Policies and programs of philippine presidents

a. Sergio Osmena
b. Manuel Roxas
c. Elpidio Quirino
d. Ramon Magsaysay
e. Carlos. Garcia
f. Diosdado P. Macapagal

Reporter:
Villaceran, Ruth Klaribelle C.
BSED 3- English

 Second President of the
Commonwealth
 Term: August 1, 1944-
May 27, 1946
 Filipino statesman,
founder of the Nationalist
Party (Partido
Nacionalista) and
President of the
Philippines from 1944 to
1946.

 Last President of the
Commonwealth
 Term: May 28, 1946- July 4,
1946
 First President of the Third
Republic of the Philippines
 Term: July 4, 1946- April 15,
1948
 Political leader and first
president of the independence
republic of the Philippines.

 Second President, Third
Republic of the
Philippines
 Term: April 17, 1948-
November 10, 1953
 Political leader and
second president of the
Independence Republic
of the Philippines.

 Third President of the Third
 Term: December 30, 1953-
March 17, 1957
 Best known for successfully
defeating the communist
led Hukbalahap (Huk)
Movement. Idol of the
masses, champion of
democracy, and freedom
fighter.

 Fourth President of the
Third Republic of the
Philippines
 Term: March 18, 1957-
December 30, 1961
 Famous for his austerity
program and policy. He
maintained the strong
tradition ties with the
United States and sought
closer relation with non-
communist Asian countries.

 Fifth President of the Third
 Term: December 30, 1961 -
December 30, 1965
 Poet, politician, lawyer,
diplomat, statesman,
economist and intellectual.
 Born to poverty but rose
due to diligence and
brilliance. Best known as
the "Champion of the
Common Man."

Name Place of Date of Date of Alma Mater Profession Spouse(s) Religion Age Elected
Origin Birth Death as President

Sergio Cebu City September October 19, •University Lawyer •Estefania Roman 65 years old
Osmena 9, 1878 1961 of San Carlos Veloso Catholic
•San Juan de •Esperanza
Letran Limjap
College
•University
of Santo
Tomas

Manuel Roxas, Capiz January 1, April 15, •University Lawyer Trinidad de Roman 54 years old
Roxas 1892 1948 of Manila Leon Catholic
•University
of the
Philippines
College of
Law

Elpidio Vigan November February 29, •University Lawyer Alicia Syquia Roman 58 years old

Name Place of Date of Date of Alma Mater Profession Spouse(s) Religion Age Elected
Origin Birth Death as President

Ramon Iba, August 31, March 17, Jose Rizal Engineer Luz Banzon Roman 46 years old
Magsaysay Zambales 1907 1957 University Catholic

Carlos P. Talibon, November June 14, •Siliman •Teacher Leonila Roman 61 years old
Garcia Bohol 4, 1896 1971 University •Lawyer Dimataga Catholic
•Philippine •Poet
Law School •Political
Economist
•Guerilla
Leader

Diosdado P. Lubao, September April 21, •University •Lawyer •Purita Dela Roman 51 years old
Macapagal Pampanga 28, 1910 1997 of the •Professor Rosa Catholic
Philippines •Evita
•University Macaraeg
of Santo
Tomas

•Governor of Cebu •October 16 1907-1922
•1904- October 16 1907
•Member of the Philippine House of •Secretary of Public Instruction
Representatives from Cebu's 2nd District •1935-1940
•October 16 1907-1922 •Secretary of Public Instruction, Health, and
•2nd Senate President pro tempore of the Public Welfare
Philippines •1941-1944
•1922-1934 •2nd Vice President of the Philippines
•Senator of the Philippines from the 10th •November 15 1935 – August 1 1944
Senatorial District •4th President of the Philippines
•1922 – 15 November 1935 •2nd President of the Commonwealth
•1st Speaker of the Philippine House of •August 1 1944 – May 28 1946
Representatives

•Governor of Capiz •2nd President of the Senate of the
•1919–1921 Philippines
•2nd Speaker of the Philippine House of •July 9, 1945 – May 25, 1946
Representatives
•1922–1933
•1921–1938 •5th President of the Philippines
•Secretary of Finance •3rd President of the Commonwealth
•August 21, 1941 – December 29, 1941 •1st president of the Third Republic
•Senator of the Philippines •May 28, 1946 – April 15, 1948
•July 9, 1945 – May 25, 1946

