8, prohibiting the slaughtering of carabaos for a period of one year, beginning Ja nuary 31. The President states that Republic Act No. 11, approved September 2, 1946, prohibits the slaughtering of male and female cara baos, horses, mares, and cows, unless authorized by the Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources; he states that he has been informed by the Director of Animal Industry, Manuel G. Sumulong, that a total of 156,216 carabaos were slaughtered from 1947 to 1953 in Manila and suburbs, and that 247,895 were slaughtered in the provinces during the same period; last year alone, 82,401 carabaos were slaughtered in Manila and suburbs and the provinces; most of these, he said, were still fit for work, and the indiscriminate slaughtering has resulted in a scarcity of animals and a rise in the price of carabaos to such an extent (up to P400) that poor barrio farmers can not afford to buy animals for their farm work. The President visits the National Mental Hospital, formerly the National Psychopathic Hospital, to check on reports of the shortage of the water-supply, and finding these correct, instructs Manager Manuel Manosa, of the Metropolitan Water District, to provide an adequate water-supply and also a sewer-system within 10 days, telling him to hire extra labor and work night and day, if necessary; the President Enrique T. Virata Manuel I. Felizardo Juan Salcedo, Jr., Arcadio G. Matela Horacio de la Costa Pilar Hidalgo-Lim Luis P. Torres Eduardo Romualdez Member, Adv. Bd., Institute of Science and Technology 16 Member, Adv. Bd., Institute of Science and Technology ” Chairman, Adv. Bd., Institute of Science and Technology ” Member, Board of Governors, ACCFA 18 Member, Board of Pardons and Member, Board of Pardons and Member, Board of Pardons and Chairman, Board of Governors, (b) Designated in acting capacities: Jaime Ferrer Eugenio Reyes Bienvenido Castillo Manuel Q. Tin\o Benjamin Gaston Rafael Estrada Teofilo B. Rivera Salvador T. Villa Terry M. Adevoso Raoul H. Veloso Vicente Tiongson Federico Borromeo Oscar J. Arellano Alfredo M. Velayo Member, Board of Directors, LASEDECO Member, Board of Directors, LASEDECO Member, Board of Directors, LASEDECO Member, Board of Directors, LASEDECO Chairman, Board of Directors, LASEDECO Member, Philippine Veterans Member, Philippine Veterans Member, Board of Directors, MRR Co. Member Board of Directors, PCSO Member, Board of Directors, PCSO Chairman, Board of Liquidators Member, Board of Directors, Manila Hotel Co. Member, Board of Directors, Manila Hotel Co. Member, Board of Directors, Manila Hotel Co. 11 14 Lauro G. Marquez Ramon del Rosario Jose Castillo, Jr. Hermogenes Dimaguiba Manuel Nieto, Jr. Mariano Marfori Esteban Mayo Jose Giron Manuel Dindo Gonzalez Eugenio Santos Bernard Gaberman Placido Mapa Victor Buencamino Felix de la Costa Wenceslao Pascual Wenceslao Pascual Isidro Retizos Filemon C. Rodriguez Sergio Ortiz Luis Sergio Ortiz Luis Jaime Ferrer Member, Board of Directors, Manila Hotel Co. Chairman, Board of Directors, Manila Hotel Co. Member, Board of Directors, PRISCO Member, Board of Directors, PRISCO Chairman, Games and Amuse ments Board Member, Games and Amusements Member, Games and Amusements Member, Board of Directors, PCSO Chairman, Board of Directors, PCSO of Directors, of Directors, of Directors, Member, Board of Directors, PCSO Member, Board NARIC Member, Board NARIC Member, Board NARIC Chairman, Board of Directors, NARIC Chairman, Food Commission ... Member, Board of Directors, MWD Member, Board of Directors, PHHC Coordinator of United States Aid and the Philippine Counterpart Member, Board PRISCO Member, Board NARIC Member, Board PRISCO of of of Directors, Directors, III. Chairmen and Members of Boards of Examiners 57 also finds the electric wiring defective and dangerous and ordered im mediate repairs. The President next visits the Bureau of Animal In dustry compound in Pandacan and then proceeds to Fort William Mc Kinley where he inspects the carabaos impounded there by the Army from intercepted vessels. Executive Secretary Ruiz Castro announces that all job-seekers are asked to register with the National Employment Service of the Bureau of Labor, to which, he states, all government offices, including the government corporations, should communicate from time to time the vacancies open, especially for work in the lower brackets. Gabermann announces that his office is ready to endorse to the social Welfare Administration for processing the first 300 out of 2,000 persons who have applied for resettlement. Jan. 27 — The President visits Morong, Bataan, to check on reports of the activity of dissidents there. The President instructs Commodore Jose V. Francisco, with him on the Pagasa, to order any Navy ships returning to Manila to stop at Dadiangas, Cotabato, to pick up any available potatoes there and bring them to Manila free of charge, Lasedeco Manager Gaston having reported that tons of them are going to waste in the province. Jan. 28 — The President states he means to stand firm on his order against the slaughtering of carabaos because the national interest demands this. Critics of the measure claim that 75% of the meat sold in Manila markets is carabao-meat, which is cheaper than beef, and that the price of beef has already begun to leap upward. The President states that complaint against his ban does not take into account the vital need of the country for work animals to increase agricultural production; he states he will create a committee to be composed of representatives of the Central Bank, the Bureau of Animal Industry, and the Meat Vendors’ Association and other groups to study the ques tion of increasing meat imports. The President states he has asked Vice-President Garcia and congressional leaders to study the controversial T-V tower case, amid reports that the tower is being offered for sale for Pl,500,000; he states that unless Judge Antonio Quirino’s claim to the tower is definitely established, the Armed Forces will take it over and set it up in Zam boanga to aid weather-observation work. It is said that the tower was omitted inadvertently from the list of articles turned over by the United States Government to the Philippines and that ownership still remains with the former. Malacanang releases a statement on the financial assets and liabil ities of Vice-President and Mrs. Carlos P. Garcia, Secretary of Health and Mrs. Paulino J. Garcia, Assistant Executive Secretary and Mrs. Mariano Yenko, Jr., and Under-Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Mrs. Leon Ma. Guerrero, the net worth amounting respectively to P58.000, P86.000, P18.000, and P88.000. Jan. 29 — The President and Philippine Army and Navy heads at a conference .in Baguio agree to reactivate the National Security Council and to propose a defense budget of P172,000,000, or P17.000,000 over the current budget, including increases for the Air Force, the Navy, the training program, and a P2,000,000 increase for EDCOR. The NSC, created by law, has been dormant for some time; it is the highest defense advisory body and is composed of the President as Chairman, the Vice-President, members of the Cabinet, the presiding officers of the Senate and House, the Chief of Staff, and 6 other mem bers appointed by the President, including the chairmen of the House and Senate defense committees. Jan. 30 — The President, in Baguio, inducts Col. Leoncio Tan as acting Director of the National Bureau of Investigation, from which position Major Crisol was removed last night following an exchange of charges between him and Maj. Santiago Tan (no relative), of the Presidential Complaints and Action Commission, in the revival of a case allegedly invclvig him and a Chinese, Major Crisol also charging Executive Secretary Castro with having interfered with the investiga tion. The President has instructed General Vergas and Under-Secre tary of Justice Barrera to determine whether Castro’s “intervention was cooperative or obstructive in nature.” Castro states Crisol’s charge against him is malicious and distorted and that he only advised Crisol against hasty action with respect to Major Tan based on testimony of two Chinese, whom he knew from past personal experience to be “of dubious character and unreliable.” The President returns from a 4-day trip to Bataan, Zambales, La Union, and the Mountain Province. The President, following reports that sugar cane fields have been fired at Porac,* Pampanga, in the strikes in the Tabacalera sugar central and several estates there, instructs General Vargas to take measures against arson and other acts of vandalism and to investigate whether these strikes have “any subversive undertones”; he instructs Under secretary Pelayo to find out whether the strikes are being instigated by unscrupulous labor leaders. He also instructs Brig. Gen. Alfonso Are llano, First Military Area commander, to invite landowners around San Luis, Pampanga, to a conference to work out some feasible way for the Government to acquire the 3,200-hectare area, being reclaimed there by the Army, for subdivision among the tenants, possibly "swap ping” their holdings for public lands elsewhere in the Philippines. Jan. 31 — The President states he will “exchange views” tomorrow with U. S. Secretary of the Army Robert T. Stevens and General John E. Hill, commander of the United Nations Forces in Korea, regarding the United States military assistance program and the United States military installations in the Philippines. The President confers with Under-Secretary of Labor Pelayo who reports on the amicable settlement of the strike in the Tarlac sugar central, but nevertheless asks him to proceed to Tarlac to investigate reports that labor unions of other plantations are poised to strike. The President receives the members of the Board of Directors of the Philippine National Bank who inform him they will elect Jose Paez, currently Chairman of the Board, as acting President, and the President congratulates them on their choice. Banking and Finance By I. G. Spering Sub-Manager The National City Bank of New York COMPARATIVE statement of condition of the Central Bank : As of As of As of As of P793.629 P892.584 P884.707 P900.036 ASSETS Dec. 31, 1949 Oct. 30, 1953 Nov. 31, Dec. 29, 1953 1953 International Reserve............. P460.689 P462.154 P449.011 P460.531 Contribution to International Monetary Fund.................... 30,000 30,000 30,000 30,000 Account to Secure Coinage •.. 113,306 106,940 106,941 106,940 Loans and Advances............... 77,047 16,180 16,767 27,334 Trust Account-Securities Sta bilization Fund...................... — — — — Domestic Securities.................. 92,197 228,125 227,696 230,518 Other Assets............................... 20,390 49,185 54,292 44,713 P793.629 P892.584 P884.707 P900.036 LIABILITIES Currency —Notes..................... P555.576 P574.786 P586.080 P619.305 Coins...................... 74,384 85,260 84,931 84,804 Demand Deposits-Pesos.... 117,682 181,958 169,896 151,716 Securities Stabilization Fund.. 2,000 10,068 5,035 5,076 Due to International Mone tary Fund............................... 22,498 496 496 496 Due to International Bank for Reconstruction fis De velopment ............................... 2,389 2,376 2,377 2,377 Other Liabilities........................ 2,636 6,426 3,686 2,982 Deferred Credits........................ — 3,006 3,590 607 Capital.......................................... 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 Undivided Profits..................... 6,464 8,075 8,483 12,540 Surplus.......................................... 10,133 10,133 10,133 The international reserves as of December 29, 1953, were as follows: Central Bank International Reserves.................... 5230,265,850.78 Japan Open Account (due from)............................ 10,142,009.70 Net FX Holdings Other Banks............................... 55,595,497.63 5296,003,358.11 This is an increase of approximately $1,700,000 from November 30, 1953. Currency and coins issued totalled P671,011,446.01. The import allocations have been released for the first semester based on the last semester of 1953, with certain adjustments to offset certain unintentional penalties imposed in the last semester of 1953, plus ex-quota alloca tions for other than non-recurring items. Manila Stock Market By Ji. J. Ortigas Hall, Picornell, Ortigas & Co. IN the base-metal group the principal feature was the strength of Lepanto Consolidated Mines, which advanced 5 points. Consolidated Mines continued firm, while Acoje Mining Company and Philippine Iron Mines, Inc., were under pressure. The gold-share market has been quiet, and fluctuations have been narrow since our last review. The price of gold in the local free market declined, closing today approxi mately at P101 per fine ounce as compared to P105 last month. 58 In the commercial and industrial section, San Miguel held firm, while sugars were mixed in quiet trading; other wise conditions were about unchanged. 