Official Month in Review: April 1955

April 1, 1955

April 1. — THE President this morning received, Robert Modlin, who is making
advance arrangements for its Far Eastern tour. He was accompanied to Malacañang by
Alfredo Lozano, impressario. They called on him for 15 minutes.

Invited to attend the orchestra’s gala performance by Modlin and Lozano, the Chief
Executive readily accepted. He also granted permission for the series of concerts to be
conducted under his patronage.

The President hailed the forthcoming arrival in the Philippines of the 92-man Symphony
of the Air (the former NBC symphony orchestra of Arturo Toscanini) as a major cultural
event. He said he was personally looking forward to hearing its performance.

Among other places, the orchestra is playing in Hongkong, B.C.C., and Taipeh,
Formosa, under the patronage of the governor-general of Hongkong and Madame
Chiang Kai-Shek, respectively.

The President told Modlin he had a number of records of performances by the NBC
symphony orchestra under Toscanini. He said he enjoyed listening to them immensely.
He added he had recently received a gift from Toscanini of an album of recordings of
the orchestra’s performances of all of Beethoven’s symphonies.

The President this morning authorized the release of P200.000 from his contingent fund
for the immediate relief of earthquake victims in Mindanao and the Visayas and ordered
SWA Administrator Pacita Madrigal Warns to rush assistance to the stricken areas.

The President gave the order promptly upon receiving telegrams from provincial and
municipal officials who reported extensive destruction in their respective localities. The
official telegrams which began coining in at 7:00 a.m. reported widespread panic among
the population and requested that the Weather Bureau experts be asked to determine
the cause of the quakes.

In response to the order, Administrator Warns immediately boarded a plane this

morning and flew to the stricken regions. She took along a team of relief workers and
relief goods consisting of foodstuffs, medicine, and other supplies.

The President expressed grave concern over the mounting loss of lives and property.
He alerted the Air Force and the Navy to be ready to transport relief supplies and
materials to the affected areas. He anxiously awaited more telegrams expected to
report further on casualties and destruction as the effects of the tremors were
ascertained.
The President issued Proclamation No. 142, declaring the existence of a public calamity
in the earthquake-stricken provinces, and prepared to fly to the disaster area tomorrow
morning to survey the extent of the damage himself.

The President’s proclamation, invoking the provisions of Act No. 4164. prohibited the
hoarding of palay, rice, corn, and building or construction materials as well as the sale
of these commodities at prices higher by 25 per cent or more than their average price
one month ago. It authorized Constabulary commanders and police chiefs in the
stricken areas to seize hoarded stocks or those sold at profiteering prices.

The places to which the proclamation applies are Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental,
Surigao, Lanao, and the cities of Cagayan de Oro, Ozamis, Iligan, and Dansalan.

The President said in an informal press conference with Malacañang reporters that he
planned to fly to the stricken area tomorrow morning to look into the situation himself.
He also said he had released an additional P300.000 from his contingent fund for relief.
Added to the P200,000 which he had made available earlier immediately upon receiving
first advices of the disaster, this would make a total release of P500,000 thus far.

The President also telephoned Brig. Gen. William Lee, U. S. 13th Air Force
Commanding General, at Clark Field and put in a request for emergency assistance
from the U. S. Armed Forces, in the form of medicines and medical teams in case the
situation revealed an urgent need for them. Gen. Lee assured the President of full
support and assistance from his command and said he would even have medicines
flown in from Japan if the need arose. He further said medical teams would stand by
immediately in case they were also needed.

The President thanked Lee for this generous response and promised to contact him
again after making a personal survey of the situation.

Two planes already have left Manila for the stricken area on orders of the President.
The first carried SWA Administrator Pacita Madrigal Warns, her assistants, SWA relief
packages, and two Weather Bureau seismologists, Roman Kintanar and Wellington
Minosa. The second plane took Army medical teams composed of four officers, two
nurses, and eight enlisted men and a public affairs office team of two officers and one
enlisted man.

The President also instructed Brig. Gen. Eulogio Balao, AFP vice-chief of staff, who was
in the 3rd MA, to proceed immediately to the stricken region to survey the situation. The
President directed the 4th MA to take measures to extend all possible assistance to
victims, preserve peace and order, and help relief teams.

The President also told Malacañang reporters in an informal press conference today
that Customs Commissioner Edilberto David will be transferred to the Department of
Finance as technical assistant pending the investigation of charges filed against him.
The President said David’s transfer will obviate the possibility of his obstructing the
investigation. He added that in case it was shown later that David was hampering the
probe just the same, he will be suspended.

Queried as to who will replace David in the meantime, the President said this matter
was under study.

The President also said that Ambassador Carlos P. Romulo’s appointment as Cabinet
member without portfolio to qualify him to head the Philippine delegation to the Bandung
(Afro-Asian) conference will be made upon Romulo’s arrival in Manila enroute to the
confab.

The President also said at the press conference that Ruben Ledesma, chief examiner in
the Bureau of Civil Service, had been named only as officer in charge of the bureau and
not as acting commissioner. An afternoon newspaper had erroneously reported that
Ledesma had been sworn into office as acting commissioner. The President said that
actually Ledesma had been designated and inducted as officer in charge.

April 2.—PRESIDENT Magsaysay woke up early this morning and led a large group of
senators, representatives, newspapermen and photographers in a flight of four PAF
planes to visit the earthquake-stricken provinces of Mindanao.

The presidential party took off at 8: 00 a.m., and landed at the Ozamis City airport at
10:55 a.m. Losing no time, the President motored to the city to view the destruction
caused by the series of tremors which had rocked northern Mindanao.

The President first viewed the ruins of the Immaculate Concepcion church in Ozamis
City. Finding it destroyed, he initiated a fund drive for its reconstruction by giving P60.

Then the President visited the city wharf which had been heavily damaged by the
tremors. He also found the Constabulary barracks sunk about two feet.

Upon receipt of the news of the President’s arrival, residents of the city flocked around
the Chief Executive. Seeing a widow, a certain store-owner whose establishment had
been rocked into the sea, the President pulled out P40 from his wallet and gave the
amount to the earthquake victim.

After a survey of the destruction in Ozamis City, the President flew with the members of
his party to Lake Lanao, his plane dipping as low as 100 feet above the ground level.
The President finally landed at the Dansalan City airport.

In Dansalan City, the President released P140.000 to finance the relief work in the
province. He motored to the residence of Gov. Salvador Lluch. The porch of the
governor’s residence craked and threw a scare to the members of the presidential party
who thought that another earthquake had shaken the place.
The President motored toward the Maria Cristina project, but the way was blocked by
landslides. He attempted to cross the road block on foot, but after covering a distance of
30 feet he decided to give up.

The President returned to Dansalan City airport and took off for Manila about 4 p.m. The
presidential party arrived at the MIA at 7 o’clock in the evening.

With the presidential party were Sens. Tomas Cabili and Emmanuel Pelaez; Reps.
Cesar M. Fortich of Bukidnon, Ignacio Cruz of Misamis Oriental, and William
Chiongbian of Misamis Occidental; Lieut. Gen. Jesus Vargas, Brig. Gen. Pelagio A.
Cruz, and newspapermen and photographers.

April 3.—WAKING up early in the morning, the President heard mass with members of
his family at the Malacañang chapel. Eating his breakfast about 8:30 a.m., he suddenly
summoned his aide, Lt. CoL Emilio Borromeo, and ordered him to call members of his
Cabinet to a special meeting at 9 a.m.

Some of the Cabinet members were contacted at their residences just as they returned
from church, while others were located at the golf courses. These came in their playing
togs. One or two who could not be located at all were represented at the meeting by an
undersecretary or a bureau director. The meeting lasted from 9:15 to 10:30 a.m.

The President today set the entire government machinery into motion for the purpose of
effecting prompt and expeditious administration of relief and reconstruction work in the
disaster areas of Mindanao and the Visayas, and then stepped into the presidential
plane Pagasa for his second on-the-spot survey of the disaster region within 48 hours.