•Member of the Philippine House of •Secretary of Finance
Representatives from Ilocos Sur's 1st District •July 25, 1934 – February 18, 1936
•Assumed office •May 28, 1946 – November 24, 1946
•1919 •Secretary of Foreign Affairs
•Senator of the Philippines from the First •September 16, 1946 – April 17, 1948
Senatorial District •3rd Vice President of the Philippines
•1925–1925 •May 28, 1946 – April 17, 1948
•Senator of the Philippines •6th President of the Philippines
•July 9, 1945 – May 28, 1946 •2nd President of the Third Republic
•4th President pro tempore of the Senate of •April 17, 1948 – December 30, 1953
the Philippines
•July 9, 1945 – May 28, 1946
•Secretary of Interior
•1935–1938

•Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Zambales' Lone District
•28 May 1946 – 1 September 1950

•Secretary of National Defense
•1 September 1950 – 28 February 1953
•1 January 1954 – 14 May 1954

•7th President of the Philippines
•3rd President of the Third Republic
•30 December 1953 – 17 March 1957

•Member of the Philippine House of •5th Vice President of the Philippines
Representatives from Bohol's Third District •December 30, 1953 – March 17, 1957
•1925–1931 •1st President of the 1971 Philippine
•Governor of Bohol Constitutional Convention
•December 30, 1933 – December 30, 1941 •June 1, 1971 – June 14, 1971
•Senator of the Philippines
•May 25, 1946 – December 30, 1953 •8th President of the Philippines
•Secretary of Foreign Affairs 4th President of the Third Republic
•December 30, 1953 – March 17, 1957 March 17, 1957 – December 30, 1961

•Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Pampanga's First District
•December 30, 1949 – December 30, 1957
•6th Vice President of the Philippines
•2nd President of the 1971 Philippine Constitutional Convention
•June 14, 1971 – January 17, 1973
•9th President of the Philippines
•5th President of the Third Republic

 Osmeña became president of the Commonwealth on
Quezon's death in 1944. He returned to the Philippines the
same year with General Douglas MacArthur and the
liberation forces. After the war, Osmeña restored the
Commonwealth government and the various executive
departments. He continued the fight for Philippine
independence.
 For the presidential election of 1946, Osmeña refused to
campaign, saying that the Filipino people knew of his record
of 40 years of honest and faithful service. He lost to Manuel
Roxas, who won 54 percent of the vote and became
president of the independent Republic of the Philippines

 Restoration of the Commonwealth
 With the city of Manila already liberated, General of the
Army, Douglas MacArthur, on behalf of the United States,
turned over the reins of government of the Philippines to
Commonwealth President, Sergio Osmeña, on 27 February
1945, amidst brief, but impressive, ceremonies held at
the Malacañan Palace. President Osmeña, after thanking the
United States through General MacArthur, announced the
restoration of the Government of the Commonwealth of the
Philippines and work out the salvation of the Philippines
from the ravages of war.

 Government reorganization
 President Osmeña proceeded with the immediate reorganization of the
government and its diverse dependencies.
 On 8 April 1945, he formed his Cabinet, administering the oath of office to its
component members. Later, President Osmeña received the Council of State to
help him solve the major problems confronting the nation. Government offices
and bureaus were gradually reestablished. A number of new ones were created
to meet needs then current. Also restored were the Supreme Court of the
Philippines and the inferior courts. The Court of Appeals was abolished and its
appellate jurisdiction was transferred to the Supreme Court, the members of
which were increased to eleven – one Chief Justice and ten Associate Justice – in
order to attend to the new responsibilities. Slowly but steadily, as the liberating
forces freed the other portions of the country, provincial and municipal
governments were established by the Commonwealth to take over from the
military authorities.

 Rehabilitation of the Philippine National Bank
 Following the restoration of the Commonwealth Government, the
Congress was reorganized. Manuel Roxas and Elpidio Quirino were
elected Senate President and Senate President pro
tempore respectively. At the House of Representatives, Jose
Zulueta of Iloilo was elected Speaker and Prospero Sanidad as Speaker
pro tempore. The opening session of the Congress was personally
addressed by President Osmeña, who reported on the Commonwealth
Government in exile and proposed vital pieces of legislation.
 The First Commonwealth Congress earnestly took up the various
pending assignments to solve the pressing matters affecting the
Philippines, especially in regard to relief, rehabilitation, and
reconstruction. The first bill enacted was Commonwealth Act No. 672 –
rehabilitating the Philippine National Bank.

