[ LETTER OF INSTRUCTIONS NO. 178-A, March 30, 1974 ]

TO: Secretary Juan Ponce Enrile
Secretary Jose A. Roño
Chairman Geronimo Z. Velasco
Chairman Ponciano Mathay
In the light of the easing up of the available crude oil supply for the country and to provide the impetus with which to maintain the momentum of our economic growth, effective April 1, 1974, the coupon system (gas receipts and gas issue cards) in gasoline allocation is hereby discontinued. Gasoline stations and other distributors or dealers of gasoline and other gasoline products to the public shall continue to serve their customers without the need of coupons.

As a corollary measure however, in the light of the increased cost of crude oil necessitating a heavy drain on our foreign exchange reserves, and a possible increase in the price of gasoline and other petroleum products, further conservation measures should be adopted to effect economies in the use of gasoline and other petroleum products. The Chairman of the PNOC is directed to draft conservation measures in line with this directive.

The Department of Public Information, through Mass Media, is directed to disseminate such measures to the public and the Department of National Defense and the Oil Industry Commission together with the Department of Local Government and Community Development shall implement such conservation measures issued pursuant to the above authority.

(Sgd.) FERDINAND E. MARCOS
President
Republic of the Philippines