1952-53 Range High Low 131.53 82.78 MINING SHARES 0.275 0.0875 0.14 0.028 6.20 0.80 0.13 0.06 0.0013 2.70 0.015 0.025 0.32 0.29 0.19 0.16 0.155 0.95 0.30 0.05 0.65 0.05 0.1275 0.06 3.26 1.78 0.32 0.155 0.285 0.027 M. S. E. Mining Share Acoje Lining Co....... Atlas Cons. Mining & Development Corp. Atolc Big Wedge MinBaguio Gold Mining Batong Buhay Gold.. Benguet Cons.............. Coco Grove, Inc......... Consolidated Mines, Inc.............................. General Base Metals. Hixbar Gold Mining Co............................... I tog on Mining Co... Lepanto Cons.............. Mindanao Mother Lode.......................... Pa^ scale Gumaus Philippine Iron Mines, Inc.............................. San Mauricio Mining Co............................... Surigao Cons............... Suyoc Cons.................. x—Ex-Dividend High Low Change Total Sales .225 90.99 .225 Up 1.56. .015 .0775 .90 .09 3.00 .02 .045 .055 .75 .065 .16 .195 .07 .90 .0825 3.00 .02 .044 .05 .71 .065 .155 .19 .07 .90 .09 Off Up Off .0015b 3.00 .02 .044 ,16b .16b .055 .75 .065 .80 .0025 727,000 .10 2,000 .0025 65,000 Up Up Up .002 .005 .05 Off .12 2,702 160,000 1,512,000 455,000 236,500 10,000 37,500 .155 1 .19 i ,008b OffOff .005 .005 161,000 246,000 1952-53 Range 120.00 COMMERCIAL SHARES ' High 173.00 20.00 90.00 11 65 00 00 150.00 100 00 110.00 100 00 50.00 26 12.00 10 00 27.50 22 00 12.00 6 20 7.00 7 00 0.37 0 25 4.90 2 107.00 100.00 34.00 7.00 20.50 5.00 13.00 12.00 0.0925 0.014 1.10 0.86 100.00 99.50 36.00 28.00 101.00 108.00 102.00 13.00 13.00 Bank of the Philippine Bogo-Medellin Milling Central Azucarera de Central Azucarera de la Cariota................ Central Azucarera de Pilar........................... Central Azucarera de Cia. de Celulosa de Filipinas.................... Filipinas Cia. de SeIndustrial Textiles Mfg. Co. P.I........... Insular Life Assurance Co............................... Manila Broadcasting Co............................... Manilla Wine Mer chants ....................... Mayon Metal, class Mayon Metal, class Meralco, 6-i/2%....... Metropolitan InsurPasudeco...................... Philippine Air Lines, Inc.............................. Philippine Long Dist. Tel. Co. com........... Philippine Oil Dev. Philippine Racing Club, Inc.................. R & D 4% bonds, 1959........................... San Miguel Brewery, San Miguel Brewery, 7% pref, x............... San Miguel Brewery, 8% pref, x............... Talisay Silay Milling, x—Ex-dividend T—Bond sales reported in units of P100. High Low Close Change Total Sales 00 00b 65 00b — 112 00b 105.00 105.00 105 33.00 33.00 00 33 00 11.25 23.00 23.00 11 00 23 00 7.00 7.00 6 8 30b 3.00 3.00 3 00 10a 104.00 104.00 104 12.00 .02 .90 32.50 94.00 Up 13.00 Up 5.00 Off 2.00 Up Up Up 40 492 .50 .50 .20 50 1,000 6,225 07a 00 T 300 — 140 — 30 12.00 00b 00b 5 00b 12 00 Off .25 200 .014 .86 02 90 99 50b 31.00 32 50 00 103.00 103.00 103 — — 15 Company East Mindanao Mining Co. Hawaiian Philippine Co.. . . Jai Alai Corp, of the Phil... Manila Jockey Club.. .. Stock Quotation Co............. Victorias Milling Co., Inc... OVER THE COUNTER High .... P 0.009 P .... 10.00 5.00 .... 1.90 .... 7.00 102.50 10 5 1 7 102 Up Up .002 .04 Off 1.00 50b Off 1.50 00a — Close .009 00 00 90 00 50 10 5 1 7 102 2,461,143 18,000 10,106 304 296 Total Sales 70,000 100 50 27,711 57 122 tivated its membership, and Williams Equipment Co., Ltd. and the Chronicle Publications became active members. The membership committee is presently considering ap plications from other prospective members. The benefits of increased membership, especially through the inter change of ledger information, are obvious to credit exe cutives. The directors of the Association had full attendance in the regular monthly meeting held January 12 which was the last meeting attended by Mr. R. A. Callahan who left for the United States on January 20. Mr. Callahan has served as President of the Association since April, 1953. During January the first of a series of letters oh col lection matters was sent forward to Association members and some firms have already taken active steps to simplify and improve collection methods. Some firms have issued notice that sending of collectors in future will be unneces sary and that checks in payment of accounts will be mailed on specific dates. Other improvements are anticipated. The Association has completed its usual quarterly survey on terms, outstanding balances, bad debt losses, etc. cover ing the last quarter of 1953. The survey still shows a ma jority of firms consider 30-day terms as standard. While a number of firms reported a higher percentage of cash sales during tne last quarter of 1953 than in the last quarter of 1952, the general trend during the year 1953 seemed to move toward increased credit sales. Firms contributing to the survey provided interesting data with reference to aging of accounts on standard and installment terms, on percentages of balances outstanding, and on percentages of bad debts written Qff, and the complete pertinent data developed was circulated on a reciprocal basis. This survey provides helpful information to contributing firms and allows each firm to compare its terms and balances and debts with others. This is one of the helpful services the Association is providing to members to supplement the basic activity of the interchange of ledger information and the other regular services. /credit executives report a feeling of increased confidence during recent weeks. Collections are still very difficult and many credit executives have noted no improvement, although a few believe there has been slight improvement. There are still plenty of post-dated checks in evidence and some credit-men report that some cus tomers seem to be making a habit of using post-dated checks. Domestic prices have been considered fairly steady, especially with reference to most foodstuffs and related items. Some lowering of prices on imported items has been noted, especially where assembly arrangements have been made here. Export prices are expected to hold up, although prices for hemp, rubber, and other items show a declining tendency. There was a noticeable increase in opening letters of credit up to the deadline date of January 20 to take advantage of the last quarter of 1953 unused quota as well as to use early 1954 quota. Goods covered are ex pected to begin arriving in from 60 to 90 days. In prepara tion for this, some inventories are moving, but money is still tied up. Credit By Duncan Burn Manager, Association of Credit Men, Inc. (P.I.) and Manager, Eastern Inspection Bureau THE membership in the Association of Credit Men, Inc. (P.I.) has reached a new high of 82 active members. During January, 1954, Motor Service Co., Inc. reac Electric Power Production (Manila Electric Company System) By J. F. Cotton Treasurer, Manila Electric Company 1941 Average—16,316,000 KWH 1954 1953 Kilowatt Hours January..................................................... 57,165,000** 50,107,000 February................................................... 45,501,000 59 March......................................................... April........................................................... May............................................................ June............................................................ July............................................................. August....................................................... September................................................. October...................................................... November................................................. December.................................................. Total......................................... •Revised ••Partially estimated 50,789.000 49,159,000 52,042,000 51,304,000 53,877,000 54,275,000 53,636,000 55,943,000 53,756,000 57,968,000* 628,357,000* January output was 7,058,000 KWH, or 14.1% above January, 1953. There is every indication that electric power production in 1954 will continue at a rate substan tially above last year. In 1953 sales of electricity to industrial users increased by 38%. This explains the high rate of increase conti nuously being reported in this column. Building Construction By Juan J. Carlos President, United Construction Co., Inc. DURING the month of December, the Office of the City Engineer approved building permits for con struction work amounting to P2,369,750. For the same period in 1952, the volume of work authorized amounted to P2,509,385, in comparison with P2,876,860 in 1951 and P3,770,410 in 1950. Some of the big projects that were started during the month under review were: For the Mivinto Investment Corp., a 1-story building covering an area of 1,651 square meters on Isaac Peral Street, estimated at P250.000; A 2-story reinforced-concrete dormitory building, for the Assump tion Convent, on Herran, comer Dakota streets, costing P150.000; Reconstruction of the Life Theater on Quezon Boulevard, estimated at P150.000. Prices of essential building items remained firm during * the period under review. Portland cement was quoted at P3.40 to P3.60 per bag of 94 lbs.; galvanized-iron sheets, gauge 26, 8 feet long, both corrugated and plain, at P6.00 to P6.20 per sheet; and reinforcing steel bars, sizes 3/8 to 1 inch, at P350 to ?450 per ton. The volume of work seems to have been adversely affected by the national elections held during the period under review. Most of the projects, which were ready to be let out for bidding were held in abeyance until after the results of the elections were known. Real Estate By Antonio Varias Vice-President, C. M. Hoskins & Co., Inc., Realtors REAL ESTATE sales registered in the Greater Manila area during the month of January, 1954, numbered 610, with a total value of P8,245,425, as compared with 503, with a total value of P6,155,104, registered during the preceding month of December, 1953. Of the January sales, 204, with a total value of P4,757,076, represented deals within Manila proper, and 406, with a total value of P3,488,349, were transactions in Quezon City, Pasay, and in the suburban towns of Caloocan, Makati, Paranaque, Malabon-Navotas, Mandaluyong, and San Juan. A number of the bigger sales registered during the month of January were: B inondo Condeaa St. A property with a lot of 5,240 sq.m, sold by Salustiana Dee to the Wellington Realty Investments Corporation for 9800,000. Nueva & Quinones Sts. A property with a lot of 93.1 sq.m, sold by Teodoro Santos to the Far East Realty Investments Co. for 930,000. Ermita Colorado St. A property with a lot of 130 sq.m, sold by Vicente Legarda to Marieta C. de Villa for 964,000. San Marcelino St. A parcel of 6,715.7 eq. m. sold by the Manila Electric Co. to the Philippine American Life Insurance Co. for 9268,628. Intramuros Urdaneta St. A parcel of 494.3 sq.m, sold by Guillermo Guevara to Flora Alvarez for 923,479. Malate Agno St. A property with a lot of 837.5 sq.m, sold by Isabel Novales to Montano for 960,000. v. Paco Isaac Peral corner Looban Sts. A parcel of 1,333.9 sq.m, sold by Maria Perez Rosales to Mariano Qua for 976,695. Sampaloc Pelaez St. A 2-story house on a lot of 560 sq.m, sold by W. Anderson, Jr. to Lorenzo Ziga for 950,000. San Nicolas Penarubia St. A property with a lot of 107.4 sq.m, sold by Juan F. Musa to. Sergia Campos for P21.000. Sta. Crus Bambang St. A property with a lot of 181 sq.m, sold by Benito Pen Ban to Dolores La O for 927,000. Sta. Ana Vito Cruz St. A property with a lot of 324 sq.m, sold by C. Reyes to Teodorico Gargaritano for 925,000. QUEZON CITY Cubao St. Peter St. A property with a lot of 1,208 sq.m, sold by Jose Belleza to Servando Salonian for 945,000. Diliman Kamuning Road. A parcel of 1,016 sq.m, sold by Maria Ramos to Filomena Yang for 937,894. Sta. Mesa Heights Apo St. A property with a lot of 800 sq.m, sold by Aurelio Castro to Honorio Castro for 990,000. Dapitan St. A parcel of 676 sq.m, sold by Felix Angelo Bautista to Domingo Jaw Kong Yeng for 923,660. Dominga St. A property with a lot of 3,364.4 sq.m, at Dominga St., sold by Francisca M. de Garcia to Alejandro Sentero for 950,000. Taft Ave. A properly with a lot of 871 sq.m, sold by Patricio del Mundo to Mauro Luciano for 980,500. SUBURBAN TOWNS Bauhinia St. A parcel of 2,674 sq.m, sold by Ayala Securities Corporation to Carmelo Inc. for 936,099. Buendia St. A tract of 17.302 sq.m, sola by Ayala Securities Corporation to the Philippine Wares and Utensils Co. for 9216,275. Molave St. A parcel of 2,492 sq.m, sold by Ayala Securities Corporation to Yu Khe Siong for 944,856. Tugatog. A tract of 47,644 sq.m, transferred by Ceramics Industries of the Philippines to the Tuason Realty, Inc. for the sum of 9134,816. A tract of 35,601 sq.m, sold by the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Manila to Irineo L. Sia for 9130,000. Mandaluyong Shaw Boulevard. A tract of 10,223 sq.m, transferred by Rosa Tulod to the corporate name Litton and Co. for the sum of 9312,500. Acacia Lane. A tract of 10,319 sq.m, sold