 People's court

 Yielding to American pressure, on 25 September 1945, the
Congress enacted C.A. No. 682 creating the People's Court
and the Office of Special Prosecutors to deal with the
pending cases of "collaboration"

 United Nations Charter
 President Osmeña sent the Philippine delegation, which was
headed by Carlos P. Romulo, to the San Francisco gathering for the
promulgation of the Charter of the United Nations on 26 June
1945.
▪ Other members of the delegation were Maximo Kalaw,Carlos P.
Garcia, Pedro Lopez, Francisco Delegado, Urbano Zafra, Alejandro
Melchor, and Vicente Sinco.
 The 28th signatory nation of the United Nations, the Philippines
was one of the fifty-one nations that drafted the UN Charter. Once
approved by Philippine delegation, the UN Charter was ratified by
the Congress of the Philippines and deposited with the U.S State
Department on 11 October 1945.

 Foreign Relations Office
 To prepare for the forthcoming independent status of the
Philippine, President Osmeña created the Office of Foreign
Relations.
▪ Vicente Sinco was appointed as its first Commissioner, with cabinet rank.
 In this connection, President Osmeña also entered into an
agreement with the United States Government to send five
Filipino trainees to the U.S. State Department to prepare
themselves for diplomatic service.
▪ They were sent by U.S. State Department to the United States embassies
in Moscow and Mexico City and consulates in Saigon and Singapore.

 International banking
 On 5 December 1945, President Osmeña appointed Resident
Commissioner Carlos P. Romulo as his representative to
accept Philippine membership in the International Monetary
Fund and in the International Bank for Reconstruction and
Development, which bodies had been conceived in the
Bretton Woods Agreement, in which the Philippine had also
taken part. Romulo signed said membership on 27 December
1945 on behalf of the Philippines.

 Bell Trade Act
 On 30 April 1946, the United States Congress, at last approved the Bell
Act, which as early as 20 January had been reported to the Ways and
Means Committee of the lower house, having been already passed by
the Senate. President Osmeña and Resident Commissioner Ramulo had
urged the passage of this bill, with United States High
Commissioner, Paul V. McNutt, exerting similar pressure.
 The Act gave the Philippines eight years of free trade with the United
States, then twenty years during which tariffs would be upped
gradually until they were in line with the rest of the American tariff
policy. The law also fixed some quotas for certain products: sugar –
850,000 long tons; cordage – 6,000,000 pounds; coconut oil – 200,000
long tons; cigars – 200,000,000 pounds.

 Bell Trade Act
 The great aid this legislation meant for the Philippines was
coupled with that to be obtained from the recently passed
Tydings Damage bill, which provided some nine hundred
million dollars for payment of war damages, of which one
million had been earmarked to compensate for church
losses. The sum of two hundred and forty million dollars was
to be periodically allocated by the United States President as
a manifestation of good will to the Filipino people.
Additionally, sixty million pieces of surplus property were
also transferred to the Philippine Government.

 Roxas served as the President of the Commonwealth of the
Philippines in a brief period, from his subsequent election on
May 28, 1946 to July 4, 1946, the scheduled date of the
proclamation of Philippine Independence.
 Roxas prepared the groundwork for the advent of a free and
independent Philippines, assisted by the Congress.
 OnJune 3, 1946, Roxas appeared for the first time before the joint
session of the Congress to deliver his first state of the nation
address. Among other things, he told the members of the
Congress the grave problems and difficulties the Philippines are
set to face and reports of his special trip to the United States–the
approval for independence.

 Economy
 Among the main remedies proposed was the establishment of the
Philippine Rehabilitation Finance Corporation. This entity would be
responsible for the construction of twelve thousand houses and for
the grant of easy-term loans in the amount of 177,000,000 pesos.
Another proposal was the creation of the Central Bank of the
Philippines to help stabilize the Philippine dollar reserves and
coordinate and the nations banking activities gearing them to the
economic progress.
 Concentrating on the sugar industry, President Roxas would exert
such efforts as to succeed in increasing production from 13,000
tons at the time of the Philippine liberation to an all-high of one
million tons.