After this trip to the provinces worst hit by the recent earthquake yesterday, the
President this morning called a special meeting of his Cabinet and organized a “task
force” in which all departments of the government are represented, to undertake a
thorough survey of the stricken areas.

Called the Relief and Reconstruction Authority (RRA), the body will determine the needs
of each locality and proceed, without further delay with the rehabilitation of each locality.
Activities of the group will include the reconstruction or repair of schoolhouses, roads,
bridges, wharves, and other public buildings damaged by the quake. It will also put up
temporary housing programs in various points of the disaster areas for the hundreds of
families which had been rendered homeless by the calamity.

With PCAC Chairman Manuel P. Manahan as chairman, the RRA is composed of

Rafael Contreras, division engineer, representing the Department of Public Works and
Communications; Amadeo Cruz, in charge of rural health, representing the Department
of Health; Sotero H. Bay, accounting officer, representing the Budget Commission;
Honorio Villaranda, labor administrator for Northern Mindanao, representing the
Department of Labor; and Alberto Dalusong of the Bureau of Public Schools,
representing the Department of Education.
The Department of Justice will be represented by the provincial fiscal of Lanao. Also to
be represented is the General Auditing Office to oversee disbursements, while Col.
Antonio Chanco, chief of the AFP engineer corps, will assist the group as technical
adviser.

The task force is scheduled to enplane for Dansalan City early tomorrow morning. With
its members authorized to make on-the-spot decisions on behalf of their respective
departments, the RRA will operate as a unit with the least consultation with the Manila
offices. The RRA will maintain a mobile headquarters as it will be moving about from
one stricken area to another. It is authorized to call upon any government office or
agency for such assistance as it may require to accomplish its mission.

The body has at its disposal the P500.000 which the President had allocated from his
contingent fund. He instructed the group to spend the money wisely where it was most
needed. He told the body to coordinate its activities with those of the SWA, the PNRC,
and other relief agencies operating in the area.

President Magsaysay emphasized at the Cabinet meeting that the Administration could
adequately handle the situation with the resources at hand. He briefed members of his
Cabinet on his observations during his tour of the stricken localities and discussed with
them ways of extending to these localities adequate and speedy relief. He said that
although actual damage wrought by the earthquakes was not so widespread and so
extensive as previously reported, there was nevertheless urgent need for prompt action
on places that were really hard hit by the calamity.

In the course of the discussions, the President decided to authorize the provincial
treasurer of Misamis Occidental to advance P50,000 from the provincial funds for the
immediate repair of the damaged wharf in Ozamis City, and P20,000 for the relief and
temporary housing of victims in the province. The provincial cash advances totalling
P70.000 will be paid out from the President’s contingent fund.

After the Cabinet meeting, the Chief Executive again boarded a plane at the Nichols
airbase and flew to Mindanao about 11:00 a.m. He was accompanied by Manuel P.
Manahan, RRA chairman, and Mrs. Magsaysay. A message subsequently received at
Malacañang said the party had landed at 2:15 p.m. at the Maria Cristina airfield.

The President officially announced today that he had requested Ambassador Carlos P.
Romulo to head the Philippine delegation to the Afro-Asian conference at Bandung,
Indonesia. The President also said he will appoint Romulo as Cabinet member without
portfolio. While these actions have been widely anticipated for sometime now this
marked the first time they were officially announced by the President.

April 4.—PRESIDENT Magsaysay this morning motored to the Philippine Air Force
base operation at Nichols Field to give final instructions to the Relief and Reconstruction
Authority prior to the group’s departure for Lanao to coordinate relief and rehabilitation
operations in the earthquake stricken area.
The President told the committee, headed by its chairman, PCAC Chairman Manuel P.
Manahan, that it was the highest coordinating body in the disaster area and urged it to
handle the situation on the spot. He said the group had ample authority to make on-the-
spot decisions and expressed confidence it will use wisely and well the funds he had
released for the stricken region.

The President said that to facilitate the Authority’s work, he had even requested the
auditor general to send an auditor along with the task force to make possible on-the-
spot disbursements of funds.

The President asked Dr. Feliciano Cruz of the Red Cross about reports of rivalry
between his organization and the Social Welfare Administration in the relief operations
in Lanao. Dr. Cruz said he was unaware of any such rivalry. The President sternly
warned that he did not wish to see relief operations hampered in any way by petty
quarrels and rivalry. He said all groups and personnel engaged in relief work should
think only of the common task.

The President also inquired from the Department of Health representatives about
precautions taken to prevent epidemics. They told him they were taking with them
enough sera and vaccine to prevent any outbreak of epidemics. They also said there
were enough vaccinating teams in the region to carry out simultaneous immunization.

The President left Malacañang for Nichols airbase at 7 a.m., accompanied by Press
Secretary J. V. Cruz and Manuel “Dindo” Gonzalez, board chairman of the Philippine
Charity Sweepstakes Office. The President met with the RRA at the base operations
briefing room. He stayed about one hour with the group and then returned to
Malacañang.

Meantime, Malacañang received a wire from Judge Macalalag of the Iloilo City
municipal court saying that the judges and employees of the court were giving five per
cent of one month’s salary as aid to the earthquake victims. Malacañang continued to
receive messages of sympathy from various parts of the world. Among the messages
received this day were those from President Rene Coty of France, President A. Somoza
of Nicaragua, Governor-General Ghulam Mohammed of Pakistan, Cardinal Quiroga
Palacios, and Spanish Ambassador Antonio Gullon.

Upon his return to Malacañang from the PAF base operations, the President went
directly to the press office to view the damage wrought by the recent fire. From the
press office, the President crossed over to the photographers’ section to inspect the
precautions which had been taken to avert another blaze in Malacañang.

When the President’s whereabouts became known to Malacañang personnel, his

assistants trailed him to the photo office, and for some time the President did his work
there. He called up various officials to transact urgent business inside the small photo
room. He found himself deep at work there until 11 a.m.
From the Malacañang press office, the President motored back to the Palace and
retired to his bedroom, where he worked on some papers until lunch time.

The President took a nap in the afternoon, waking up about 3:30 p.m. He then resumed
work on pending papers, receiving only members of the Malacañang staff.

The President today took off the name of Ambassador Felino Neri from the list of
Philippine delegates to the Afro-Asian conference to be held in Bandung, Indonesia. He
explained that Neri had to stay in Manila for any developments that might arise in
connection with the Japanese reparations negotiations. Neri is the chief Philippine
negotiator.

A previous Malacañang announcement had said the Philippine group will be headed by
Ambassador Carlos P. Romulo and will include Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Raul S.
Manglapus, Neri, Leonides S. Virata, “and others that he (Romulo) may want to
accompany him to insure the success of his mission.”

The President said he will consult with Vice-President Carlos P. Garcia, concurrently
secretary of foreign affairs, regarding the instructions to be issued to the Philippine
delegation to the Afro-Asian conference.

April 5.—DURING a conference this morning with Defense Secretary Sotero B.

Cabahug, Lieut. Gen. Jesus Vargas, AFP chief of staff, and other top Armed Forces
officers, the President cleared obstacles to prompt and coordinate extension of material
and medical relief to earthquake victims in Lanao. He appointed Brig. Gen. Alfonso
Arellano as co-chairman of a relief and reconstruction committee in Lanao and directed
him to mobilize all available Armed Forces personnel and equipment for efforts to
relieve some 100,000 persons.

The President received this afternoon the first report from Manuel P. Manahan,
chairman of the RRA, on the progress of the work of his group.

The Chief Executive told Gen. Arellano to discuss with Manahan and other members of
his committee the best way of screening victims of the disaster. The President said the
screening would give the committee a fairly accurate number of the victims needing aid
and would prevent relief material from falling into wrong hands.

Arellano will pick up at Cebu Col. Climaco Pintoy, who will assist him in directing the
Armed Forces phase of the relief operations.