by the Roman Catholic Archbishop to Rosa Tulod for 9123,828. ■p eal estate mortages registered in the Greater Manila area during the month of January were 465, with a total value of Pll,700,256, as compared with 567, with a total value of P8,464,034, registered during the preceding month of December. Of the January mortgages, 214, with a total value of P6,243,766, represented deals within Manila proper, and 251, with a total value of P5,456,490, represented deals within the cities of Quezon and Pasay, and in the suburban towns above mentioned. REAL ESTATE SALES, 1954 Quezon Pasay Suburban Manila City City Towns Total January..........P4,757,076?l,306,427 P505.410 Pl,676,512 P8,245,425 REAL ESTATE MORTGAGES, 1954 January..........P6,243,766 Pl.308,920 P517,867P3,629,703?ll,700,256 60 Port of Manila By W. S. Hurst Administrative Officer, Luzon Brokerage Company MATTERS are not flowing too smoothly in the Piers area these days, and importers can expect to see a general slowing up in the delivery of their cargoes for the time being. This is unfortunate and is certainly not the desire of the brokers. It is due simply to the change in administration in the Bureau of Customs and the time it takes for a new procedure to be set up and functioning pro perly. On January 12, Col. Jaime Velasquez took over as head of the Customs Bureau. He was originally appointed by President Magsaysay as Chairman of a special committee created to look into the Customs Bureau and recommend ways and means to stop the reported losing of revenue. As a result of his fact-finding tour and verbal report to the President, Col. Velasquez was appointed to take over and reorganize the Customs Bureau. It is hoped that the new administration in the Customs Bureau will not lose sight of the fact that ships are arriving daily and that at the rate permits are being processed at the present time, there will soon be serious congestion on the piers. Delay in delivery not only causes inconven ience to the importers but also gives that much more chance for pilferage on the piers. We again state that deliveries will be slow for the time being and we ask our many good customers to be patient. Everything possible is being done to remedy the situation and it is hoped that it won’t be too long before smooth operation will be in progress. Ocean Shipping and Exports By B. B. Tunold Secretary-Manager Associated Steamship Lines TOTAL exports for the year 1953 showed an increase of 474,417 tons over exports for the year 1952. 1,634 vessels lifted 4,953,513 tons of exports during 1953, as compared to 4,479,096 tons lifted by 1,331 vessels in 1952. Commodities which have registered sharp increases over the year-1952 figures are: beer from 2,790 to 6,516 tons; lead concentrates from 355 to 2,819 tons; and logs from 202,701,647 to 491,563,059 bd. ft. Exports for the year 1953 as compared with exports for the year 1952 were as follows: Commodity 1953 1952 Alcohol..................................... 146 tons 526 tons Beer...................................... 6,516 ” 2,790 ” Beche de mJr........................ 14 ” — Buntal flU-r............................ 51 ” — Charcoal.................................. 22 ” 10 ” Cigar and cigarettes........... 222 ” 185 ” Coconut, desiccated............ 52,272 ” 60,214 ” Coconut oil............................. 58,589 ” 79,563 ” Concentrates • containing copper, gold, silver, lead, and zinc............................... 4,128 ” Concentrates, copper........... 43,018 ” 64,914 " Concentrates, gold............... 1,066 ” 5,745 *’ Concentrates, lead................ 2,819 ” 355 ” Concentrates, zinc............... 954 ” 343 ” Copra........................................ 592,267 ” 651,764 ” Copra cake/meal.................. 64,589 ” 76,916 ” Embroideries........................... 3,515 ” 2,785 ” Empty cylinders................... 3,393 ” 5,033 ” Fish, salted............................ 205 ” 186 ’’ Foodstuffs, canned, bottled. 39 ” 172 ’’ Fruits, fresh........................... 1,313 ” 681 " Furniture, rattan.................. 8,897 ” 11,526 ” Glycerine................................. 2,231 ” 2,271 ” Gums, copal........................... Gums, elemi........................... Hemp........................................ Hemp-knotted........................ Household goods and per sonal effects....................... Junk metal............................. Kapok...................................... Kapok seeds........................... Logs.......................................... Lumber.................................... Molasses................................... Plywood and plywood pro ducts..................................... Ores, chrome......................... Ores, iron................................ Ores, manganese................... Pineapples, canned............... Rattan, round (palasan)... Rice........................................... Rope.......................................... Rubber...................................... Shell, shell waste.................. Shell buttons, craft.............. Skins, hides, cuttings........... Sugar, cent./raw................... Sugar, refined........................ Sugar, muscovado................ Tobacco .................................... Vegetable oil.......................... Veneer....................................... Wines and liquors............... Transit cargo......................... Merchandise, general.......... 929 ” 61 ” 847,649 bales 613 tons 3,880 ” 2,441 ” 73 ” 104 ” 491,563,059 bd.ft. 56,761,681 ” 173,261 tons 48 ” 555,068 " 1,182,777 ” 23,282 ” 80,915 ” 2,688 ’’ 2,334 ” 4,239 ” 262 ” 613 ” 98 ’ 1,183 ” 795,940 ” 1,364 ” 981 ” 14,859 ” 398 ” 376 ” 34 ” 1,226 ” 8,872 ” 313 ” 46 ” 859,266 bales 177 tons 3,272 ’’ 10,020 ” 61 ” 100 ” 202,701,647 bd.ft. 66,739,465 ” 207,356 tons 306 ” 503,026 ” 1,191,471 ” 27,984 ’’ 77,341 ” 4,086 ” 5,105 ” 1,190 ” 650 ” 88 ” 535 ’’ 764,909 ” 1,463 ” 12,112 ” 15,160 ” 529 ” 49 ” 2,343 ” 11,293 ’’ Freight Car Loadings By Jose B. Libunao Traffic Manager, Manila Railroad Company LOADINGS of revenue freight in the month of Dec ember, 1953, totaled 6,037 cars. This was an increase of 1,428, or 30.98%, over December, 1952, of 4,609 cars. This increase in the number of loaded freight cars, in spite of a decrease of 9,460 tons, was due to cars made available for the transportation of sugar cane, which un fortunately showed a decreased loading per car. Revenue Carload ings by Class December—Tonnage 1953 1952 Group Commodities Products of agriculture..................................... 48,750 44,746 Animal products.................................................. 1,121 694 Products of mines.............................................. 1,221 973 Products of forests............................................. 8,198 11,404 Products of manufactures............................... 24,397 37,809 Merchandise less than by carload.............. 7,508 5,029 Total...................................................... 91,195 100,655 As may be noted from the figures, there was an aggre gate decrease of 9,460 tons. This was the result of the increase of tonnage of 12,754 tons for 21 items and a de crease of 22,312 tons for 18 other items. The principal items which contributed to the increase were: sugar cane, 4,607 tons; merchandise less than by the carload, 2,479 tons; fuel oil, 1,561 tons; other manufactures, 1,428 tons; cement, 928 tons, etc. The items which chiefly caused the decline were: centrifugal sugar, 16,862 tons; lumber, 2,038 tons; wood fuel, 1,124 tons, and desiccated coconut, 538 tons. Increase in the shipments of sugar cane was due to increased acreage and production; in petroleum products, increased importation; in general merchandise, less than by carload lots, the increase was also due to the in creased importation of such foodstuffs as apples, oranges, and of chucherias as well as other manufactures, i.e. medicinal items, paper, fabrics, textiles, leather goods, fertilizer, cement, rubber goods, spare parts .(automotive), etc. The increases in some items were due to the Christ mas and New Year trade. 61 62 AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL February, 1954 The principal items which registered decreased car loadings were: centrifugal sugar, due to competition of highway carriers; logs and lumber, due to decreased ex portation to the United States and practically total stop page of shipments to Japan; wood fuel, due to higher rates and lack of cars which were assigned to the sugar cane traffic, etc. The carloadings are not to be taken as indicative of business trends because of the movements of items which have been diverted to highway carriers, specially to points north of Manila. The coming months may not show im provement as far as the railroad business is concerned, though exports may continue to increase. The same may be said of the import items. Until the Railroad can in crease its facilities, very little improvement can be ex pected in the way of carloadings. Lumber By Pacifico de Ocampo Secre ta ry- Treasurer Philippine Lumber Producers’ Association, Inc. DURING the month under review, December, 1953, the Philippines exported 49,976,577 bd. ft. of logs and lumber, 4,005,416 bd. ft. less than during the preceding month. This big decrease was mainly due to the fall in the shipment of logs to Japan, from 44,953,045 bd. ft. in November, to 41,834,287 bd. ft. in December, or a decrease of 3,118,758 bd. ft. The exports to the United States decreased by only 57,811 bd. ft., from 5,633,156 bd. ft. in November to 5,575,345 bd. ft. in December. Ex ports to all other countries decreased by 861,938 bd. ft., from 3,395,792 bd. ft. in November to 2,533,854 bd. ft. in December, 1953. The following are the quantities of logs and lumber in bd. ft. inspected for export during December, 1953, as re leased by the Bureau of Forestry. Volume in Board Feet Shipper Destination Lumber Logs Aguinaldo Development Corp.. Agusan Timber Corp................... Alberto S. Llorente...................... American Rubber Co................... U.S.A. Japan Japan Japan 52,082 199,988 2,550,000 455,008 430,010 Anakan Lumber U.S.A. 135,322 670,000 Company..................................... Japan 3,000,000 A. Soriano y Cia.......................... Japan 250,000 Atkins Kroll & Co., Inc............ Japan 831,739 Basilan U.S.A. 870,151 153,850 Lumber Hawaii 49,032 Company................................. Japan 1,699,967 Bislig U.S.A. 268,342 Bay Hongkong 205,501 Lumber Spain 427 Co., Inc................................ Japan 4,795,487 Cantilan Lumber Co.................... Japan 640,368 Cipriano Luna Lumber Enter prises ............................................. Japan 648,548 Dahican Lumber Co.................... Formosa 120,000 Davao Stevedores Terminal Co. Inc.................................................. Japan 1,178,821 Dee Cho Lumber Co., Inc........ U.S.A. 48,010 Dy Pac & Co., Formosa 896,300 Inc.................................................. Japan 1,106,336 East Asiatic Co., Ltd.................. Africa 7,000 Edward U.S.A. 49,999 Kincaid......................................... Hawaii 100,000 F. E. Zuellig, Inc......................... U.S.A. 75,869 Findlay Millar Timber Co........ Japan 1,844,823 General Enterprises, U.S.A. 20,720 Inc.................................................. Japan 529,493 General Lumber Co., Inc.......... Formosa 520,253 G. S. Manalac Enterprises.... Japan 2,423,694 Go He............................................... Japan 238,813 Hercules Lumber Co., Inc......... Japan 1,499,996 Iligan Lumber Co......................... Japan 500,265 Insular U.S.A. 833,975 Lumber Africa 317,447 Company................................. Hawaii 103,186 ENGINEERING EQUIPMENT & SUPPLY COMPANY, Inc. MACHINERY • MECHANICAL SUPPLIES • ENGINEERS • CONTRACTORS AIR CONDITIONING For Offices, Theatres, Hospitals, Stores, Restaurants, Hotels, Clubs and Homes ★ ★ ★ Suppliers of MACHINERY, EQUIPMENT and INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES For Sugar Centrals, Mines, Sawmills, Power Plants, Machine Shops and All Industrial Plants ★ ★ ★ ENGINEERING — DESIGN — APPLICATION — ESTIMATES INSTALLATION — MAINTENANCE — SERVICE — REPAIRS ★ ★ ★ General & Sales Office 174 M. de Comillas Manila Tel. 3-29-21 Operating: MACHINE SHOPS • STEEL PLATE SHOPS = STRUCTURAL STEEL SHOPS • WELDING p| SHOPS • BLACKSMITH SHOPS • SHEET IP METAL SHOPS • MARINE RAILWAY IP Engineering Shops No. 1 Calle L. Segura & Pasig River Mandaluyong, Rizal Tel. 6-65-68 February, 1954 AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL 63 Jorge J. Tirador............................ Japan 566,692 Johnston Lumber Co., U.S.A. 27,285 Inc.................................................. Japan 1,956,234 Kiwalan Lumber Co., Inc......... Japan 299,883 Lanao Timber Mill, Inc............. Japan 551,928 Luzon Lumber Mfg. Enterprises............................................. Japan 600,000 Martha Lumber U.S.A. 190,364 Mill, Inc....................................... Japan 2,620,000 Misamis Lumber Co., Inc......... Japan 876,583 Nasipit U.S.A. 293,943 275,000 Lumber Canada 32,246 Co., Inc.................................... Japan 3,220,000 North Camarines U.S.A. 102,398 Lumber Co., Inc....................... Japan 500,001 Ralph U.S.A. 11,200 Dempsey...................................... Hawaii 5,802 Redwood Company...................... Japan 845 1,480,200 Sanchez Logging Co..................... Japan 999,614 Sta. Clara Lumber Co.. U.S.A. 326,523 Inc.................................................. Japan 1,373,813 S. E. MacKchesy.......................... U.S.A. 92 Taggat Sawmill U.S.A. 123,755 Co., Inc........................................ Hawaii 113,906 T. H. Valderrama & Sons........ Japan 230,784 Valeriano C. Bueno..................... U.S.A. 306,160 Vic Corporation............................. Japan 581,000 West Basilan Timber, Inc......... Japan 150,000 Western Mindanao Lumber Co., Inc.................................................. Japan . 1,204,187 Woodworks, U.S.A. 540,307 Inc.................................................. Hongkong 95,000 Totals................................. . 4,483,842 45,492,735 SUMMARY OF EXPORTS DURING DECEMBER, 1953, AR Resume of Exports to: Lumber (.Bd.Ft.) Logs (Bd.Ft.) Total (Bd.Ft.) Japan.......................................... 845 41,834,287 41,835,132 United States and Canada . . 3,485,696 2,121,895 5,607,591 Other countries....................... 997,301 1,536,553 2,533,854 Totals............................. 4,483,842 45,492,735 49,976,577 RANGED BY COUNTRIES OF DESTINATION IN THE ORDER OF VOLUME OF SHIPMENT TO EACH COUNTRY Countries of Destination Lumber (Bd.FtS) Logs (Bd.Ft.) Total (Bd.Ft.) Japan............................................ 845 41,834,287 41,835,132 United States............................. 3,453,450 2,121,895 5,575,345 Formosa....................................... — 1,536,553 1,536,553 Hawaii.......................................... 371,926 — 371,926 Africa............................................ 324,447 — 324,447 Hongkong..................................... 300,501 — 300,501 Canada......................................... 427 — 427 Totals............................... 4,483,842 45,492,735 49,976,577 Trend of Exports to: This Month Month Ago Year Ago Lumber Logs Lumber Logs Lumber Logs (Bd.Ft.) (Bd.Ft.f (Bd.Ft.) (Bd.Ft.) (Bd-Ft.) (Bd.Ft ) Japan.................... 845 41,834,287 — 44,953,045 — 21,038,217 United States and Canada............. 3,485,696 2,121,895 3,291,552 2,341,604 4,340,122 1,461,925 Other countries.. 997,301 1,536,553 1,125,639 2,270,153 1,466,453 — Totals........... 4,483,842 45,492,735 4,417,191 49J564i802 5,806,575 22,500,142 COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF EXPORTS MADE TO DIFFERENT REGIONS OF THE UNITED STATES DURING THE MONTHS OF NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER, 1953 Lumber in Board Feet Logs in Board F Period Western States Eastern States Gulf States AU Others Total Western States Eastern States Gulf States AU Others Total November, 1953..................... 2,212,745 956,914 79,973 41,920 3,291,552 1,136,314 205,290 350,000 650,000 2,341,604 5,633,156 December, 1953...................... 2,471,119 932,239 50,000 92 3,453,450 1,298,848 350,793 — 472,254 2,121,895 5,575,345 Difference (Increase+;^ 258,374 + 24,675— 29,973— 41.828— 161,898 + 162,534 + 145,503 + 350,000— 177,746— 219,709— 57,811— INSULAR LUMBER COMPANY FABRICA, OCC. NEGROS MEMBER — PHILIPPINE LUMBER PRODUCERS’ ASSOCIATION, INC. --- *---SPECIALISTS IN KILN-DRIED LUMBER and MANUFACTURERS OF BOXES OF ALL DESCRIPTIONS MANILA DISTRIBUTORS: Norton & Harrison Company 814 Echague Manila Philippine Lumber Manufacturing Company 14-30 Soler St. Manila Insular Saw Mill. inc. 340 Canonigo, Paco Manila MANILA OFFICE-. 603 FILIPINAS BUILDING 64 AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL February, 1954 Arrivals of logs and lumber in Manila during the month under review, aggregating 10,641,866 bd. ft., de creased by 256,556 bd. ft. as compared to arrivals during the previous month of 10,898,422 bd. ft. During the month under review, December, 1953, there was little change in prices in the local wholesale trade from the previous month’s prices of P175-P185 for white lauan and apitong, and P195-P215 for red lauan. The slight easing of the local wholesale lumber market was partly attributed to the reluctance to buy during the in ventory-taking period and partly to the slowing down of construction activities during the Holiday season. /-pHRoucH government initiative and with the cooperation of the concessionaires, attempt is being made to solve the reforestation problem with the objective both of con serving forest-growth and giving direct benefit to forest licensees through the application of the reforestation fees, at least in part, to the rehabilitation of the cut-over areas in the respective concessions. jn a letter addressed by Mr. A. de las Alas, President of x the Philippine Lumber Producers’ Association, Inc., to the Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources, the former cited, as the most urgent problem of the industry to be solved by the present Administration, the tremendous tax burden shouldered by lumber producers. Particular reference was made to the 17% exchange tax levied on remittances abroad for the purchase of machinery, im plements, and supplies, necessary for operation, replace ments, and expansion. There seems to be no reason why sawmill and logging machinery cannot be considered in the same category as agricultural machinery, which by law is exempted from the payment of this charge. Mining By Henry A. Brimo President Philippine Gold Producers Association, Inc. THE problems of the gold producers have about reached their climax. It is safe to state that our Government authorities realize this fact, but since any conjecture that we might make as to action that may be taken to aid the industry could be superseded by actual develop ments before this article reaches its readers, we shall avoid speculating on the matter. At this writing, a committee appointed by the Philippine Gold Producers’ Association to discuss its problems (namely Judge John W. Haussermann, Messrs. Jan H. Marsman, A. L. Velilla, and the writer) has been told to stand by for a breakfast conference, for which President Magsaysay has expressed a preference, at the earliest opportunity open to him. The committee feels it will have no difficulty in pre senting facts which are startling and true concerning the desperate plight of the gold-producing industry. Of 10 mines which began 1953 in operation, 3 suffered such losses that they were forced to close before the year ended, while the remaining 7 suffered a combined net loss (we are quot ing strictly preliminary data only) in the neighborhood of P250.000. Including the losses suffered by the 3 mines which shut down during the year, the net loss for the industry in 1953 will be almost P2,000,0001 Even the 4 mines which ended the year with profits (Baguio Gold, Benguet Consolidated, Surigao Consolidated, and San Mauricio) showed results which definitely place their respective operations in the marginal-class. PHILIPPINE MANUFACTURING COMPANY February, 1954 AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL 65 Furthermore, as we write this article, the gold price is in the neighborhood of P101.00 per ounce for bullion. This compares with the average sale price during 1953 (for bullion) of approximately P103.40. If, therefore, the current price had actually prevailed during all of 1953, it would be safe to say that even the profitable gold mines would have operated on the borderline between profit and loss. If, in addition, it is considered that the cash wage paid to mine labor has risen only recently as a result of a cam paign initiated by the Wage Administration Service to lower the value of facilities which mines normally grant to labor, a campaign which began, peculiarly enough, two months before the past national elections, the net result would have been losses for every operator in the industry. Our mines would be helped if a way could be found to increase the productivity of labor, but despite acute and prolonged attention to this phase of operation, it is sad to state that actual tons produced per man-shift is distressingly lower than in pre-war days. A second means of improving results could be achieved in a modest way if the cost of supplies and equipment were to decline. This, however, is not happening, in reverse of repeated predictions made in the past year, or since the Korea shooting-war ended. A third source of possible aid is reducing wages, but this cannot be done without affecting efficiency and we consider this type of relief as neither possible nor desirable. It is apparent, therefore, that unless our gold-yield can be increased, either through a subsidy or some other plan, such as a successful enactment of the so-called Gold Certificate Plan now in operation in several South American countries, our mines are doomed to early extinction. And since we have striven mightily but futilely to improve our operations, it is also apparent that we have no recourse but to directly appeal to our Government for the needed aid. Fortunately, all signs point to a sympathetic attitude on the part of the new Administration. The next several weeks, nevertheless, will be crucial. In the interim, while the fate of the gold mining industry rests in the hands of the powers that be, we are exploring every possible source of relief and are hopeful that ultimately sufficient aid will be given to gold producers. Sugar By J. H. d’Authreau Acting Secretary-Treasurer Philippine Sugar Association THIS review covers the period January 1 to January 31, 1954. New York Market. The main features of the market throughout the month have been the firm tone of the spot and prompt positions, and the relative firmness of July and September, as against the easing off of both March and May under pressure of hedging in these positions. This is a direct reflection of the refined market where rdfiners have now built up adequate stocks to face any strike devel opments and where demand has eased off in the expectation of a possible reduction in the price of refined sugar. Re finers confine their activities for the most part to prompt Cubas at 6.02/ to 6.05/, taking in occasional small lots of operator-held Philippine February arrivals at around 6.00/ and March arrivals at 5.95/ to 5.98/ c.i.f.,duty paid. This attitude to Philippine sugars has proved discouraging to operators who show little inclination to operate in Phil ippines for April and May arrivals. The New York dock situation is still obscure, with no hint of a final settlement of the unions issue. Price of refined is unchanged at 8.65/ except for two refineries quoting 8.60/ f.o.b. refinery. Reported sales of actuals totalled approximately 107,770 long tons, of which 21,000 tons were Philippines. Ex change operations for the period approximated 210,000 ... that’s “WOLMANIZED”- treated lumber. This chemically-treated wood is positively resistant to anay, buk bok, rot and other wood destroying insects. Here’s how the treatment is done: Not merely dipped, sprayed or brushed onto the wood, but placed in a large steel cylinder where the preservatives are forced into the cells of the wood under high pressure. The penetration of the preservative is deep and lasting. “WOLMAN” wood preservatives will not bleed or leach from the wood. Indoors, it lasts the lifetime of the building. Cosily repairs from anay, bukbok and rot are eliminated. It is inexpensive. Leaves the wood odorless, clean, non-oily and non-corrosive to metals. Does not harden or soften the wood fiber because only chemicals have been added. Wherever you build or buy, use “WOLMANIZED” pressuretreated wood for positive protection against anay, bukbok and rot. Used in the tropics for over 25 years. See or write us today, for complete information. ATLANTIC, GULF & PACIFIC CO. OF MANILA WOOD PRESERVING DIVISION Robert Dollar Bldg., Tort Area P- O. Box 626 Tel. 3-36-61 (Connecting all Depta.) 66 AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL February, 1954 short tons. Deliveries of refined for the period December 28 to January 23 were 530,363 short tons, as compared with 746,721 for December and with 564,224 for January, 1953. On January 16 refiners stocks were 157,389 long tons, as against 198,724 last year. Opening and closing quotations on the No. 6 Contract were as follows: January 4. .. 29. .. March May 5.52(4 5.56(4 5.47 5.51 July Sept. 5.69(4 5.74f$ 5.66 5.71 Nov. 5.75^ 5.72 Average spot price for January was 5.5355/. Local Market, (a) Domestic Sugar. Under the influence of continuing bids for domestic sugar for domestic export switches in some districts, the price of domestic remained firm at P14.30, basis ex Negros warehouse. The market was further strengthened by Sugar Quota Office Sugar Order No. 3, dated January 6, 1954, permitting regular quota holders to withdraw their total weekly pro duction for export, subject to the control of the Sugar Quota Office which may, whenever necessary to insure filling of the domestic quota, fix percentages for applica tion against domestic allotments. 