 Reconstruction after the war
 The postwar Philippines had burned cities and towns, ruined farms
and factories, blasted roads and bridges, shattered industries and
commerce, and thousands of massacred victims. The war had
paralyzed the educational system, where 80% of the school
buildings, their equipments, laboratories and furniture were
destroyed. Numberless books, invaluable documents and works of
art, irreplaceable historical relics and family heirlooms, hundreds
of churches and temples were burned. The reconstruction of the
damaged school buildings alone cost more than Php 126,000,000.

 Reconstruction after the war
 The new Republic began to function on an annual deficit of
over Php 200,000,000 with little prospect of a balanced
budget for some years to come. Manila and other cities then
were infested with criminal gangs which used techniques of
American gangsters in some activities–
bank holdups, kidnapping and burglaries. In rural regions,
especially the provinces of Central Luzon and the Southern
Tagalog regions, the Hukbalahaps and brigands terrorized
towns and barrios.

 Agrarian reform
 In 1946, shortly after his induction to Presidency, Manuel
Roxas proclaimed the Rice Share Tenancy Act of 1933
effective throughout the country.However problems of land
tenure continued. In fact these became worse in certain
areas. Among the remedial measures enacted was Republic
Act No. 1946 likewise known as the Tenant Act which
provided for a 70–30 sharing arrangements and regulated
share-tenancy contracts.It was passed to resolve the ongoing
peasant unrest in Central Luzon.

 Amnesty proclamation
 President Roxas, on January 28, 1948, granted full amnesty to all
so-called Philippine collaborators, many of whom were on trial or
awaiting to be tried, particularly former President Jose P.
Laurel (1943–1945). The Amnesty Proclamation did not apply to
those "collaborators", who were charged with the commission of
common crimes, such as murder, rape, and arson. The presidential
decision did much to heal a standing wound that somehow
threatened to divide the people's sentiments. It was a much-called
for measure to bring about a closer unity in the trying times when
such was most needed for the progress of the nation.

 HUKS outlawed
 Utterly disgusted with the crimes being committed
by HUKBALAHAP or HUKS and in possession of the
incontrovertible evidence of the subversive character of the same,
President Roxas, on March 6, 1948, in a dramatic gesture, issued a
Proclamation outlawing Huks' movement, making it a crime to
belong to the same.The declaration was hailed by all responsible
and peace-loving elements. The same had become imperative in
view of the resurgence of Huk depredations, following the
unseating of the seven Communists, led by Huk Supremo Luis
Taruc through acts of terrorism.

 Treaty of General Relations
 On August 5, 1946, the Congress of the Philippines ratified the
Treaty of General Relations that had been entered into by and
between the Republic of the Philippines and the United States on
July 4, 1946. Aside from withdrawing her sovereignty from the
Philippines and recognizing her independence, the Treaty reserved
for the United States some bases for the mutual protection of both
countries; consented that the United States represent the
Philippines in countries where the latter had not yet established
diplomatic representation; made the Philippines assume all debts
and obligations of the former government in the Philippines; and
provided for the settlement of property rights of the citizens of
both countries.

 United States Military Bases
 Although Roxas was successful in getting rehabilitation funds
from the United States after independence, he was forced to
concede military bases (23 of which were leased for 99
years), trade restriction for the Philippine citizens, and
special privileges for U.S. property owner and investor.

 Parity Rights Amendment
 On March 11, 1947, the Filipino people, heeding Roxas'
persuasive harangue, ratified in a nationwide plebiscite the
"parity amendment" to the 1935 Constitution, granting
United States citizens the right to dispose and utilize of
Philippine natural resources, or through parity rights.
▪ The night before the plebiscite day, Roxas narrowly escaped an
assassination by a disgruntled Tondo barber, Julio Guillen, who hurled
a grenade on the platform at Plaza Miranda immediately after the
President addressed the rally of citizens.

 Elpidio Quirino's six years as president were marked by
notable postwar reconstruction, general economic
gains, and increased economic aid from the United
States. Basic social problems, however, particularly in
the rural areas, remained unsolved, and his
administration was tainted by widespread graft and
corruption.