During the conference, the President instructed the Army to eliminate the red tape and
petty rivalries among relief organizations in order to facilitate the distribution of relief
goods to the earthquake sufferers in Mindanao. He expressed wonder at the delay in
the distribution of funds he made available to Gov. Salvador Lluch last Sunday.
The President was informed that Assistant Treasurer of the Philippines Juan Carbonnel
flew to Dansalan City this morning to expedite the release of the sum. Deputy Auditor
General Pedro M. Gimenez had also directed the Dansalan City auditor to waive
auditing requirements that might hold up the distribution of relief.

In his conference with Defense Secretary Cabahug and the Armed Forces top brass
headed by Lieut. Gen. Vargas, the President issued the following orders:

(1) Immediate distribution to the earthquake victims of the P1 million from his contingent
funds which he had already released two days ago to Gov. Salvador Lluch of Lanao in
Dansalan City;

(2) Immediate sending of three additional PC companies to the stricken areas to

maintain peace and order:

(3) Rigid enforcement by the PC of the presidential proclamation of the existence of a

public calamity in the affected areas, prohibiting and penalizing the hoarding of essential
commodities and the selling of these goods at exorbitant prices:

(4) Establishment of improved radio communications to coordinate activities in the

earthquake areas:

(5) Improving transportation facilities by sending outboard motors so that relief goods
and medicines could reach the stricken people quickly;

(6) Parachuting of relief goods to inaccessible areas: and

(7) Temporary relief from their work of engineer corps doing construction work in
Mindanao so that they could be assigned to repair roads bridges, and public buildings in
the stricken areas.

The President also directed Health Secretary Garcia to airlift a team of doctors, nurses,
and sanitary inspectors to intensify health work among the people, especially
innoculation and vaccination; and. told NARIC Chairman and General Manager Juan O.
Chioco to have more stocks of relief rice readied in addition to the 2.000 bags of 100
kilos each scheduled to arrive in Lanao today.

Meanwhile. Ngo Dinh Diem, president of South Viet Nam, in a cable to the President,
said he was ready to “send with Operation Brotherhood personnel a Vietnamese
medical team to assist the Filipino people whose sons and daughters voluntarily
assisted Viet Nam in her most trying days.” He added that Viet Nam had been shocked
over the earthquake in Mindanao and conveyed “her deep sorrow to the Filipino people,
particularly the stricken families.” He said, “Please request Philippine Jaycees to
temporarily withdraw portion of Operation Brotherhood personnel here for immediate
assistance to their afflicted brothers in Mindanao.”
Antonio Dimalanta, president of the Filipino community organization in Guam, conveyed
the community’s deep sympathy for the earthquake victims and pledged P1.000 as help
to the Philippine National Red Cross drive through Consul Bartolome Umayam.

Minister Mariano Ezpeleta in Mexico wired the President that the Laboratorios

Grossman of Mexico were donating through the Philippine legation 200 Leodin ampules
and 1,000 neothracine tablets to the Philippine Government as aid to earthquake
victims. The shipment is arriving next week by PAA, Ezpeleta said.

The Pfizer Laboratories this morning also donated drugs for the earthquake victims.
Assistant Executive Secretary Enrique C. Quema received the donation on behalf of the
President from Dr. Quirico Agos of the Pfizer Laboratories. The drugs were immediately
airlifted to Dansalan City for the disaster victims.

Chairman Manahan reported to the President that 47 relief group members had secured
relief goods and services from the committee which had centralized the services for
better coordination and best utilization of available resources. He added that Col.
Antonio Chanco’s corps of engineers yesterday commenced using 6×6 trucks with
winches pulling debris off Tugaya and Bacolod lake shores for possible bodies pinned
under. The President was informed that the RRA had pooled together vehicles,
including those available from the malaria control units, for use of agencies in the field.

The latest count of casualties as of noon Monday (April 4) was as follows: dead—214;
missing—9; injured—898; and building destroyed—2,866. Manahan said that in the
reconstruction work, a preliminary survey had shown that the total estimated damage to
roads and bridges amounted to P540,000 and to public buildings, P350.000. A further
survey was being conducted.

The President directed that as many walkie-talkie be provided to SWA, Red

Cross, Teniente del barrios, and other social workers in the area for greater
coordination and efficiency in the relief operations. Owing to poor communications
facilities in the area, with slow bancas being used, the President ordered that more
outboard motors be sent. Gen. Arellano said two outboard motors already had been
sent, and more would be airlifted. The President also ordered that in the critical areas,
much needed supplies should be dropped by parachutes. He cautioned, however, that
this kind of work should be well coordinated and planned to avoid losses.

In the evening, the President was conferred his fifth honorary doctorate degree at the
University of the Philippines. Before a big crowd of friends and relatives of over 1,000
graduating students, the President received the degree of Doctor of Laws honoris
causa. It was his second doctorate of laws title.

U. P. President Vidal A. Tan read the citation which extolled President Magsaysay as
the “leader of the Filipino people, symbol of honesty and integrity, friend and defender of
the common man, soldier and statesman of vision, champion of freedom, and defender
of democracy.”
Mrs. Luz B. Magsaysay, who accompanied the President to the U. P. commencement
ceremonies, placed the doctorate hood on the President and planted an affectionate
kiss on her husband’s left cheek after the rites. The First Lady was helped by Dr. Tan
and Education Secretary Gregorio Hernandez, Jr., chairman of the U. P. board of
regents.

The degree, granted last year to the President, was conferred only this evening
because the President had asked for its deferment.

The President was also awarded a gold medal for encouraging arts and letters in the
Philippines. Elias Lopez, president of the U. P. student council, presented the medal to
the President.

President Magsaysay, in his commencement speech delivered after receiving the

honorary degree, exhorted the youth to assume positions of leadership and to be
constantly “aware of your rights and obligations under our form of government.”

In urging the youth to assume positions of leadership, the President pointed out that “in
a democracy the title of leader is not something to be sought or to be seized. The title of
leader, to have real meaning,” he said, “must be conferred upon an individual by a
community. It must be conferred on the basis of evidence that the individual has those
qualifications which make for useful and constructive leadership.”

The President’s speech dwelt at length on the need for constructive leadership.

Leadership, he said, “is an honor, a great honor, since it expresses the confidence and
respect of one’s fellow citizens. But even more than that, it imposes a grave obligation
and a heavy burden of responsibility if the individual who earns the title tries seriously to
live up to it.”

The President told the graduates that the country expects them to use their “skills in
such a manner as to benefit their fellow countrymen.” (See Historical Papers and
Documents,pp. 1817-1820, for the complete text of the President’s commencement
address.)

President and Mrs. Magsaysay accompanied by Col. Napoleon D. Valeriano, senior

military aide, left Malacañang at 5:55 p.m. and reached the U. P. grounds at exactly
6:15 p.m. Upon reaching the U. P. quadrangle, the President was shown to the room
where he put on his gown.

The President addressed the graduates for 13 minutes. After addressing the graduates,
the President returned to Malacañang.

President and Mrs. Magsaysay boarded the yacht Pagasa shortly after coming from the
University of the Philippines’ commencement exercises in the evening.
President Magsaysay has ordered the reinstatement of all municipal officials appointed
by the Quirino administration who had been removed without cause upon the change of
administration, Malacañang announced today. Malacañang said these orders went out
to various provincial governors all over the country since the Supreme Court ruling to
the effect that appointive municipal official could not be removed for cause until their
terms of office had run out.

These appointees, the court held, hold office permanently until the next regular
elections and may not be removed except for cause and in the manner prescribed by
law.

The orders for reinstatement of the affected officials have been issued by Executive
Secretary Fred Ruiz Castro and his assistants in the name of the President. Among the
provincial governors who have been sent such orders were those of Zamboanga del
Norte, Cotabato, Davao, Misamis Oriental, and Surigao.