100% of weekly pro duction of emergency sugar is to be applied against emergency domestic allotments. Bureau of Commerce quotations during the month were basis “ex warehouse Manila” as follows: In Bacolod, at the close of the month, mill run domestic was quoted at P14.50 per picul. (b) Export Sugar. With the decline in New York values, the price for export receded to P 14.90 for spot delivery, bolstered to some extent by the New York futures 97° 98° 99° January 6 . ..,. . P14.00/P14.20 P16.10/P16.20 P18.00/P18.15 13... 14.00/ 14.20 16.10/ 16.20 18.00/ 18.15 20... 14.00/ 14.20 16.10/ 16.20 18.00/ 18.15 27. .. 14.30/ 14.50 16.00/ 16.20 17.20/ 17.70 Tirestone TIRE & RUBBER CO., (P.I.) CEBU MANILA ILOILO CHRYSLER 1IRTEMP I'WKAGEB UK MDITKIRS SALES in SERVICE Subscribe to the JOURNAL To keep your files complete 31 Romero Salas Tel. 5-30-33 February, 1954 AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL 67 exchange quotations. Volume business was done at P15.00 in the last week of the month against hedged sales at 6.00// 6.01/ for February/March shipment. The going freight rate for the month has remained unchanged at $9.50, with little likelihood of any increase for February or March. Total export shipments for the month are estimated at 86,000 long tons, making a total of 184,783 against the 1953-54 crop, as compared with 160,000 up to the same date in 1953. Total Philippine arrivals in New York for January are recorded at 8,544 long tons. World. Market. Opening and closing quotations were as follows: Spot March May Jan. 4 3.25£ 3.23,5 3.25,5 " 29 3.33 3.34 3.33 July Sept. Oct. March, 1955 3.27(5 3.27(5 — — 3.33 3.33 3.36(5 3.22(5 The further improvement in this contract has followed upon reports of Cuba’s intention to limit the 1954 pro duction to 4,750,000 Spanish long tons, comprising a re ported allocation to the World Free Quota of 900,000. No official action has yet been taken by the Cabinet. On Jan uary 28, 24 mills were reported grinding. 1953-54 Milling. Twenty-two Centrals are now operating and latest reports received by the Philippine Sugar Association indicate that the total production of these 22 mills to January 17 is 460,990 short tons. The average of juice purities to date is 84.49. Manila Hemp By J. Deane Conrad President, Conrad & Co., Inc. DURING the month of January hemp prices in the United States market continued to decline. Machinecleaned I fell off approximately 1-1/4/ a lb., ma chine-cleaned JI, 1-3/8/ per lb. and machine-cleaned G 1/ per lb. We are pleased to report that advices from New York received here on January 30 indicated that there was a firmer tone in their market, with sellers of machine-cleaned I at 20-3/4/ and machine-cleaned JI at 20-3/8/. Usually January is an active month in the New York market with prices generally steady and ad vancing slightly. However, such was not the case this year. Reports indicate that there are anywhere from 30,000 to 50,000 bales of Central American abaca stored in the United States unsold, and this naturally has a depressing effect on prices for Manila abaca. We understand the United States Government is now endeavoring to market Central American abaca in the European market and that small sales actually have been made. In London, prices continued to decline for the month under review, for both Davao and non-Davao hemp. As a result of the inactivity in New York, exporters kept their European representatives well supplie_d with offers. With large supplies being offered, buyers in Europe naturally were in a strong position to force prices down, and exporters found it necessary to continually reduce their prices in order to do business. In Japan, prices for medium grades of Davao and non Davao fiber declined approximately $2 per bale. Early in January there were indications that the Philippine Govern ment was not inclined to renew the Barter Trade Agree ment with Japan unless it could come to some satisfactory Subscribe to the Journal to keep your files complete PMH MERCHfflDISIM C fl R P fl II1 T 10 JI 449 Dasmarinas Manila AMERICAN RADIATOR & STANDARD SANITARY CORPORATION AMERICAN VALVE COMPANY AMES BALDWIN WYOMING COMPANY BADGER METER MANUFACTURING CO. BADGER FIRE EXTINGUISHER CO. BALL BROS. MASON JARS BOMMER SPRING HINGE COMPANY CAPEWELL MANUFACTURING CO. CARBORUNDUM COMPANY COLUMBUS COATED PRODUCTS CO. COLUMBIAN VICE & MFG. CO. CORBIN LOCK COMPANY DICK BROTHERS MANUFACTURING CO. EKCO PRODUCTS CO. FAIRBURY WINDMILL CO. GREAT NECK SAW CO. JACOBS MANUFACTURING CO. KEENEY MANUFACTURING COMPANY MALLEABLE IRON FITTINGS CO. NORTH WAYNE TOOL COMPANY PABCO PRODUCTS, INC. “Pabco” Products RUDISILL FOUNDRY COMPANY SLOAN VALVE COMPANY SOLARINE COMPANY TEMPLETON KENLY JACK CO. UNION CARBIDE & CARBON CORP. National Carbon Division “Eveready” flashlights & batteries Linde Air Products Division "Union” Carbide ‘‘Oxweld” Welding Rods, Supplies and Generators “Prest-o-Weld” Welding and Cutting Apparatus UNITED STATES STEEL EXPORT CORP. ♦ STEEL PRODUCTS HOUSE FURNISHINGS GENERAL HARDWARE PLUMBING AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL February, 1954 COMPLETE INTERNATIONAL BANKING FACILITIES of Amertra NATIONAL HvSiTngs ASSOCIATION WILSON BUILDING 139 JUAN LUNA MANILA Call 5-42 74 or 5 33-90 for FREE estimates. I Dear Homeowner: Don’t throw your old blinds and screens away. Send them to us. We will repair and restore them for you. Life Time Venetians and Veni-Shade wood and bamboo rolling screens are made by— CADWALLADER PACIFIC COMPANY MANILA * CEBU ♦ ILOILO * BACOLOD ♦ DAVAO tme □ CUSTOM-BUILT VENETIAN BLINDS □ I.......:......C EZ=Z=] E makes the difference! I arrangements regarding the settlement of the reparations problem. As the Trade Agreement was to expire at the end of January and shipments had to be made and docu ments negotiated by the end of January, it was exceedingly difficult to do any business with Japan with any degree of safety. However, most exporters realized that something would have to be done in order to permit trade to continue between the two countries, and, on January 22, exporters were advised that they would be permitted to negotiate their documents through February 28 providing the cor responding letters of credit were received in the Philippines before the end of January. On January 28 it was reported in the press that the Trade Agreement had been extended through March 17. This represents a 45-day extension, against a usual extension of 4 months. It is exceedingly unfortunate that the Philippines and Japan cannot set up a Trade Agreement which will permit business to operate smoothly from one year to the next. It is the writer’s opinion that the method presently employed has been most expensive as certainly it has had a depressing effect upon the fiber market. We detail below the usual statistics. The January figures will be included in our February report. Total........................... United States and Canada Continent of Europe. ... United Kingdom.............. Japan................................... South Africa....................... China................................... India.................................... Korea.................................. Australia and New Zea land .................................. Others.................................. Total. 856,158 870,234 978,766 752,933 513,720 Exports—January /December, inclus 360,073 157,736 96,502 203,707 9,000 5,435 6,190 600 1,450 1,826 947 Copra and Coconut Oil By Robert J. McCombe Manager, Copra Buying Department, Philippine Manufacturing Company AFTER a slow start in early January, prices resumed the advance which began last August. Trading reached new highs during the third week of January, due, mainly, to heavy European buying. The United States market, however, remained unusually quiet mainly due to the poor demand for coconut oil. Copra Prices. During January, prices to the United States West Coast narrowly ranged between $217.50 and $222.50 per short ton c.i.f. West Coast. At the end of the month, there was limited buying interest at $217.50 and, on the other hand, a large volume of offerings at $220.00. Net change for the month was up $2.50-$5.00. Most of the activity during the month centered around the European market as European consumers and speculators entered the market about the middle of the month and bid prices up from $240 to a high of $252 per long ton c.i.f. Europe. Toward the end of the month, it became evident that the immediate European requirements had been satisfied and prices slowly eased back to $243-$244 per long ton c.i.f. Europe—up about $3-$4 a ton over the December 31 levels. In Manila the local price for fresh copra, resecada basis, 30-day delivery, reached a high of P42.00 during the third week, but, in line with the easier export markets, closed the month at P40.50-P41.00 per 100 kilos—up about P.50 from the price at the end of last year. February, 1954 AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL 69 Coconut Oil Prices.—Demand for coconut oil in the United States during January was very limited. Buyers were aware of the large amount of unsold afloat oil to New York. This oil was available somewhat below copra replacement equivalent and United States buyers, later in the month, took advantage of this to replenish their stocks. At the month end, coconut oil was freely offered at 16-3/4/ c.i.f. New York and 16-1/8/ per lb. f.o.b. tank cars, Pacific Coast, for February-March delivery. In spite of the higher copra market, oil prices were unchanged from the December 31 levels. Copra Cake and Meal Prices. January saw a further increase in the demand for protein meals and the price of copra cake advanced another $4 to about $70-$73 per short ton c.i.f. West Coast. Copra Statistics Philippine Copra and Coconut Oil Exports (In Long Tons) November December Copra United States.................... 30,511 30,199 Europe................................. 24,600 22,000 Other countries................. .... 4,012 1,753 Total............................ .... 59,123 53,952 Cocon ut Oil United States.................... 8,335 4,845 Other countries............... — Total............................ .... 8,335 4,845 Manila and Cebu Copra Arrivals (In Metric Tons) Manila Cebu Manila and Cebu 1951 monthly average . 14,344 19,667 34,011 1952 monthly average . . 14,604 15,102 29,706 1953 monthly average 12,052 15,979 28,031 January, 1951................. 13,242 22,634 35,876 January, 1952............. 14,775 16,303 31,078 January, 1953..-............. 8,448 12,682 21,130 January, 1954................. 13,038 15,490 28,528 COLUMBIAN ROPE COMPANY OF PHILIPPINES, INC. HEMP AND COPRA EXPORTERS STEAMSHIP AGENTS ¥ 206 Myers Building i Port Area, Manila, P. I. ¥ BRANCHES! Davao • Tacloban • Cebu • Tabaco NEW AND... Production and Future Prospects. As is usual in Jan uary, arrivals were very light during the first two weeks. However, toward the end of the month, arrivals, both in Cebu and Manila, picked up sharply to make January an average normal month—35% above January, 1953, which was an abnormally low month. Arrivals are expected to remain good during February. At the end of January, the copra market appeared nervous. The general expectation is that the price trend during February may be slightly downward. Coconut oil is one of the highest priced fats in both the United States and European markets and, because of this, is meeting considerable consumer buying resistance. Should produc tion continue good and the abnormally high European demand subside, prices could react approximately P2-P3 from the present levels. Desiccated Coconut By Howard R. Hick President and General Manager Peter Paul Philippine Corporation -TO SEE (JJKU'*'* * —TO TOUCH —TO OPERATE Modern in design, the MARCHANT is the only American calculator with dials for checking key board entries. Its low-luster finish eliminates reflections causing eye fatigue. With key action twice as light as before, its keys and controls respond to the slightest touch. The MARCHANT is unmatched in accuracy control, simplicity, speed, and silence. Shippers Previous Total Franklin Baker Com pany........................ 46,177,170 46.75% Blue Bar Coconut Company................ 