 Economy
 Upon assuming the reins of government, Quirino announced
two main objectives of his administration: first, the economic
reconstruction of the nation and second, the restoration of the
faith and confidence of the people in the government.
▪ In connection to the first agenda, he created the President's Action
Committee on Social Amelioration or PACSA to mitigate the sufferings
of indigent families, the Labor Management Advisory Board to advise
him on labor matters, the Agricultural Credit Cooperatives Financing
Administration or ACCFA to help the farmers market their crops and
save them from loan sharks, and the Rural Banks of the Philippines to
facilitate credit utilities in rural areas.

 Social Program
 Enhancing President Manuel Roxas' policy of social justice to
alleviate the lot of the common mass, President Quirino,
almost immediately after assuming office, started a series of
steps calculated to effectively ameliorate the economic
condition of the people. After periodic surprise visits to
the slums of Manila and other backward regions of the
country, President Quirino officially made public a seven-
point program for social security, o wit:

 Social Program
▪ Unemployment insurance
▪ Old-age insurance
▪ Accident and permanent disability insurance
▪ Health insurance
▪ Maternity insurance
▪ State relief
▪ Labor opportunity

 Social Program
 President Quirino also created the Social Security
Commission, making Social Welfare Commissioner Asuncion
Perez chairman of the same.This was followed by the
creation of the President's Action Committee on Social
Amelioration, charges with extending aid, loans, and relief to
the less fortunate citizens. Both the policy and its
implementation were hailed by the people as harbingers of
great benefits.

 Agrarian Reform
 As part of his Agrarian Reform agenda, President
Quirino issued on October 23, 1950 Executive Order
No. 355 which replaced the National Land Settlement
Administration with Land Settlement Development
Corporation (LASEDECO) which takes over the
responsibilities of the Agricultural Machinery
Equipment Corporation and the Rice and Corn
Production Administration.

 Integrity Board
 To cope with the insistent clamor for government
improvement, President Quirino created the Integrity Board
to probe into reports of graft and corruption in high
government places. Vice-President Fernando Lopez was
most instrumental, through his courageous exposes, in
securing such a decision from President Quirino.

 Quirino's administration excelled in diplomacy, impressing
foreign heads of states and world statesmen by his
intelligence and culture. In his official travels to the United
States, European countries, and Southeast Asia, he
represented the Philippines with flying colors. During his six
years of administration, he was able to negotiate treaties and
agreements with other nations of the Free World. Two Asian
heads of state visited Philippines–President Chiang Kai-
shek of the Republic of China in July 1949 and
President Achmed Sukarno of Indonesia in January 1951.

 In 1950, at the onset of the Korean War, Quirino
authorized the deployment of over 7,450 Filipino
soldiers to Korea, under the designation of
the Philippine Expeditionary Forces to Korea or
PEFTOK.

 Korean War
 On June 25, 1950, the world was astonished to hear the North
Korean aggression against the independent South Korea. The
United Nations immediately took up this challenge to the security
of this part of the world. Carlos P. Romulo soon stood out as the
most effective spokesman for the South Korean cause.
 On behalf of our government, Romulo offered to send a Philippine
military contingent to be under the overall command of
General Douglas MacArthur, who had been named United Nations
Supreme Commander for the punitive expedition. The Philippines,
thus, became the first country to join the United States in the offer
of military assistance to beleaguered South Korea.

 Korean War
 President Quirino took the necessary steps to make the Philippine offer.
On a purely voluntary basis, the first contingent – the tenth Combat
Battalion Team – was formed under Col. Azurin, and dispatched to Korea,
where its members quickly won much renown for their military skill and
bravery. The name of Captain Jose Artiaga, Jr., heroically killed in action,
stands out as a symbol of our country's contribution to the cause of
freedom outside native shores. Other Philippine Combat Teams
successively replaced the first contingent sent, and they all built a name
for discipline, tenacity, and courage, until the truce that brought the
conflict to a halt.

 Quirino-Foster Agreement
 By the time of the creation of the integrity
board, moreover, the Bell Mission, led by Daniel W. Bell, an
American banker, and composed of five members, with a
staff of twenty workers, following their period of stay in
the Philippines, beginning in July 1950, finally submitted its
report on October of the same year.

