[ LETTER OF INSTRUCTIONS NO. 697, May 24, 1978 ]

TO:
THE SECRETARY, ECONOMIC PLANNING & DIRECTOR GENERAL,
NATIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
THE SECRETARY OF FINANCE
THE SECRETARY OF PUBLIC WORKS, TRANSPORTATION & COMMUNICATION
THE CHAIRMAN, DEVELOPMENT BANK OF THE PHILIPPINES
THE COMMISSIONER, BUDGET COMMISSION
THE ADMINISTRATOR, PHILIPPINE PORTS AUTHORITY
THE ADMINISTRATOR, NATIONAL GRAINS AUTHORITY AND
ALL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES CONCERNED

WHEREAS, THE NATIONAL GRAINS AUTHORITY, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF P.D. 4, IS DIRECTLY ENTRUSTED WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY TO INTRODUCE MORE EFFICIENT WAYS, SYSTEMS AND FACILITIES FOR STORAGE, PROCESSING AND POST HARVEST HANDLING OF RICE, CORN AND OTHER GRAINS AND THEIR BY-PRODUCTS;

WHEREAS, THE NGA UNDER ITS FIVE-YEAR PROGRAM IS UNDERTAKING THE INSTALLATION AND CONSTRUCTION OF MODERN AND EFFICIENT POST-HARVEST FACILITIES SUCH AS TERMINAL SILOS, BULK HANDLING EQUIPMENT LIKE CONVEYORS, CONTAINERIZED MOBILE VANS AND PNEUMATIC LOADING AN UNLOADING DEVICES;

WHEREAS, THESE POST-HARVEST FACILITIES, PARTICULARLY THE ESTABLISHMENT OF TERMINAL SILOS IN STRATEGIC PORTS, ARE VERY VITAL IN THE EFFICIENT STORAGE OF OUR NATIONAL BUFFER AND SECURITY STOCKS;

WHEREAS, IN ANTICIPATION OF ITS GRAINS EXPORT POTENTIALS, THE COUNTRY SHALL BE IN NEED OF TRANS-SHIPMENT POINTS IN VARIOUS STRATEGIC PORT AREAS OF THE COUNTRY TO FACILITATE LOADING AND UNLOADING OPERATIONS;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND A. MARCOS, PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES IN ORDER TO FACILITATE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FIVE-YEAR PROGRAM OF THE NGA PARTICULARLY ITS GRAINS INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, DO HEREBY DIRECT;
  1. THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS, TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATION IN FULL COOPERATION WITH THE PHILIPPINE PORTS AUTHORITY SHALL ALLOCATE THE NECESSARY LAND REQUIREMENT FOR THE CONVENTIONAL AND BULK STORAGE AND PROCESSING FACILITIES OF THE NGA IN STRATEGIC EXISTING PORTS AND/OR PORT AREAS BEING DEVELOPED BY SAID AGENCIES, PARTICULARLY AT THE MANILA INTERNATIONAL PORT TERMINAL;
  2. THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS, TRANSPORTATION  COMMUNICATION SHALL ASSIST THE NGA IN THE LAND DEVELOPMENT OF SUCH AREAS FOR ITS POST-HARVEST FACILITIES.
  3. THAT THE PHILIPPINE PORTS AUTHORITY SHALL INCLUDE IN ITS PORT  DEVELOPMENT PLAN THE STORAGE FACILITY REQUIREMENTS OF THE NATIONAL GRAINS AUTHORITY;
  4. THAT THE NATIONS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AND THE NATIONAL BUDGET COMMISSION SHALL RESPECTIVELY PROGRAM AND APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR THE GRAIN INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS OF THE NATIONAL GRAINS AUTHORITY;
  5. THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND GOVERNMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS SHALL ASSIST THE NATIONAL GRAINS AUTHORITY IN FINANCING AND GUARANTEEING ITS FOREIGN LOAN OBLIGATIONS RELATIVE TO ITS FIVE-YEAR, PROGRAM PARTICULARLY ITS TERMINAL SILO PROJECTS; AND
  6. THAT THE NATIONAL GRAINS AUTHORITY SHALL IMMEDIATELY IMPLEMENT  ITS FIVE-YEAR PROGRAM IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITS DESIRED GOALS AND OBJECTIVES.
DONE IN THE CITY OF MANILA, THIS 24TH DAY OF MAY IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD, NINETEEN HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-EIGHT.

     
(Sgd.) FERDINAND E. MARCOS
     
President
     
Republic of the Philippines
       
       
  By the President:    
       
    (Sgd.) JUAN C. TUVERA    
      Presidential Assistant