April 6.— ALTHOUGH on his yacht cruising around Manila Bay with the First Lady this
day, the President kept constant contact with Malacañang the whole day. From the
yacht, the President issued directives to:

(1) Budget Commissioner Dominador R. Aytona to relaese P140,000 to Misamis

Occidental, with P100.000 allocated for the repair of the Tangub-Bonifacio road,
P30,000 for the Ozamis City waterworks, and P10.000 for the Oroquieta port
waterworks;

(2) Executive Secretary Fred Ruiz Castro to authorize Mayor Angel Medina of Ozamis
City to construct temporary shelters inside a military reservation in that city for people
who lost their homes;

(3) Health Secretary Paulino Garcia to have a baby incubator airlifted to the Misamis
Occidental Provincial Hospital to take care of babies born prematurely during the
earthquakes in the province; and

(4) Finance Secretary Jaime Hernandez to authorize the Ozamis City treasurer to
advance two months’ salary to city employees and teachers for the repair of their homes
and the purchase of food and medicine.

Manuel Manahan, chairman of the Relief and Reconstruction Authority, sent in his
second report from Dansalan City this day. His group is coordinating relief rehabilitation
work in the disaster areas. Manahan listed 225 persons killed and 898 others injured,
14,985 families affected, 2,997 houses destroyed, and 382,737 hectares affected in
Lanao province alone

The Social Welfare Administration had different casualty figures. It listed 416 persons
killed, 792 injured, and 15 missing. It reported that 2,826 homes were destroyed.
Offers of aid and messages of sympathies continued to pour in from all parts of the
country and from many countries of the world.

South Viet Nam set aside 100 tons of rice for the earthquake victims, despite the
problem it is facing with the continuous flow of refugees from communist-ruled North
Viet Nam.

John T. Cooper of the U. S. Veterans Administration offered to the President the

services of four USVA doctors and a nurse to assist medical teams in Lanao.

The Bankers Association of the Philippines donated PLOOO tor the relief operations.
The check was handed to Assistant Executive Secretary Mariano A. Yenko, Jr.

The Chas. Pfizer and Company in New York shipped by air a s20,00ll consignment of
terramycin and tetracyn for the earthquake victims. This was in addition to the donation
of the company’s office in Manila.

Charles A. Specht, president of Pfizer International, turned over the 750-pound

shipment to Consul General Alejandro Galang in a ceremony at the New York
International Airport.

“Operations Brotherhood”, a Jaycee International assistance project will send a 90-man

relief team to Mindanao after the Holy Week. It will be composed of doctors, dentists,
nurses, social and public health workers agriculturists, and field administrators.

From his Manila Bay cruise, the President decided to sail for Mindoro toward evening
abroad the Pagasa.

April 7.—THE President cut short a leisurely cruise off Mindoro this morning and flew
unexpectedly to the earthquake-stricken areas in Lanao to see how much government
agencies had accomplished toward aiding victims of the one-week-old earthquake
disaster in that province.

The President took off from San Jose, Mindoro aboard the plane Pagasa at 7:55 a.m.
and landed at the Maria Cristina airport at 10:10 a.m. It was the President’s third flying
visit to Mindanao since a series of earthquakes rocked the island on April 1. He was
accompanied by Mrs. Magsaysay and Sen. Emmanuel Pelaez.

Immediately upon arrival at the Maria Cristina airport, the President drove to Dansalan
City and went on a survey of devastated towns along Lake Lanao. Manuel Manahan,
RRA chairman, was among those who accompanied him in his survey trip.

Following his tour of the lake towns, the President said he was “quite satisfied” with, the
progress of the work being undertaken by government agencies. He found that these
agencies had succeeded in preventing the outbreak of epidemic and famine among
more than 100,000 persons affected and in coordinating the extension of material and
medical aid to them. He also found that road graders and rollers had cleared the roads
of landslides caused by the quakes.

The President congratulated the relief agencies for the speedy rehabilitation of the
earthquake victims. He lauded Rafael Contreras, public works representative in the
RRA, for his work. He observed that public works reconstruction was being carried in
three shifts a day.

In an extemporaneous speech in Bacolod Grande, Lanao the President expressed his

sympathy to the Moslems for their sufferings. He said he was happy to find that the
people had recovered their composure and were no longer panicky in spite of their
horrible experience.

The President assured the Bacolod residents that he would release more funds which
would be needed for their rehabilitation.

In response, Hadji Shek Honaid Mongobaya led the Moslem population in prayers for
long life for the President.

Upon the suggestion of Sens. Pelaez and Cabili, Rep. Alonto created a committee to
start a national fund campaign for the reconstruction of a P450,000 mosque destroyed
in Bacolod Grande. The President approved the proposal.

The President also visited Tugaya, where the earthquake was at its worst. Nearly 200
persons died in this town.

Upon returning to Camp Keithley. the Chief Executive received from Manahan a report
on the disbursement of the P1 million fund released for the assistance of the earthquake
victims.

Manahan said that P160,000 was released for the reconstruction of roads and bridges
in Lanao; P100.000 for the repair of public buildings, including markets and schools;
P90.000 for the repair of waterworks and buildings in Iligan City; and P55.000 for the
repair of waterworks in Ozamis City. He also reported that a total of 3,390 families,
composed of approximately 19.297 persons in 18 stricken districts in Lanao had already
been served by government relief workers.

Among those who accompanied the President in his inspection tour of the lake towns,
besides Senators Pelaez and Cabili, were Rep. Domocao Alonto. Gov. Salvador Lluch
and Hadji Zaman Masakal, mayor of Bacolod Grande.

After inspecting the lake towns in Lanao, the President flew to Puerto Princesa in
Palawan, where the yacht Pagasa was waiting for him. The President and the First
Lady stayed at the Palawan capital for the night.
The President this day sent a message to newly arrived United States Ambassador and
Mrs. Homer Ferguson welcoming them and wishing that they would both make the
Philippines their second home.

The President, who was in Lanao supervising the relief work for the earthquake victims,
wired the message through Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Raul S. Manglapus. The
new United States ambassador to the Philippines and his wife arrived in Manila at 5
o’clock this morning.

The full text of the President’s welcome message to Ambassador and Mrs. Ferguson,
follows:

REGRET MY ABSENCE FROM MANILA ON YOUR AND MRS. FERGUSON’S

ARRIVAL AS I AM IN LANAO INSPECTING PROGRESS OF THE RELIEF AND
RECONSTRUCTION WORK. LOOKING FORWARD TO RECEIVING YOU. I
WELCOME YOU AND MRS. FERGUSON HERE AND WISH YOU WILL BOTH MAKE
THE PHILIPPINES YOUR SECOND HOME.”

April 8.— MALACAÑANG did not hear from the President the whole day today. A
Malacañang spokesman said the President was presumably cruising off Palawan coast
in his yacht Pagasa.

Malacañang reinstated Vice-Mayor Nicanor G. Salaysay of San Juan. Rizal, today and
ordered him to assume the post of acting mayor on Monday. Salaysay will act as mayor
of San Juan owing to the suspension of Mayor Engracio Santos on an administrative
charge.

First Councilor Mariano Domingo had been acting mayor of San Juan since Salaysay’s
suspension as acting mayor on December 8 last. Salaysay was cleared of an
administrative charge that he allegedly tolerated gambling and prostitution in San Juan.

Gov. Wenceslao Pascual of Rizal relayed the Palace directive to Salaysay.

Malacañang announced the receipt this day of P1,000 from the Compania General de
Tabacos (Tabacalera) as the company’s donation to the earthquake victims in
Mindanao. The donation was accompanied by a letter from the company’s head office in
Barcelona, Spain, expressing the company’s deep sympathy for the victims of the
disaster.

April 9.—THIS morning, the President received aboard the yacht Pagasa Nick Pedrosa,
superintendent of the resettlement project of the NARRA at Panacan, Palawan, and Lt.
Jose Legaspi, PC detachment commander, who sighted the presidential yacht anchored
off the coast of Palawan.

President Magsaysay decided to inspect today the National Resettlement and

Rehabilitation Administration-sponsored resettlement project at
Panacan, Aborlan, Palawan, and the Armed Forces pre-fabricated school-house
project.

Although the President’s visit was unannounced, a large portion of 800 family settlers
and old residents of Panacan were on hand to welcome the President.

The President inspected the area, inquiring from the settlers about their situation and
needs. He was satisfied with the way houses had been constructed and distributed.