9,711,200 9.83% Peter Paul Philippine Corp......................... 9,955,700 10.08% Red-V Coconut ProDecember For the Year 1953 100% 3,119,705 46.01% 49,296,875 46.71% 977,550 14.42% 10,688,750 10.13% 696,900 10.28% 10,652,600 10.09% 1,554,800 22.92% 28,275,125 26.79% 432,000 6.37% 5,092,100 4.82% ~ ______ 1.541,800 1.46% MARCHANT CALCULATOR ERLANGER & GALINGER, INC. 123 T. Pinpin off Escolta Tel. 3-21-61 70 AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL February, 1954 Paper J. P. HEILBKOXA CO.IW ESTABLISHED 1909 ■ W PAPER and Paper Products of All Kinds Office and School Supplies Printing and Lithographic Machinery and Supplies Surveying and Drafting Material Genuine DU PONT Cellophane, Cellulose Sponges, Cellulose Bands (Bottle Caps), Cellulose Yarn Esterbrook Fountain Pens, Push Pencils and Desk Sets FIR-TEX Building Board and Insulating Board Bodega Equipment—Barrett Lift Trucks and Portable Elevators Office and Sales Room: 3-36-17 575 Atlanta, Port Area, Manila Te,s: 3-36-18 Doing a Fine Job! CATERPILLAR BEG. O.S. PAT. OFFICE Throughout the islands today, “CATERPILLAR” products are doing a fine job—helping in the re-habilitation of the Philippines. These yellow machines are in many different kinds of services. But wherever they are called upon to serve, you can count on them to do their jobs staunchly and dependably. KOPPEL (PHILIPPINES), INC. PHILIPPINE REPRESENTATIVES: PRESSED STEEL CAR CO., INC. BOSTON & 23rd STREETS, PORT AREA •• TEL. 3-37-53 Branches: BACOLOD.ILOILO.CEBU.DAVAO.COTABATO’ZAMBOANGA Tobacco By Luis A. Pujalte Exporter, Importer and Wholesale Dealer in Leaf Tobacco THERE has been quite a lot in the papers of late re garding the possible revival of the National Tobacco Corporation or an organization of a similar nature. If this is done, it will be a mistake, as again a couple of million pesos of the tax-payers’ money will be spent within a few years without tangible benefit. The claim that tobacco prices are low because the Corporation was liquidated (in 1951), is false. It is true that the 1952 crop was purchased at low prices, but this was because it was a very abundant crop and because most dealers were already heavily stocked with the remainders of previous crops, purchased at high prices, which they had difficulty in selling because of the anticipated lower prices which would result from the large prospective crop. Dealers were also short of cash, which added to their re luctance to buy. However, because of the low prices paid for the 1952 crop, Philippine tobacco came down to world-market levels and there were heavy exports during the latter part of 1952 and part of 1953. Most of the existing stocks were exhausted. Unfavorable weather conditions reduced the size of the 1953 crop, and since little old-crop tobacco remained, prices sky-rocketed in spite of the poor quality,—and without a National Tobacco Corporation in existence. The 1954 crop will also be short and prices will con tinue high. And as a consequence of the renewed high prices, exports have already dropped considerably and will remain low up to 1955. The real thing to do, in the writer’s humble opinion, is not to attempt to force up prices, but to look for ways and means to obtain a larger and more efficient production so that our tobacco will be able to compete in the world market. The Department of Agricultural Extension can be of more aid to the farmers than a marketing concern be cause prices are naturally governed by supply and demand and there is no way of forcing them artificially without some one being hurt. It was the tax-payers who were hurt during the time of the defunct National Tobacco Corpora tion. Imports By S. Schmelkes Mercantile, Inc. ALL figures are in kilos with the exception of those for foodstuffs which are given in package units: Commodities: December, 1953 December, 1952 Automotive (Total).................... ............. 1,874,041 1,305,935 Automobiles.............................. 145,102 223,689 Auto Accessories..................... ............. 5,851 26 Auto Parts................................ ............. 362,049 184,022 Bicycles...................................... ............. 12,019 256 Trucks....................................................... 79,979 45,495 Trucks Chassis........................ ........... 247,733 250,956 Truck Parts.............................. ............. 47,653 92,091 Building Materials (Total). . ............. 4,702,093 3,499,043 Board, Fibre.............................. ............. 20,930 20,952 Cement....................................... ............. 161,024 33,981 Glass, Window........................ 1,199,985 362,117 Gypsum....................................... ............. — 1,009,072 Chemicals (Total)................................... 12,332,138 6,637,828 Caustic Soda.. ......................... ............. 813,115 364,125 Explosives (Total)...................... ............. 111,226 61,376 Firearms (Total)......................... ............. 8,750 2,410 Ammunition............................................. 4,072 2,398 Hardware (Total)........................ ............. 4,023,692 4,253,773 Household (Total)...................... ............. 1,454,815 ' 898,656 Machinery (Total)....................... ............. 2,213043 1,828,102 February, 1954 AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL 71 Metals (Total)............................................ 12,981,453 9,334,778 Petroleum Products (Total).................. 68,540,256 77,427,220 Radios (Total)............................................ 42,202 17,492 Rubber Goods (Total)............................. 1,130,385 902,751 Beverages, Misc. Alcoholic..................... 4,613 3,684 Foodstuffs, Total Kilos............................ 24,767,101 30,064,923 Foodstuffs, Fresh (total)......................... 159,459 120,027 Apples........................................................ 22,785 32,922 Oranges....................................................... 11,986 19,001 Onions......................................................... 55,970 6,628 Potatoes..................................................... 34,217 9,657 Foodstuffs, Dry Packages (Total).... 31,078 35,986 Foodstuffs, Canned (Total)................... 279,324 383,429 Sardines..................................................... 1,891 97,386 Milk, Evaporated................................... 133,127 147,181 Milk, Condensed................................... 8,812 19,100 Foodstuffs, Bulk (Total)......................... 463,262 616,485 Rice............................................................. — — Wheat Flour............................................ 388,077 563,992 Foodstuffs, Preserved (Total)............... 914 2,437 Bottling, Misc. (Total)........................... 623,161 693,286 Cleansing and Laundry (Total)........... 104,885 96,308 Entertainment Equipment (Total).. . . 268 2,147 Livestock-bulbs-seeds (Total)................ 136,748 25,877 Medical (Total).......................................... 493,068 437,534 Musical (Total).......................................... 64,432 20,713 Office Equipment (Total)........................ 47,525 59,892 Office Supplies (Total)............................ 45,381 46,234 Paper (Total).............................................. 5,708,910 4,559,658 Photographic Materials (Total)........... 20,689 26,783 Raw Materials (Total)............................ 1,767,424 1,933,481 Sporting Goods (Total)........................... 14,118 19,924 Stationery (Total)..................................... 221,797 153,866 Tobacco (Total).......................................... 769,658 1,111,797 Chucheria (Total)...................................... 143,225 47,795 Clothing Apparel (Total)........................ 704,404 595,569 Cosmetics (Total)...................................... 24,821 33,438 Fabrics (Total)........................................... 635,031 824,928 Jewelry (Total)........................................... 297 334 Leather (Total).......................................... 226,481 85,506 Textiles (Total).......................................... 3,500,324 2,856,769 Twine (Total).............................................. 64,007 23,934 Toys (Total)................................................ 173,172 18,444 General Merchandise (Total)................ 1,734,010 1,240,393 Non-Commercial Shipments (Total) . . 109,375 110,431 Advertising Materials, Etc. (Total) .. 23,217 44,226 Food Products By W. E. M. Saul Manager, Food Products Department Marsman &> Company, Inc. Trading Division FLOUR. Arrivals of flour for the month of January amounted to around 600,000 50-lb. bags. Although the Price Control Law went out of existence on the 31st of December, 1953, the selling price of flour in the local market did not spiral upward as was previously ex pected. On the contrary, prices of flour stabilized at the former ceiling prices, or in some cases, even went down below them. This was due to some extent to the timely arrival of several large shipments of flour. However, it would be safe to say that this was due mainly to the “Gen tlemen’s Agreement” entered into by the millers’ repre sentatives, flour importers and wholesalers, and flour as sociations of different nationalities, whereby they agreed as a gesture of cooperation with the new Administration to sell their.flour stocks at prices within the previous ceilings in effect up to December 31, 1953. It is happy thing to note this agreement has been kept by all concerned. The Central Bank issued on January 28, 1954, the Memorandum fo Authorized Banks No. 33, releasing foreign exchange corresponding to the remaining 80% of IWA wheat-flour allocations for the first semester of 1954. The other 20% had previously been granted as an advance during the month of December, 1953. It must be remem bered that the base used is still the total letters of credit opened by importers against flour licenses issued by the defunct Import Control Commission for the second semester, 1953. An importer is authorized to open each monthly ★ mzin NTiivmitm; COMPANY, ISC. Manila ★ SERVICE WITH SATISFACTION / CUSTOMS BROKERS / WAREHOUSEMEN / TRUCKING / PACKING & CRATING / FREIGHT FORWARDING / SHIP HUSBANDING / CARGO SUPERINTENDENCE / AIR CARGO AGENTS 7 TRAVEL AGENTS / FIELD WAREHOUSING LUZON BROKERAGE COMPANY Derham Bldg. Cables: Telephone: Port Area LUBROCOIN 3-34-31 72 AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL February, 1954 MMLEOD HIMI'OY of PHILIPPINES Hemp Exporters Steamship Agents 207 Myers Building Port Area, Manila period up to May, only 16%, except for the period January 28 to February 28, 1954, when he is allowed to open up to 32%. Deadlines for shipments are as follows: March 31, April 30, May 31, and June 30, 1954. Milk and milk products. Importations of evaporat ed milk during January have not equalled the regular monthly consumption. Consequently, the prices of popular brands have all had an upward trend and have been selling fast during the latter part of the month. Condensed and powdered (both whole and skim) are in good supply. Canned fish. Sufficient stocks are available. The past season’s catch off the East Coast for sardines has been poor; the season ended December 1, and will not open again until the beginning of May. Very few sardines were caught off the West Coast and the anchovy catch has been poor, the fish gathered being quite small in size. African canners are now offering jack mackerel; sardines (pilchards) are being offered in spot lots, until the season starts in March. Japanese sardines are active for February ship ment. We can therefore expect an influx of both African and Japanese sardines during the coming months. Following the pattern of the 1952 salmon season, the 1953 season which ended in December was also very poor. The indent price for Alaska chums, which is the variety popular out here, went up in leaps and bounds during January due to the short supply at the canneries. Canned meats. The local market is well supplied with corned beef, and luncheon meat under various labels is moderately available. Potted meat and meat spreads are fairly abundant. Vienna sausage stocks, however, have reached an even level with the demand, whereas there had been large overstocks for months past. Fruits and vegetables. Grocery stores appear well supplied with canned fruits and vegetables and the market stalls show a good assortment of fresh locally-grown varieties that are in season. Textiles By W. V. Saussotte General Manager Neuss, Hesslein Co., Inc. THE piece goods market in New York experienced a general strengthening during the latter part of Jan uary. Prices on basic cotton print cloths, including the 80” x 80”, P4.00 a yard quality which is basic in the Philippines, advanced about 3/4/ per yard and other cotton grey goods in special constructions went up as much as 1-1/2/. The market for denims and other work-cloth ing fabrics remains unchanged. As regards rayons, from about the middle of 1953 until the end of the year, the market was so depressed that few finishers were able to stay in business at a profit while the majority were operating at break-even levels. On the 20th of January, however, there was an industry-wide price increase in the dyeing, printing, and finishing of rayon and synthetic fabrics. Such a move may well affect the entire textile industry in the United States. During the first week in January, the local commercial banks began to release quota certifications, and quota February, 1954 AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL 73 holders immediately