 The Report made several proposals, most noteworthy, of which were
that the United States should give the Philippines 250,000,000 dollars
over a period of five years, but the Philippines, in return, ought to
reform its tax structure, enact a minimum wage law for agricultural and
industrial labor, initiate social and land reforms, as well as a sound
planning for economic development, For all the strong language of the
Report, which, in some quarters merited bitter opposition, President
Quirino gamely and patriotically, took in the recommendations and
sought to implement them.
 Thus in November 1950, President Quirino and William
Foster, representing the United States Government, signed an
agreement by virtue of which the former pledged to obtain the
necessary Philippine legislation, in keeping with the Bell Mission
Report, while envoy Foster promised the necessary by the same

 Thus in November 1950, President Quirino and William
Foster, representing the United States Government, signed
an agreement by virtue of which the former pledged to
obtain the necessary Philippine legislation, in keeping with
the Bell Mission Report, while envoy Foster promised the
necessary by the same Report.

 However, much as he tried to become a good president, Quirino
failed to win the people's affection. Several factors caused the
unpopularity of his administration, namely:
 Unabated rampage of graft and corruption in his government, as
revealed in the Tambobong-Buenavista scandal, the Import Control
Anomalies, the Caledonia Pile Mess and the Textbook Racket;
 Wasteful spending of the people's money in extravagant junkets
abroad;
 Failure of government to check the Huk menace which made travel in
the provinces unsafe, as evidenced by the killing of former First
Lady Aurora Quezon and her companions on April 28, 1949 by the Huks
on the Bongabong-Baler road, Baler, Tayabas (now part of Aurora
province).

 However, much as he tried to become a good president,
Quirino failed to win the people's affection. Several factors
caused the unpopularity of his administration, namely:
 Economic distress of the times, aggravated by rising
unemployment rate, soaring prices of commodities, and
unfavorable balance of trade. Quirino's vaunted "Total Economic
Mobilization Policy" failed to give economic relief to the suffering
nation.
 Frauds and terrorism committed by the Liberal Party moguls in
the 1947, 1949 and 1951 elections.

 In the Election of 1953, Magsaysay was decisively elected
president over the incumbent Elpidio Quirino. He was sworn
into office wearing the Barong Tagalog, a first by a Philippine
president. He was then called "Mambo Magsaysay".
 As president, he was a close friend and supporter of the
United States and a vocal spokesman against communism
during the Cold War. He led the foundation of the Southeast
Asia Treaty Organization also known as the Manila Pact of
1954, that aimed to defeat communist-Marxist movements
in South East Asia, South Asia and the Southwestern Pacific.

 During his term, he made Malacañang literally a "house of the people", opening
its gates to the public.
 One example of his integrity followed a demonstration flight aboard a new
plane belonging to the Philippine Air Force (PAF): President Magsaysay
asked what the operating costs per hour were for that type of aircraft, then
wrote a personal check to the PAF, covering the cost of his flight.
 In history, he is the first Philippine president to wear a barong tagalog in his
inauguration. He brought back the people's trust to the military and to the
government.
 His administration was considered one of the cleanest and most corruption-
free; his presidency was cited as the Philippines' Golden Years. Trade and
industry flourished, the Philippine military was at its prime, and the Filipino
people were given international recognition in sports, culture and foreign
affairs. The Philippines ranked second in Asia's clean and well-governed
countries.

 President's Action Body

 Ushering, indeed, a new era in Philippine government, President Magsaysay placed
emphasis upon service to the people by bringing the government closer to the
former.This was symbollically seen when, on inauguration day, President Magsaysay
ordered the gates of Malacañan Palace open to all and sundry, who were allowed to
freely visit all the dependencies of the presidential mansion. Later, this was regulated
to allow weekly visit.

 President's Action Body
 True to his electoral promise, President Magsaysay created the Presidential
Complaints and Action Committee. This body immediately proceeded to hear
grievances and recommend remedial action.
▪ Headed by soft-spoken, but active and tireless, Manuel Manahan, this committee would come to hear
nearly sixty thousand complaints in a year, of which more than thirty thousand would be settled by direct
action and a little more than twenty five thousand, referred to government agencies for appropriate
follow-up.
 This new entity, composed of youthful personnel, all loyal to the President, proved to
be a highly successful morale booster restoring the people's confidence in their own
government.