In his inspection of an area full of old farm and engineering equipment, the President
directed Engineer Lantz of the board of liquidators to reappraise the heavy road
equipment and to send the unserviceable ones to Manila for repair.

After hearing the settlers discuss then problems in an impromptu community assembly,
the President:

(1) Directed NARRA Manager Eligio Tavanlar to use cement in improving the present
irrigation system in the settlement;

(2) Directed Health Secretary Paulino Garcia to send immediately a physician and a
nurse to augment the present medical staff in the area and to send medicines to insure
proper and necessary medical care of the settlers;

(3) Approved the construction of a P5,000 chapel in the settlement compound; and

(4) Allocated one pre-fabricated schoolhouse to the settlement.

Upon hearing the complaint of a settler, one Mr. Espinosa, regarding the lack of funds
for distribution to the new settlers sent by the NARRA main office, the President
directed the PC provincial commander of Palawan. Capt. Paredes, to contact
immediately the district forester at Puerto Princesa and have the lands south of the
Panacan settlement project (Batan-Batang area) declared agricultural lands. He
directed Superintendent Pedrosa to start distributing the lands to the new settlers as
soon as possible.

For the benefit of settlers sent to this area by the old administration the President
revoked the NARRA directors’ policy of withdrawing land from settlers who are
unmarried. This matter was brought up in the community assembly by Leoncio
Lampera. The President also instructed Superintendent Pedrosa that subsistence to
settlers he extended up to the time the settlers have harvested their crops.

The pre-fabricated schoolhouse project under Capt. Faustino Jimenez of the First
Engineering Construction Group of the AFP impressed the President so much that he
issued to Capt. Jimenez a commendation for work well done. The pre-fabricated
schoolhouse mill is turning out 60 units a month. There are now ready 120 units for
shipment to different localities. Commodore Jose Francisco, Navy chief, who was with
the President on the inspection trip, was directed to expedite the sending of a Navy boat
to Palawan so that shipment of the already finished schoolhouses could be made to
places where they are most needed.

The President and his party left Panacan beach to board the yatch Pagasa about 12
noon, Saturday. A crowd followed the President to the beach and thanked him for his
visit during which he had inquired about their needs.

The President this day received a message from Ambassador Homer Ferguson
expressing the latter’s “personal sympathy for the tragedy which has befallen your
people and my best wishes in the relief and reconstruction work to which you are giving
your personal attention.”

The message, which was an answer to the President’s welcome message to the new
United States ambassador and his lady, was immediately wired to President
Magsaysay, who was still on board the yacht Pagasa.

“Mrs. Ferguson and I are heart warmed by you and your people’s cordially and already
feel that we have found that second home of which you speak,” Ambassador Ferguson
told the President in the message.

Meanwhile, Australian Minister to the Philippines George Dumbar Moore informed

Malacañang this day that Australian Prime Minister Richard G. Menzies will announce
at 4 p.m. Sunday (Manila Time) the sending by the Australian Government of a gift of
3,000 Australia pounds, or around P15,000, as Australia’s contribution to the relief fund
of the earthquake victims. The information was wired to President Magsaysay aboard
the yacht Pagasa.

The President directed Budget Commissioner Dominador R. Aytona to release

immediately under Republic Act No. 1200 the amount of P200,000 for asphalting the
Iligan City airport in Lanao which had been damaged by the recent earthquake.

RRA Chairman Manuel Manahan said in a dispatch to Malacañang today that there was
definitely no transportation problem in the earthquake-stricken areas. He said that the
problem had been solved with the arrival of more vehicles. Manahan also reported that,
according to official reports, the health situation among the disaster victims was almost
normal. Vigilance was being maintained to improve health conditions, he added.

April 10.—AFTER a sixty-day Holy Week cruise and inspection trips the President
returned to Malacañang about 8 o’clock this evening. Looking refreshed and rested, the
President went to the Malacañang compound to greet his father, who celebrated his
81st birthday today in the official residence of Dr. Jose Corpus, personal physician of
the Chief Executive.

After coming from his father’s birthday party, the President retired early in preparation
for another hectic week which begins tomorrow.
The President this day received a report from the Relief and Reconstruction Authority in
Dansalan City on the total amount of funds so far expended for reconstruction in the
earthquake-stricken areas in Mindanao.

Col. Antonio Chanco, chief of the AFP engineering corps, and Sotero H. Bay.
accounting officer of the RRA, informed the President of the following allotments already
expended in the area: for public works such as government buildings, schoolhouses,
markets, municipal buildings in the areas around Tubod and Capatagan, the lake areas,
and Iligan and Ozamis cities—P161,550 for the reconstruction of government buildings
and waterworks at Iligan and Ozamis cities, P165,000; and for roads and bridges for
Lanao and Occidental Misamis, P16,000. These bring to P342.550 the amount already
spent for public works construction in the earthquake region.

The report further said that under the supervision of Capt. Mayuga and his signal corps
men, there is now a very much improved communications system in the area. Radio
and telephone facilities have already been installed where they are needed most.
Mobile radio teams are standing by in strategic places ready to answer any call from the
relief teams.

The report also said that close liaison has been established with the Philippine Air Force
to coordinate the airlifting of the much-needed supplies for Mindanao.

April 11.—UPON receipt of reports that new strong earthquakes, varying in intensity
from I to VI, rocked at least nine provinces in Mindanao and the Visayas early this
morning, the President sent his financial aides to Mindanao this noon to determine how
much more funds would be needed there.

The President directed Budget Commissioner Aytona and Malacañang Technical

Assistant on Finance Rodolfo Andal to fly to Dansalan City in Lanao as soon as he was
informed of the new quakes, to supervise personally the disbursement of the relief
funds.

The President this morning received Sen. Tomas Cabili, who apprised him on the latest
developments on the relief work in Mindanao. Cabili lauded the work of the various relief
agencies operating in the area, saying they had succeeded in putting everything under
control. He suggested that more assistant engineers be assigned to Lanao as the
problem there now had become primarily the reconstruction of damaged public-works
projects. The Senator also suggested that civic organizations which desire to extend aid
to the earthquake sufferers should turn over their contributions to the relief agencies
instead of going to the disaster areas in large numbers. He said that their going there
would only pose problems of accommodation and would distract local officials from their
relief activities.

The President also received other officials from the stricken areas who requested
release of public works funds for the repair of damaged or weakened buildings as a
result of the quakes. The officials included Rep. Reynaldo P. Honrado, who
accompanied Mayor Ramon Kaimo of Surigao, Surigao, and Gov. Felipe B. Azcuna of
Zamboanga del Norte.

The Chief Executive received callers at his study from 8 to 10:30 a.m. Among other
visitors were Sen. Justiniano S. Montano; Reps. Wenceslao Lagumbay of Laguna,
Felipe Garduque of Cagayan, Vicente L. Peralta of Sorsogon, and Celestino Juan of
Nueva Ecija; and Mayor Crisanto Magno of Lupon, Davao.

The tremor which again rocked Dansalan City at 1:35 a.m. today sent city residents
scampering out of their houses to seek the safety of the streets, according to a
message received at Malacañang from PCAC Chairman Manuel P. Manahan, chairman
of the Relief and Reconstruction Authority.

Manahan reported that the people had refused to return to their homes despite
entreaties of the city mayor. He said that this latest tremor appeared to be the strongest
of the recurrent aftershocks which had been rocking the city since the great tremors of
April 1.

The President this afternoon received Rep. Domocao Alonto of Lanao, who confirmed
reports of the occurrence of the latest earthquake in Dansalan City early this morning.
Alonto had arrived from Dansalan City by PAL plane this noon.

Rep. Alonto told the President that, although some public and private properties had
been destroyed by the latest tremor, no deaths had been reported so far. The extent of
the damages, he said, could not be estimated at the time of his departure from
Dansalan City. He told the President that the stricken people of Mindanao were grateful
for the thoughtfulness of the President in making available to them immediate help after
the disaster. He added that the Mindanao people felt now that they had a country and a
government.