started to order their requirements. During the first 15 days of January there was a general rise in local market prices and goods began to move at a faster pace. Although this movement slowed down during the last 10 days of January, the earlier price increases were uneffected. On January 20, Central Bank Memorandum to Authorized Agent Banks No. 28 was released. In cluded in this announcement is the information that “No application of any Old Importer or pre-1953 New Importer for increase in the amount of foreign exchange certified for the importation of commodities falling under the category of non-essentials, Appendices C (NEP) and E (NEC), will be considered or allowed during the current semester and until further notice”. As practically all textile items of importance fall within either of the two appendices mentioned, it can be reasonably expected that local prices will remain firm and that perhaps within the next 30 days they may increase noticeably. Arrivals from the United States during January to talled 15,627 packages, slightly below the average for the last 4 months of 1953. Included were 7,521 packages of cotton piece goods, 1,542 packages of fabrics made from synthetic fibers, 2,027 packages of cotton remnants, and f.271 packages of remnants made from synthetic fibers. There were 3,501 packages of cotton knitting yam, 877 packages of sewing thread, 1,118 packages of seine twine, and 402 packages of cotton duck. Arrivals from countries other than the United States totalled 4,420 packages, of which 2,396 packages were from Japan, consisting principally of cotton piece goods and rayon piece goods, half of the former cotton knitting yam; 491 packages consisting entirely of jute cloth and jute sugar bags arrived from India, while 512 packages came from Europe, consisting principally of cotton sewing thread and cotton knitting yam. nr'he arrivals from Japan are significant. January’s arrivals included 967 packages of cotton piece goods and 859 packages of rayon piece goods. According to Bulletin No. 4 of the Import Control Commission, dated September 7,1951, relating to “Licenses for Importa tions under the Barter Trade Agreement with Japan”, “only the commodities specified in the Schedule of Imports in the said Trade Agreement could be issued barter licenses (see attached Schedule) except those included in the LIST OF IMMEDIATE BANNED ITEMS*’. The Schedule referred to provides that cotton yarn and grey cotton may be imported under the Trade Plar. with Japan exclusively by the National Development Company textile mills as per Executive Order No. 328. At the end of this Schedule the following stipulation is made: “For purposes of this regulation, cotton prints, colored yarns, denims, khakis, herringbone twills, and or bleached and dyed assorted sheetings are not included in the term ‘textiles and manufactures.’” MOTOR SERVICE CO, INC. AUTOMOTIVE PARTS • ACCESSORIES GARAGE & SHOP EQUIPMENT BATTERIES • TIRES • TUBES 230 13th St., Port Area — Tel. 3-36-21 WHEN IN NEED OF ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION YOU OWE IT TO YOUR COMPANY TO CHOOSE AN ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR YOU CAN DEPEND ON FOR SAFE, EFFECTIVE, ECONOMICAL INSTALLATIONS. REMEMBER—AN IMPROPERLY MADE ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION MAY CAUSE FIRES, EXCESSIVE CURRENT CONSUMPTION AND RESULT IN GENERAL INCONVENIENCE. MORA TELEPHONE: 3-21-85 ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS & CONTRACTORS AND OVER 32,000 JOBS. IN OVER 30 YEARS NO MORA ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION HAS CAUSED AN ELECTRICAL FIRE! Prestige - Building PRINTING That's the “packaged product’’ which we give in return when you patronize us! VIRKOGRAPHING COLOR WORK Or Just PLAIN PRINTING —We simply have the team to turn out jobs that represent the qualities for which your firm stands, finished work that will help bring prestige to your house. And all we ask is "Give IJs A Chance!” 74 AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL February, 1954 SETS THE PACE Around lhe clock ... around lhe world—millions of people daily use safe . . . efficient Olis Elevators. In fact, people who visit the newest office und apartment buildings just naturally expect to step into a modern Otis Elevator. OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY ELEVATORS • DUMBWAITERS • ESCALATORS • ENGINEERING A PLANNING MYERS BLDG., 142—I3TH ST., PORT AREA, MANILA • TEL. 3-37-20 MS, HESSLEIN & CO., INC. 75 WORTH ST., NEW YORK, N.Y. FOREMOST SUPPLIERS OF TEXTILE FABRICS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD for 86 years and FOREMOST SUPPLIERS OF TEXTILES TO THE PHILIPPINES FOR 51 YEARS. • FAUST SUITINGS • FLATTERY PRINTS • WALDORF PERCALES • SEINE TWINE & YARNS • AGUILA DENIMS • CARABELA CHAMBRAYS • COMMANDER BROADCLOTH • COTTON & RAYON POUND-GOODS ------------------------------MANILA OFFICE:-------------------------------304 NUEVA STREET CORNER DASMARlflAS MANILA PHONE 3-99-71 Cable Address “NEHESCO” In addition, the Schedule in no place authorizes the importations of rayon textiles or any other fabrics made from synthetic fibers. On what legal basis are the local authorities allowing these ever-increasing Japanese imports, unscheduled in the Barter Agreement, to be imported from Japan? Legislation, Executive Orders, and Court Decisions By Robert J and a Ross, Selph, Carrascoso & J and a IN the case of Santos, et al., vs. Mejia, et al., (G. R. Nos. L-6383 and L-6384), the Supreme Court considered a bond filed pursuant to court order to suspend a court order to vacate certain land involved in the litigation. Eventually, judgment was entered in the case and an exe cution was requested against the bonding company. The bonding company defended on the ground that it was sti pulated in the surety bond “liability of surety on this bond will expire on THIRTY DAYS and said bond will be cancel led 10 DAYS after its expiration, unless (the) surety is noti fied of any existing obligations thereunder”. The bond was executed on July 5, 1951, and was extended to July 4, 1952, “and to be cancelled 10 days thereafter unless notified of any obligation”. The writ of execution against the losing party had been returned unsatisfied but it was not until September 1 that execution was requested against the bond ing company. The Court held that the bonding company could validly raise the defense since notice was not given it during the period prescribed, the Court holding that the surety’s obligations were those set forth in its bond and that these obligations could not be extended. The Court stated: ", . . There is no rule of court which requires a surety to execute a bond which would answer for the principal’s liability that might be adjudged by the court in the case where it was filed, if the surety did not wish to execute such bond. It is a settled rule in this jurisdiction that a surety or a guarantor is not responsible beyond the terms of his undertaking. And it appearing that the bond filed in this case expired on 4 July 1952, the surety cannot be held liable under the bond beyond 4 July 1952, and it could cancel the bond ten days thereafter if the obligees failed to notify it of the principal’s obligation under the bond.” nr1 he case of Montoya vs. Ignacio, (G. R. No. L-5868), is interesting for two points: First, because it involves the award of damages of P31,000 for the death of a person injured in an automobile accident, the annual salary of the deceased being shown to be Pl,320. In this case, it was further shown that the jeepney upon which the de ceased was travelling had been leased by the defendant to another operator but that the approval of the Public Ser vice Commission to the lease had not been secured. The Court held that the requirement of the Public Service Law was for the benefit of the public, and since the approval of the Commission had not been secured, the original owner would remain liable on the contract of carriage to parties suffering damage due to the breach by the operation of the contract to carry the passenger safely. In the case of Masso Hermanos, S. A. vs. Director of Patents, (G. R. No. L-3952), the Court held that a trade mark validly registered under prior law was entitled to re-registration under Section 41 of Republic Act No. 166 upon compliance with the requirements of that section and that the ruling of the prior officer in charge of trade mark registrations should not be reversed for light or un substantial reasons. The Court further held that the trade mark “Cosmopolite” was registerable and was not de scriptive of the goods concerning which it was used. February, 1954 AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL 75 Philippine Safety Council By Frank S. Tenny Founder and Executive Director A STEP forward in the improvement of Manila traffic conditions was taken recently by Mayor Arsenio H. Lacson when he reactivated the Manila Mayor’s Traffic Committee, The group is charged with the re sponsibility of creating practical over-all plans which will be coordinated with that part of the traffic administration which is the duty of the National Government. The mem bers are: City Engineer Alejo A. Aquino, Chairman Police Chief Telesforo Tenorio City Planner Enrique J. L. Ruiz Traffic Engineer Rodolfo Maslog Former Director of Traffic Frank S. Tenny Two prominent safety officials from overseas were entertained and consulted by the Philippine Safety Council Board of Directors during recent weeks. Charles F. Alexan der, of the Industrial Safety staff of the U.S. National Safety Council, was a local visitor as the guest of the Philip pine Air Lines. Thomas Winkle, also an industrial safety specialist, is here from the International Labor Organiza tion staff in Switzerland, assisting the Department of Labor. Both of these gentlemen are making valuable contributions to the national safety movement. The Council continues to urge Malacanang to form a National Public Safety Committee, to embrace the factors of fire protection, traffic administration, industrial accident prevention, security matters, safety education, and allied matters. It is hoped that this vital project will be realized soon. Encouraging stirrings in the safety field are being noticed in local industry. Inquiries are becoming more frequent, and more “savvy”. Management seems to be slowly but surely realizing the value of safety in its opera tions. The insurance industry is helping very much in this respect. Considering conditions even a few years ago, these “rays of sunshine” are most welcome. The element of safety was introduced into the tourism movement, for the first time as a specific topic, during the recent PATA-AFETC convention in Manila. A sub-com mittee, headed by the writer, was formed to outline the program. Among the plans are elimination of abuses often perpetrated on visitors which result in bad publicity over seas. Thirty-five drivers of the Manila Electric Company were awarded “Safe Driver Award Badges” at annual ceremonies this month. Two men received their Five Year Awards, the first in the Philippines. The vehicular accident rate at MERALCO has shown a marked and continuous decrease and is now one of the lowest in the fleet field. Next month will again see the observance of FirePrevention Week. The support and cooperation of everyone is enjoined. The Council will be glad to assist, without cost, in the holding of an Employee’s Fire-Prevention Rally in your plant. Telephone 3-25-19 2147 Azcarraga PILFERAGE AND ARSON INVESTIGATIONS LIE DETECTOR TESTS-DOCUMENT ANALYSIS JOHN E. CURTIN, GEN. MGR. THE ROUTE OF THE BEARS Serving THE PHILIPPINES JAPAN HONGKONG U S. WEST COAST PORTS FAST - REGULAR - DEPENDABLE UNITED STATES LINES, INC. GENERAL AGENTS PORT AREA MANILA 133601 33602 33603 33604 PASIG RIVER BODEGAS GENERAL BONDED WAREHOUSES * SOUTHWESTERN SUGAR & MOLASSES CO. (FAR EAST), INC. MOLASSES BUYER 145 Muelle de Binondo Tel. 2-63-10 76 AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL February, 1954 A. SORIANO Y CIA. Soriano Bldg. Plaza Cervantes Manila General Managers of: SAN MIGUEL BREWERY, INC. PHILIPPINE AIR LINES INDUSTRIAL TEXTILES MANUFACTURING CO. OF THE PHILIPPINES RHEEM OF THE PHILIPPINES BISLIG BAY LUMBER CO., INC. INTERNATIONAL ENGINEERING CORPORATION PHILIPPINE ELECTRICAL MANUFACTURING CO. ATLAS CONSOLIDATED MINING AND DEVELOPMENT CO., INC. General Agents For: OCCIDENTAL LIFE INSURANCE CO. OF CALIFORNIA COMMONWEALTH INSURANCE CO. THE HOME INSURANCE CO. UNION INSURANCE SOCIETY OF CANTON, LTD. GREAT AMERICAN INSURANCE CO. SULZER BROS., LTD. Protect Yolirself When Buying Books! Buy STANDABDL^| BLANK BOOKS end LOOSE-LEAF DEVICES ~ All standard sizes, styles, and rulings to fit the needs of any business. Fine quality paper in each grade, ruled in colors for efficiency. Books bound beauti fully and durably—built to stand rough usage. Use Standard B & P use the finest! 