 Agrarian Reform
 President Ramón Magsaysay enacted the following laws as
part of his Agrarian Reform Program:
▪ Republic Act No. 1160 of 1954—Abolished the LASEDECO and
established the National Resettlement and Rehabilitation
Administration (NARRA) to resettle dissidents and landless
farmers. It was particularly aimed at rebel returnees providing
home lots and farmlands in Palawan and Mindanao.
▪ Republic Act No. 1199 (Agricultural Tenancy Act of 1954) –
governed the relationship between landowners and tenant farmers
by organizing share-tenancy and leasehold system. The law
provided the security of tenure of tenants. It also created the Court
of Agrarian Relations.

 Agrarian Reform
 President Ramón Magsaysay enacted the following laws as
part of his Agrarian Reform Program:
▪ Republic Act No. 1400 (Land Reform Act of 1955) – Created the
Land Tenure Administration (LTA) which was responsible for the
acquisition and distribution of large tenanted rice and corn lands
over 200 hectares for individuals and 600 hectares for
corporations.
▪ Republic Act No. 821 (Creation of Agricultural Credit Cooperative
Financing Administration) – Provided small farmers and share
tenants loans with low interest rates of six to eight percent

 HUKBALAHAP
 In early 1954, Benigno Aquino, Jr. was appointed by President
Ramón Magsaysay to act as personal emissary to Luís Taruc,
leader of the Hukbalahap, a rebel group.
▪ Also in 1954, Lt. Col. Laureño Maraña, the former head of Force X of
the 16th PC Company, assumed command of the 7th BCT, which had
become one of the most mobile striking forces of the Philippine
ground forces against the Huks, from Colonel Valeriano. Force X
employed psychological warfare through combat intelligence and
infiltration that relied on secrecy in planning, training, and execution
of attack. The lessons learned from Force X and Nenita were
combined in the 7th BCT.

 HUKBALAHAP
 With the all out anti-dissidence campaigns against the Huks,
they numbered less than 2,000 by 1954 and without the
protection and support of local supporters, active Huk
resistance no longer presented a serious threat to Philippine
security. From February to mid-September 1954, the largest
anti-Huk operation, "Operation Thunder-Lightning" was
conducted that resulted to the surrender of Luis Taruc on May
17. Further clean up operations of guerillas remaining lasted
throughout 1955, diminishing its number to less than 1,000 by
year's end.

 SEATO
 The administration of President Magsaysay was active in the
fight against the expansion of communism in the Asian
region. He made the Philippines a member of the Southeast
Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO), which was established in
Manila on Sept. 8, 1954 during the "Manila Conference".
▪ Members of SEATO were alarmed at the possible victory of North
Vietnam over South Vietnam, which could spread communist ideology
to other countries in the region. The possibility that a communist state
can influence or cause other countries to adopt the same system of
government is called the domino theory.

 SEATO
 The active coordination of the Magsaysay administration with
the Japanese government led to the Reparation Agreement. This
was an agreement between the two countries, obligating the
Japanese government to pay $800 million as reparation for war
damages in the Philippines.

 Defense Council
 Taking the advantage of the presence of U.S. Secretary John
Foster Dulles in Manila to attend the SEATO Conference, the
Philippine government took steps to broach with him the
establishment of a Joint Defense Council. Vice-President and
Secretary of Foreign AffairsCarlos P. Garcia held the opportune
conversations with Secretary Dulles for this purpose. Agreement
was reached thereon and the first meeting of the Joint United
States-Philippines Defense Council was held in Manila following
the end of the Manila Conference. Thus were the terms of the
Mutual Defense Pact between the Philippines and the United
States duly implemented.

 Laurel- Langey Agreement
 The Magsaysay administration negotiated the Laurel-Langley Agreement which was a
trade agreement between the Philippines and the United States which was signed in
1955 and expired in 1974. Although it proved deficient, the final agreement satisfied
nearly all of the diverse Filipino economic interests.
 While some have seen the Laurel-Langley agreement as a continuation of the 1946
trade act, Jose P. Laurel and other Philippine leaders recognized that the agreement
substantially gave the country greater freedom to industrialize while continuing to
receive privileged access to US markets.
▪ The agreement replaced the unpopular Bell Trade Act, which tied the economy of the Philippines to that
of United States economy.