The President told Alonto that after conferring earlier in the morning with Sen. Tomas
Cabili and Rep. Reynaldo P. Honrado of Surigao, Gov. Felipe B. Azcuna of Zamboanga
del Norte, and Mayor Ramon Kaimo of Surigao, Surigao, he had decided to send
Budget Commissioner Dominador Aytona and Malacañang Financial Assistant Rodolfo
P. Andal to Dansalan City to determine how much more funds were needed for public
works construction and other needs in the stricken areas. The President said that he
had also instructed Aytona and Andal today, to authorize on the spot release of
available funds needed to relieve the sufferings of the people.

After the conference with Rep. Alonto, the President received again Sen. Tomas Cabin
for further conference on the relief work being undertaken in Mindanao.

Meanwhile, Gov. Juan Alberto of Catanduanes wired the President that the local
Chinese community of Virac was sending the President by telegraphic transfer the sum
of P220 as their contribution to the relief fund for the Mindanao earthquake victims.
Gov. Bienvenido Ebarle of Zamboanga del Sur also wired the President saying that 80
per cent of the buildings affected by the last earthquake had already been repaired and
that the estimated damage and cost of repair of public and private buildings, including
waterworks in Molave, was P200,000 and P25,000 in Tukuran. He said that the Aurora-
Molave national highway was already passable but the estimated damage and cost of
repair was P100,000 and that over 500 destitute families were in dire need of immediate
relief.

Mayor Angel Medina of Ozamis City wired the President that the relief distribution in the
city was being done with the cooperation of the different civic organizations.

In another wire, Mayor Mendiola of Lala, Lanao, said that the people of his municipality
were happy for having received the relief goods distributed to them by social and relief
workers.

Earlier in the morning, President Magsaysay certified to Congress a bill amending the
charter of the Central Bank which would permit the government to borrow from the CB
for public works purposes. The bill was originally filed by Rep. Jacobo Gonzales of
Laguna.

The President today continued to receive contributions from private firms and civic-
spirited individuals in the form of cash and medicines for the earthquake sufferers in
Mindanao and the Visayas.

In acknowledging the contributions, the President thanked the donors for their
“humanitarian spirit.” He assured them that their contributions would go a long way not
only in alleviating the plight of the sufferers but also in giving them reassurance that in
their present misfortune they are being remembered in their greatest hour of need.

Twenty-two boxes of anti-biotic drugs worth P60,000 were contributed by the Pfizer
Laboratories of New York. The drugs, which consisted of 4,000 packages of Terramycin
tablets and 8,000 bottles of Tetracyn capsules, were delivered to the President at
Malacañang by John H. Shoaf, general manager of the Pfizer branch in Manila.

The President made arrangements for the distribution by relief agencies of another set
of drugs being contributed by the Grossman Laboratories in Mexico through the
Mexican legation in Manila. The drugs, consisting of 200 Leodin ampules and 1,000
Neotrasin tablets, are expected to arrive here via Pan American Airways this week.

Cash contributions acknowledged by the President today included those of Atlantic Gulf
and Pacific company in the amount of P1,000 the Tabacalera, also P1, 000 Philippine
Iron Mines, P500 and O. A. Boni of the National City Bank of New York branch in
Manila, who sent in a check for P250.

The President in the evening signed the papers designating Gen. Carlos P. Romulo as
chairman of the Philippine delegation to the Afro-Asian Conference in Bandung,
Indonesia, and making him a member of the Cabinet without portfolio for the purposes
of the conference.

The President said that he was considering the inclusion of one senator as a member of
the delegation. He said he was going to consult Senate President Eulogio Rodriguez.
Sr., on the matter.

The President this evening received a telegram from Cebu Citizen’s Committee on
Cloud Government Chairman Clavano and from Editors Association of the Philippines
President Abellanosa from Cebu City, informing the Chief Executive that a joint
resolution of the two associations had requested the immediate investigation of the
alleged mauling of a Mindanao Star reporter. Cipriano Apolinario, in Cagayan de Oro
City

The Cebu CCGG and EDAP said that they vigorously condemned the Army man’s act
of taking the law into his own hands and infringing on the freedom of the press.

A Philippine News Service report said that the local press club of Cagayan de Oro City
had charged that Lt. Hernandez, aide to Col. Tirso Fajardo, 4th MA Commander, had
allegedly broken into a party given by Mayor Justiniano Borja and reportedly grabbed
newsman Cipriano Apolinario and slugged him before anybody could move.

The President ordered Lt Bernardino Hernandez to be court-martialed for allegedly

mauling a local newsman and creating public disturbance and scandal in Cagayan de
Oro City.

April 12.—PRESIDENT Magsaysay this morning had a breakfast conference with

Secretary Carlos P. Romulo on the forth coming Asian-African conference at Bandung,
Indonesia, which he will attend as chairman of the Philippine delegation. The
conference opens on April 18.

During their talk which lasted about 45 minutes, Secretary Romulo rendered to the
President a detailed report on Philippine affairs pending in Washington, D.C. He called
at Malacañang at 7:30 a.m., shortly after his arrival in Manila from the United States
aboard a Pan-American Airways plane.

The President received callers at his executive office from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Members of the Vietnamese relief team composed of doctors, nurses, and welfare
workers called to pay their respects before proceeding to Mindanao to assist
earthquake sufferers. During the call, Dr. Emmanuel Ho Quan Phuoc, head of the team,
handed the President a P5,000-check from Vietnamese Premier Ngo Dinh Diem for the
earthquake victims.

Narciso Pimentel, Jr., of Dramatic Philippines and Jose L. Dayrit, general manager of
the Manila Grand Opera House, also handed a check for P825.90 for the earthquake
fund. The amount represented the proceeds from one show of the stage play, Martir sa
Golgota, shown in Manila during the Holy Week.

Another contribution in the amount of 81,000 was received from the Von Kohorn
International Corporation, machinery manufacturers in New York. The check was
delivered to the President by Benny Gaberman.

A delegation from Mindoro Oriental, headed by Gov. Francisco Infantado, requested

funds for an irrigation project. Another delegation from Quezon, headed by Gov. Vicente
Constantino and Rep. Manuel Enverga, also requested assistance for the construction
of puericulture and rural health centers in their province.

Officers of the Quarters Allowance Claimants’ Association, an organization of World

War II veterans who had filed claims for quarter allowance, protested against alleged
delay and discrimination in the payment of their claims. The group was accompanied by
Rep. Rodolfo Ganzon of Iloilo.

Officers of the Philippine Medical Association headed by Dr. Mariano Icasiano invited
the President to address their national annual convention to be held in Baguio City on
April 27. The President accepted the invitation.

Officers of the Mori Tenants Association protested against the proposed construction of
a children and maternity hospital in the Mori compound in Quezon City. Accompanied
by Rep. Angel M. Castaño and Manila Councilor Marciano Santos, the tenants said that
the construction of the hospital would displace many families which had built their
homes in the compound and had been paying rentals to the government since 1946.

The President also received Fr. Renato Ziggiotti, superior general of the Salesian’s of
Don Bosco in Turin, Italy, who called to pay his respects. Accompanied by Mons. Egidio
Vagnozzi, papal nuncio, Dr. Ziggiotti presented the President with a decorative wall
lamp made by students of the Salesians vocational school in Victorias, Negros
Occidental.

About 8:30 a.m., the President held a series of conferences with Malacañang assistants
who consulted him on pending matters. During his conference with Technical Assistant
Sofronio Quimson, he signed the nominations of Benito Macrohon as clerk of court of
Rizal; Alejandro Mendoza as justice of the peace of Mandawe, Cebu; Guillermo
Bandonill

as register of deeds of Mt. Province; Conrado C. Manago as justice of the peace of

Tagub, Misamis Occidental; Jose Fabriga as register of deeds of Ozamis City; Teofilo
Barsana and Ruben Santana as justices of the peace of Sabtang and Itbayat, Batanes,
respectively; Ruperto Advincula as auxiliary justice of the peace of Dumarao, Capiz;
and Felix Marasigan as justice of the peace of Macalelon, Quezon.
Other callers this morning included Reps. Augusto Francisco of Manila, Jose Roy of
Tarlac, Serafin Salvador of Rizal, Pedro Lopez and Isidro Kintanar of Cebu, Alberto
Aguja of Leyte, and Constancio Castañeda of Tarlac, and Gov. Dominador Chipeco of
Laguna.