1104 CASTILLEJOS, MANILA 1904 GnnivLASQhfr 1954 COST OF LIVING PRICE INDEX FOR WAGE EARNERS’ FAMILIES IN MANILA, BY YEAR AND MONTH, 1935-1954 (1941 = 100) Bureau of the Census and Statistics Year and Month All (100) 1935 ................... 1936 ................... 1937 ................... 1938 ................... 1939 ................... 1940 ................... 1941 ................... 1945 ................... 1946 ................... 1947 ................... 1948 ................... 1949 ................... Food (63.43) House Rent (11.96) Cloth(2.04) ing Power 89.7 89.7 87.4 88.3 88.8 88.3 92.1 92.1 93.2 94.8 97.3 98.9 100.0 100.0 691.5 834.3 521.7 649.4 387.2 415.4 364.2 386.1 343.7 357.9 96.4 89.7 96.6 96.4 96.8 97.7 98.9 100.0 236.4 236.4 453.9 453.9 453.9 88.4 88.2 92.2 94.8 99.0 100.0 1448.4 649.7 256.8 208.4 198.4 85.1 90.2 77.5 87.7 85.2 89.5 88.8 92.5 84.3 92.9 89.9 96.7 100.0 650.9 383.3 272.2 259.1 251.1 100.0 379.1 348.2 310.0 288.9 272.9 1.1148 1.1442 1.1261 1.0858 1.0730 1.0277 1.0000 0.1446 0.1917 0.2583 0.2746 0.2910 1950........ .. 332.9 333.7 453.9 270.7 252.0 282.8 0.3004 January.......... .. 332.3 336.8 453.9 238.0 253.1 269.1 0.3009 February. . . . .. 335.3 340.2 453.9 233.3 257.8 273.0 0.2982 March............. .. 336.6 341.4 453.9 236.7 257.8 276.6 0.2971 April............... .. 329.1 328.6 453.9 237.7 252.9 283.1 0.3039 May................ .. 317.4 308.6 453.9 244.7 249.7 290.4 0.3151 June................ .. 319.3 310.9 453.9 243.5 249.7 293.5 0.3132 July................. .. 326.3 322.4 453.9 252.6 249.7 290.4 0.3065 August............ .. 327.3 325.9 453.9 258.7 251.1 280.2 0.3055 September. . . .. 334.2 335.0 453.9 317.4 252.5 279.4 0.2992 October.......... .. 345.5 351.1 453.9 337.3 249.7 285.4 0.2894 November. . . .. 346.7 353.2 453.9 322.8 249.7 286.6 0.2884 December... . .. 344.9 350.5 453.9 325.2 249.7 285.7 0.2899 1951............. 352.6 361.5 453.9 365.3 248.0 285.7 0.2836 January.......... .. 347.9 355.0 453.9 331.5 249.7 285.6 0.2874 February. . . . .. 351.7 359.8 453.9 342.8 249.7 289.0 0.2843 March............. .. 346.4 349.3 453.9 379.4 248 8 293.6 0.2887 April............... .. 355.3 362.6 453.9 398.6 247.5 294.6 0.2815 May................ .. 359.2 367.0 453.9 410.4 247.5 300.6 0.2784 June................ .. 360.5 372.2 453.9 399.5 247.5 288.5 0.2774 July................. . . 359.0 370.1 453.9 382.0 247.5 290.2 0.2786 August......... .. 357.8 371.4 453.9 354.0 247.5 280.0 0.2795 September. . . .. 356.1 369.0 453.9 356.4 247.5 279.0 0.2808 October.......... . . 351.0 361.1 453.9 350.4 247.5 279.0 0.2845 November. . . .. 344.1 351.1 453.9 343.8 247.5 275.8 0.2906 December... . .. 341.9 348.9 453.9 335.2 247.5 272.1 0.2925 1952........ .. 339.4 347.4 453.9 295.9 244.1 268.4 0.2946 January ......... .. 342.8 350.9 453.9 330.8 247.5 269.7 0.2917 February . . . . .. 341.2 349.8 453.9 311.2 243.4 268.5 0.2931 March............. .. 337.9 345.1 453.9 301.1 243.4 268.1 0.2959 April............... .. 335.9 342.7 453.9 300.7 243.4 264.6 0.2977 May................ .. 335.1 341.8 453.9 293.2 243.4 264.4 0.2984 June................ .. 338.1 346.3 453.9 290.2 243.4 265.5 0.2958 July................. .. 340.4 349.5 453.9 286.6 243.4 268.1 0.2938 August........... .. 340.7 349.4 453.9 289.1 243.4 269.9 0.2935 September. . . .. 341.1 350.0 453.9 287.7 243.4 270.7 0.2932 October.......... .. 337.6 344.6 453.9 289.3 243.4 269.4 0.2962 November.. . . . 340.5 349.3 453.9 286.2 243.4 269 8 0.2937 December... . .. 340.9 348.9 453.9 284 4 247.5 272.3 0.2933 1953........ .. 318.2 314.3 453.9 280.1 243.7 269.5 0.3143 January......... .. 337.3 343.2 453.9 283.7 247.4 272.4 0.2965 February.... . . 323.0 321.1 453.9 281.5 243.4 273.0 0.3096 March............. .. 318.6 314.3 453.9 281.5 243.4 272.4 0.3139 April............... .. 317.6 312.8 453.9 281.1 243.4 272.2 0 3149 May................ .. 314.3 307.8 453.9 280.9 243 4 271.1 0.3182 June................ .. 313.1 306.0 453.9 277.8 243.4 271.1 0.3194 July................. .. 316.0 311.0 453.0 277.8 243.4 269.5 0.3165 August........... .. 316.1 311.9 453.9 277.8 243.4 266.4 0.3164 September. . . 315.8 311.6 453.9 277.8 243.4 265.6 0.3167 October.......... .. 315.3 310.6 453.9 279.0 243.4 266.4 0 3172 November . .. .. 315.2 310.1 453.9 280.9 243.4 267.0 0.3173 December... . .. 315.5 310.7 453.9 280.9 243.4 267.0 0.3170 1954............. ................................................ January.............. 311.7 304.7 453.9 279.3 243.4 267.0 0.3208 NOTE: Miscellaneous was revised from 1950 to May 1953 and clothing from February 1952 to May 1953. The MOTOR that Industry Nteds Splashproof motor Round-frame motor with standard flange end shield Foot-mounted motor with standard face-type end shield TRICLAD ■If G. U.S. PAT. OFF. /---------------No other standard motor, we believe, has ever met the requirements of industry with so well-balanced a combination of performance character istics, convenience features, and provisions for protection. As a safe guard against production interruptions, as a prime factor in lowering costs, as an extra increment of value on machines you build, you’ll find that Tri-Clad motors mean extra profit protection, too. Whatever your requirements in motors may be, think of General Electric and insist on the service, reliability, and benefits that Tri-Clad motors will give. GENERAL ELECTRIC (P.I.).INC. PORT ARIA MANILA February, 1954 AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL 77 “LET YOUR HAIR DOWN’’ WITH respect to the article in last month’s Journal, “Trade Policies and Philippine Dev elopment during the Spanish Regime,” a number of errors crept in during the translation, proof-reading, etc., which should be corrected. On page 13, 2nd column, 4th paragraph, the first line should read: “Around 1824 an important event took place.” On page 14, 1st column, 3rd para graph, the date of bankruptcy of the two American firms which had been established in Manila, was incor rectly given. Russell, Sturgis & Company went out of business in 1875 and Peele, Hubbell & Company in 1887. On page 14, 1st column, 8th line from the bottom, the date should be 1940 inscead of 1840. hthere was also a year-end letter -*-to the editor from Mr. Sam Garmezy, formerly President of the Atlantic, Gulf & Pacific Company of Manila (present address, Hotel Statler, 1608 A, New York 1, N.Y.): “Your ‘Short History of Industry and Trade of the Philippines’, which I had read in the American Chamber of Commerce Journal with great interest, is a work well done’. I want to congratulate you on this excellent job and hope you will also find a publisher for your book on the Santo Tomas Internment Camp. “I read the monthly American Chamber of Commerce Journal from cover to cover. As a matter of fact, I never read it so assi duously while in Manila because, I suppose, I was too near to the happenings. “Will you please send me the book and renew my subscription to the Journal for three years more. I believe my present subscription will expire in March, 1954. Please send the bill to the Peoples Bank & Trust Company for my account; I shall write and tell them to pay it. “My best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, and continued success and good health. Sincerely, etc.” A letter from Mrs. Gertrude C. Hornbostel (1928 Wilson Ave nue, North’Bellmore, L. I., N.Y.), addressed to the editor, came about Christmas time: “Just a short note to insert in our Christ mas Greetings and to ask you to save me at least 3 copies of your ‘Short History of In dustry and Trade of the Philippines.’ Or, if I am too late to get in under the 500 copies printing, please put met at the head of the list for the 2,000 copies printing which will follow. Surely, you don’t think that even that will suffice? I am sure that Mr. Gunnell will want to have it on the Philippine Educa tion Company’s shelves. Anyway, please let me know how much it will be, so I can send you a check for the amount. “ ‘The Sinking of the Corregidor’, published in the Journal, was an interesting little chapter from your other book on Santo Tomas. I am so awfully sorry that you haven’t been able to get it published as there are so many facts to the Santo Tomas story of which the average internee is ignorant and would like to know more about. And so would the American public. World War II, How LINK-BELT integrates QUALITY COMPONENTS... Less lubrication and adjustment Standard for industry—L-B "100” Idler to give you superior BELT CONVEYORS Nickel ore enroute to bin To OBTAIN the finest in modern materials handling, you should get in touch with Link-Belt’s engineers while you're still in the planning stage. For Link-Belt has the most complete line of quality components —all types and sizes—idlers, take ups, pulleys, trippers, bearings and power transmission drives. More—Link-Belt makes all re lated equipment—other types of conveyors, feeders, elevators, car dumpers and shakers. Exclusive Representatives for LINK-BELT CO., U.S.A.THE EARNSHAWS DOCKS & HONOLULU IRON WORKS Main Office: Cor. Tacoma & 2nd Sts., Port Area, Manila Tel. 3-35-41 Branch Offices at: Bacolod City * Cebu City P. 0. Box 282 as seen from the Santo Tomas, is from such a unique angle that the book should be of great interest now as a comparison with what Korea had to offer in this respect and to bring out the differences between the physical-mental and mental-physical tor tures and pressures as practiced by different nationalities. Please give my best to your fine family. Yours, etc.” Despite Mrs. Hornbostel’s enthus iasm as to the “Short History,” the editor said that there is not likely to be a second edition although it is possible that a new edition may be published which would conDelivering coal to overhead bunker Equally important, Link-Belt Belt Conveyor engineers can draw on the broadest materials handling experi ence in the industry. They'll work with you and your consultant—help you determine the right system for your requirements. Contact your Link-Belt represen tative for the services of a belt con veyor expert. LINK{g>BELT BELT CONVEYOR EQUIPMENT 78 AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL February, 1954 tain the chapter on the Quirino Ad ministration which he is now working on. Fortunately, Mrs. Hornbostel’s request for 3 copies of the original edition could still be met. A holiday letter and a book were received by the editor from T. Inglis Moore, formerly Associate Pro fessor of English, University of the Philippines, and now Senior Lecturer EVERETT STEAMSHIP CORPORATION Owners-Brokers-Agents Manila 155 Juan Luna St., Tel. 2-79-31 General Agencies AMERICAN MAIL LINE To anil Portland Vancouver Japan Straits From Seattle Tacoma Philippine: Indonesia PACIFIC TRANSPORT LINES To ami From California-Japan.Philippine, BARBER-FERN VILLE LINES V S To U.S. Allantic FERN-VILLE FAR EAST LINES To and From Norlh Atlantic Port, Gulf Ports-Philippinc, Via Panama MESSAGERIES MARITIMES To and From Europe and Mediterranean Ports EVERETT ORIENT LINE Korea, Strait,, and India Ports EVERETT STAR LINE . Between Japan, China. Strait,. India, and Persian Gulf Ports PHILIPPINE STEAM NAVIGATION CO. Serving the Philippine Island, UNITED STATES SALVAGE ASSOCIATION UNITAS OSLO THAI AIRWAYS To and From Bangkok, Singora, Singapore Hongkong, Taipch, Okinawa, and Japan in Pacific Studies, Canberra Uni versity College, Australia. The book is an anthology, “Australia Writes”, edited by Mr. Moore. It contains some very interesting material in cluding a non-fictional essay entitled “A Chinese Discovery of Australia?” As to the editor’s book, “A few poems and essays,” published two years ago, Mr. Moore wrote: “Please forgive me for not writing before to tell you how much I enjoyed your “A few poems and essays’. . . Here’s a man’s heart beating,—strength of mind and feeling both, thought, passion, and, as you say, a certain stoic austerity, behind the fullblooded affirmation and enjoyment of life. . . I found the essays on Music and the Demonic very good indeed. (Remember our discussion on ‘Beauty and the Beast’ in the Philippine Magazine?) and the Santo Tomas accounts moving. Of the poems I liked especially ‘Man’, ‘The Tektite’, ‘Comedy—II and III’, ‘When I touch the dear breast’, ‘Like water out of a bucket’, ‘Thou, thou only' (except the old-fashioned ‘thou’ form seems out of keeping with your modern expression,— why not ‘you’, the natural form?), and the fine Tn expectation of death.’ I should have liked more poetic shaping, but you have the essentials in feeling and imagination and some original phrasing. Congratulations on the book. What about another?” “About another book of poems,” said the editor, “during the past two years I have written around fifty or sixty more, some twenty of which I copied out and sent to my friends, Dr. and Mrs. Haughwout, in Wash ington. Haughwout wrote a few lines about them on his Christmas card: “ ‘Someday I shall send you a real letter. We loved the last poems you sent. We think them your best work. Really, they are very fine.’ “As for publishing them,” said the editor, “that is another thing. 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