Further pledges of mutual cooperation between the Philippines and the United States in
the attainment of their common objectives of peace and freedom were made by
President Magsaysay and U. S. Ambassador Homer Ferguson during the latter’s
presentation of his letters of credence to the Philippine Chief Executive at impressive
ceremonies held at the Malacañang ceremonial hall this afternoon.

The new American Ambassador who succeeded former Ambassador Raymond A.

Spruance, in presenting his credentials, said: “I know that the objectives of peace and
freedom are held in common by both our nations and that these objectives will
constitute the criteria in our efforts to find the solutions to the problems which face us.”

Continuing, he said: “I feel sure that, in this spirit, a pooling of the best thinking of our
two nations can contribute successfully to the formulation of sound and effective policy.”

Responding, President Magsaysay said that the Philippines shares, the same concern
for peace and freedom and that “we feel in the magnificent efforts your country and
people to secure that peace and freedom for all peoples and for all nations, our country
jointly with yours, can contribute modestly in the formulation of a sound and effective
policy.”

The President added: “I gladly accept your pledge of cooperation in all matters of
common interest to our two nations and your desire to maintain the atmosphere of
cordiality and respect in the solution of our common problems.”

Ambassador Ferguson in presenting his letters of credence to President Magsaysay,

also presented the letter of recall of “my distinguished predecessor, the Honorable
Raymond A. Spruance.”

The presentation ceremony was among the best attended in Malacañang. The U. S.
Ambassador arrived at the Malacañang grounds at 5 p.m. and was given full military
honors by a unit of the presidential guards battalion. The U. S. and the Philippine
national anthems were played.

Ambassador Ferguson was accompanied to Malacañang by Foreign Affairs Chief

Protocol Officer Jose S. Estrada, Assistant Protocol Officer Pedro Angara Aragon. Col.
Napoleon D. Valeriano, and the Ambassador’s staff headed by Charles Barrows, deputy
chief of mission, and Hayward Hill and Carl Boehringer, counselors.

After the exchange of speeches, the President and the American Ambassador shook
hands and the President introduced Ambassador Ferguson to Vice-President and
concurrently Foreign Affairs Secretary Carlos P. Garcia and his staff and the members
of the President’s Cabinet. Afterwards the U. S. Ambassador also introduced the
President to the members of his staff.

The President and the U. S. Ambassador then exchanged toasts.

Rear Admiral Hugh H. Goodwin this afternoon presented to President Magsaysay two
checks in the sum of $10.000 as contribution of the naval, marine, and civilian
personnel of the U. S. Navy forces in the Philippines to the earthquake victims in
Mindanao.

The President thanked Admiral Goodwin in the name of the people of the Philippines,
especially the disaster victims. He said that the gesture would go a long way in
strengthening further the friendship between the Philippines and the United States.

Admiral Goodwin presented the cash donation to the President immediately after
American Ambassador Homer Ferguson had presented his letters of credence as new
U. S. Ambassador to the Philippines to President Magsaysay at the Malacañang
ceremonial hall.

In the letter accompanying the two checks, Admiral Goodwin said that the naval,
marine, and civilian personnel of the U. S. Navy forces in the Philippines “wish to extend
their sympathy to the worthy people of Lanao and Misamis provinces who had suffered
so greatly from the recent earthquake in these areas.”

He said that the contribution serves as a symbol of the sentiments of the personnel
serving at the U. S. Navy installation at Sangley Point and the U. S. Naval Base at
Subic Bay.

President Magsaysay told newsmen this afternoon that he had sent for the records on
the charges for alleged protection of vice filed with the NBI against Mayor Macario
Asistio of Caloocan, Rizal.

The charges were filed by Maj. Fernando Chaingan, suspended police chief of the same
town. The charges alleged that Asistio had been protecting gambling in Caloocan in
return for protection money from’ the maintainers.

The President also told newsmen he had received a report on the situation in Formosa
from Col. Benito Ebuen of the Philippine Air Force, who had gone to Taipeh as the
President’s personal observer. The Chief Executive said he was going to study Ebuen’s
report, which the latter had personally delivered. He indicated that unclassified parts of
the report might be released to the press later.

April 13.—OPENING the day with a breakfast conference with Sen. Claro M Recto, the
President later conferred with leaders of Congress to formulate a united Philippine stand
at the forthcoming Asian African conference in Bandung, Indonesia, which opens on
Monday, April 18.
Sen. Recto left the Palace immediately without waiting for the meeting of congressional
leaders to draft the Philippine position at the Asian-African conference. Both leaders
refused to disclose the subjects taken up at their breakfast conference.

Present at the conference with congressional leaders, which lasted from 9:40 to 11
a.m., were Senate President Eulogio Rodriguez, Sr. Speaker Jose laurel, Jr., Sen.
Francisco A. Delgado and Rep Miguel Cuenco, chairmen, respectively, of the Senate
and the House committees on foreign affairs; and Sen. Tomas Cablli and Rep.
Diosdado Macapagal.

Also present were Vice-President and concurrently Foreign Affairs Secretary

Carlos P. Garcia, Gen. Carlos P. Romulo, who heads the Philippine delegation to the
conference, Ambassador Felino Neri, and Press Secretary J. V. Cruz

After the conference, the President proceeded to the Council of State room, where he
presided over the regular weekly meeting of the Cabinet.

He also conferred later with Defense Undersecretary Jose M. Crisol who consulted him
on some pending matters in the Department of National Defense.

The President entered the Cabinet meeting. Sen. Tomas Cabili came in the Cabinet
room W t! President and Romulo and also stayed for some time.

The President and his Cabinet sought ways to help solve unemployment by appointing
a committee to study a practical manner of employing the greatest possible number of
men to work on road construction and irrigation projects of the government.

The President named Agriculture Secretary Salvador Araneta as chairman of the

committee with Commerce Secretary Oscar Ledesma, Public Works Secretary Vicente
Orosa, Economic Coordination Administrator Alfredo Montelibano, and Budget
Commissioner Dominador Aytona, as members.

In forming the committee to study how to provide more jobs, some Cabinet members
had in mind the formation of large labor groups to be employed in the government’s
road construction and irrigation projects. Although no concrete plans as to the nature of
these labor groups were arrived at during the meeting, some Cabinet members were
thinking along the lines of an organization similar to the civilian construction corps
(CCC) organized before World War II in the United States.

Details of this plan, like salaries and the most efficacious way of employing the most
people, were left to the committee to draft. It was also believed that legislation might be
necessary in carrying out the project. The President told the committee to study the
matter carefully and submit its report as early as possible.
The Cabinet also enlarged the membership of the existing committee studying the
PHILCUSA-FOA training grant for the fiscal year 1955 and directed the committee to
study further how the appropriations being spent for the trainees could best be allotted.
It was the feeling of the Cabinet that some of the studies which trainees are supposed
to pursue in the United States are not very essential and that such appropriations could
be diverted to other more urgent projects of the government.

As constituted now, the enlarged committee studying this matter is composed of

Economic Coordination Administrator Alfredo Montelibano as chairman, with Agriculture
Secretary Salvador Araneta, Health Secretary Paulino Garcia, (he Executive Secretary,
and Education Undersecretary Martin Aguilar, Jr., as members. The committee will
meet in the Council of Stale room on Monday (April 18) at 3 p.m.

At the Cabinet meeting, the President signed the plans for the P2 million buildings for
the Manila International Airport. Secretary Orosa said that bids for the construction of
the buildings would be called soon so that work could start at an early date.

The President was impressed by the modern lines of the buildings and remarked that
when finished they would rank with the most modern airports in the world.

Present at the signing of the plans were Consulting Architect Federico S. Ilu the.
Architect Paterno Alcodia. Assistant CAA Administrator Emilio Asistores and Chief of
Airport Juan Paraiso, Jr.

The Cabinet meeting ended past 12 noon.

At about 4 p.m. the President crossed the Pasig River in a launch and had a 30-minute
golf practice. He was accompanied by his aide. Lt. Col. Emilio Borromeo. Afterwards, he
motored to the V. Luna General Hospital for his regular annual medical check-up.

Malacañang announced today that the President had not designated anybody to act as
executive secretary during the time that Executive Secretary Castro is on sick leave.
Assistant Executive Secretary Mariano A. Yenko. Jr. has been holding his office in
Secretary Castro’s room and signing papers as assistant executive secretary. Secretary
Yenko attended the Cabinet meeting this morning in place of Secretary Castro.

The air-conditioning unit in the public reception room in the Executive Office which had
been ordered dismantled by President Magsaysay some days ago, has been sold at
P22.350.00 to the Aguinaldo Development Corporation, Malacañang announced today.

Dan Aguinaldo, president of the corporation which had bought the air-conditioning unit,
sent the President Security Bank and Trust Company check No. 367906 covering the
full amount spent in the installation of the unit. The amount of P22,350 paid for the unit
covers down to the last centavo the sum that had been spent for it by the government.
The air-conditioning system was installed in the public reception room in the Executive
Office for the benefit of the hundreds of visitors, mostly provincial folk, seeking
appointment with the President and other Malacañang officials.

A donation of medical drugs for the earthquake victims in Mindanao was received by
Malacañang today, from the Parke, Davis and Company. The donation, consisting of
10,000 Chloromycetin capsules, 50,000 camoquin tablets, 1,100 Chloromycetin
ointment, and 288 paladoc vitamin supplement, was handed over to PCAC Chairman
Manuel P. Manahan and Dr. Jose Corpus, physician to the President, by R. G. Dean
and Jose A. Macatangay, sales executive and director of medical service, respectively,
of Parke, Davis and Company.

April 17.—WHILE the President was having breakfast with his family. Col. Antonio
Chanco, chief of the AFP corps of engineers and deputy chairman of the Relief and
Reconstruction Authority, arrived.

Col. Chanco submitted a partial report of RRA relief work in the earthquake-stricken
areas in Mindanao. Attached to it were long statements and itemized disbursements.

The Presidents went over the report, but later asked Chanco to brief him on the gist of
the report.

Col. Chanco reported to the President that distribution of foodstuffs had been stopped,
as the areas were already saturated with relief commodities. With the repair of damaged
roads, he added, prime commodities could now move normally from one place to
another. Chanco estimated that about P120,000 worth of relief goods in the form of rice,
dried fish, canned goods, medicines, and light building materials had been distributed to
some 84,000 persons, or about 16,000 families, during two weeks of RRA operations.
Most of these families were residents of towns around Lake Lanao like Tugoya, Bacolod
Grande, Ganassi, and Masiu. These had been hardest hit by the earthquakes.

With the relief phase of its work over, the RRA is now concentrating on the repair or
reconstruction of damaged public works, such as roads bridges, public buildings, water
systems, and portworks. The entire area had already been surveyed by RRA engineers
headed by Division Engineer Rafael Contreras, who had made estimates for the
rehabilitation of damaged structures.

Chanco reported that a total of P667.450 had been allocated for three of the hardest hit
provinces: namely, Lanao, which had been allocated P504.450; Misamis Occidental,
which had been given P108.000; and Zamboanga del Sur, whose allocation was
P55,000. About P200 000 of these estimated expenses will come from regularly
appropriated public works fund and the rest will be disbursed from the President’s
contingent funds.

Results of the survey indicated that previous reports on damages by local officials and
residents had been somewhat exaggerated, probably because of hysteria, Chanco
observed in his report. More sober estimates had been arrived at after a series of
conferences among local engineers and engineers assigned with the RRA, including
Demetrio Capuyoc, Rizal district engineer, who had been temporarily detailed to the
stricken areas.

The President congratulated members of the RRA for a job well done. He was pleased
to learn that, pending accurate estimates of actual damages and formal allocation of
funds for their repair, the RRA engineers had gone ahead with the reconstruction of
roads and bridges to restore normalcy to the areas as soon as possible.

The President conferred with Col. Chanco for almost one hour. He did not receive any
ether caller.

After his conference with the RRA deputy chairman, the President about 10:30 a.m.
boarded his car and left Malacañang. He returned for lunch at 12:30 p.m.

April 24.—PRESIDENT Magsaysay left Malacañang at 6:30 this morning for the Manila
International Airport, where he saw Executive Secretary Fred Ruiz Castro off. Castro
boarded a NWA plane bound for the United States where he would enter the Walter
Reed Hospital for medical treatment.

A big crowd was at the airport to see Secretary Castro off. Among the officials present
were Health Secretary Paulino Garcia, Defense Secretary Sotero Cabahug, Labor
Secretary Eleuterio Adevoso, Press Secretary J. V. Cruz, and Assistant Executive
Secretaries Mariano A. Yenko Jr., and Enrique C. Quema. Also present was Mrs.
Castro.

While at the airport, the President talked with several department secretaries. He
wished his executive secretary Godspeed and good health and cheered him up with:
“Don’t worry I will take care of you.”

Castro was accompanied by Dr. Wigberto Clavecilla, Malacañang physician. Both are
traveling on private funds.

Yenko will be acting executive secretary during Castro’s absence. He has been filling
that position since Castro went on leave about a month ago on orders of his physician.

From the airport the President and Ms aide, Maj. Pat Garcia, motored to the house of
Dr. and Mrs. Jose Corpus in the Malacañang compound, where he ate his breakfast
with his parents. Mrs. Magsaysay and her children were still in Baguio City.

After breakfast, the President worked continuously from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on pending
state papers.

At about 3 p.m., the President flew to his hometown, Castillejos, Zambales, where he
continued working on state papers. He flew back to Manila and arrived at Malacañang
about 5 p.m., in time for his scheduled conferences with RRA officials and Col. Harry A.
Brenn, local FOA chief.

In the afternoon, the President received the final report of the Relief and Reconstruction
Authority on its work in the earthquake devastated areas in Mindanao. RRA Chairman
Manuel P. Manahan, together with Col. Antonio Chanco, chief of the AFP corps of
engineers, Division Engineer Rafael Contreras, and Accounting Officer Sotero H. Bay,
all RRA members, called on the President to submit their final report.

RRA Chairman Manuel P. Manahan informed the President that the sum of
P836,627.71 has been expended as follows: P639.750 for public works and
P142.877.71 for relief goods, including transportation and overhead expenses. He
reported that out of P836,627.71 expended, only P561.627.71 had been taken from the
President’s contingent funds, as P275,000 has been charged against Republic Act No.
917.

Manahan told the Chief Executive that reconstruction work in the affected areas was
continuing smoothly under local officials, requiring only a regular follow-up by RRA
officials. He said that conditions in the area are now normal. Col. Chanco said that all
the damaged roads had been reconstructed and that there are better roads now than
those existing before the quake.

The President was pleased with the report and congratulated all the RRA officials and
their personnel and all other entities for the efficiency with which they had tackled the
relief and reconstruction work.

The President this afternoon also conferred with Col. Harry A. Brenn, local FOA chief,
and discussed with him in a general way the FOA program in the Philippines, including
the $9.5 million United States aid.

Among the matters taken up by the President with Brenn were the establishment of the
division cantonments, the construction program for the jet aircraft facilities in the Basa
Air Base, and the granting of FOA industrial loans. No details were given about the
discussions.

After the conference with Col. Brenn, the President took up with Col. Antonio P.
Chanco, chief of the AFP corps of engineers, the needs for cantonment training.

Malacañang announced today that President Magsaysay had received the report of
Education Secretary Gregorio Hernandez, Jr., on the investigation of Private Schools
Director Daniel Salcedo. It was revealed that the President had found the education
secretary’s recommendation to be lenient and that the President was not satisfied. The
President is still studying the matter carefully.