 Bandung Conference
 Billed as an all Oriental meet and threatening to become a propaganda springboard
for Communism, a Conference was held in Bandung (Java) in April 1955, upon
invitation extended by the Prime Ministers of India, Pakistan, Burma, Ceylon, and
Indonesia. Although, at first, the Magsaysay Government seemed reluctant to send
any delegation, later, however, upon advise of Ambassador Carlos P. Romulo, it was
decided to have the Philippines participate in the conference. Ambassador Romulo
was asked to head the Philippine delegation.
 At the very outset indications were to the effect that the conference would promote
the cause of neutralism as a third position in the current cold war between the
democratic bloc and the communist group. John Kotelawala, Prime Minister of Ceylon,
however, broke the ice against neutralism. He was immediately joined by Philippine
envoy Romulo, who categorically states that his delegation believed that "a puppet is
a puppet", no matter whether under a Western Power or an Oriental state.

 Bandung Conference
 At one time in the course of the conference, Indian Prime Minister
Jawaharlal Nehru acidly spoke against the SEATO. Quick to draw,
Ambassador Romulo delivered a stinging, eloquent retort that prompted
Prime Minister Nehru to publicly apologize to the Philippine delegation.
▪ Records had it that the Philippine delegation ably represented the interests of the Philippines and, in
the ultimate analysis, succeeded in turning the Bandung Conference into a democratic victory
against the plans of the Communist delegates.

 Reparations agreement
 Following the reservations made by Ambassador Romulo, on the Philippines
behalf, upon signing the Japanese Peace Treaty in San Francisco on
September 8, 1951, for several years of series of negotiations were
conducted by the Philippine government and that of Japan. In the face of
adamant claims of the Japanese government that it found impossible to
meet the demand for the payment of eight billion dollars by the way of
reparations, president Magsaysay, during a so-called "cooling off" period,
sent a Philippine Reparations Survey Committee, headed by Finance
Secretary Jaime Hernandez, to Japan for an "on the spot" study of that
country's possibilities.

 When the Committee reported that Japan was in a position to pay, Ambassador Felino
Neri, appointed chief negotiator, went to Tokyo. On May 31, 1955, Ambassador Neri
reached a compromise agreement with Japanese Minister Takazaki, the main terms of
which consisted in the following: The Japanese government would pay eight hundred
million dollars as reparations. Payment was to be made in this wise: Twenty million
dollars would be paid in cash in Philippine currency; thirty million dollars, in services;
five million dollars, in capital goods; and two hundred and fifty million dollars, in long-
term industrial loans.

 On August 12, 1955, President Magsaysay informed the Japanese government,
through Prime Minister Ichiro Hatoyama, that the Philippines accepted the Neri-
Takazaki agreement. In view of political developments in Japan, the Japanese Prime
Minister could only inform the Philippine government of the Japanese acceptance of
said agreement on March 15, 1956. The official Reparations agreement between the
two government was finally signed at Malacañan Palace on May 9, 1956, thus bringing
to a rather satisfactory conclusion this long drawn controversy between the two
countries.

 At the time of the sudden death of President Ramon Magsaysay, Vice
President and Foreign Affairs Secretary Carlos P. García was heading the
Philippine delegation to the SEATO conference then being held at Canberra,
Australia. Having been immediately notified of the tragedy, Vice President
García enplaned back for Manila. Upon his arrival he directly repaired to
Malacañan Palace to assume the duties of President. Chief Justice Ricardo
Paras, of the Supreme Court, was at hand to administer the oath of office.
President García's first actuations dealt with the declaration of a period of
mourning for the whole nation and the burial ceremonies for the late Chief-
Executive Magsaysay.

 Outlawing Communism
 After much discussion, both official and public, the Congress of the Philippines, finally,
approved a bill outlawing the Communist Party of the Philippines. Despite the
pressure exerted against the congressional measure, President Carlos P. García signed
the said bill into law as Republic Act No. 1700 on June 19, 1957. With this legislative
piece, the sustained government campaign for peace and order achieved considerable
progress and success.
▪ Republic Act No. 1700 was superseded by Presidential Decree No. 885, entitled "Outlawing Subversive
Organization, Penalizing Membership Therein and For Other Purposes." In turn, Presidential Decree 885
was amended by Presidential Decree No. 1736, and later superseded by Presidential Decree No. 1835,
entitled, "Codifying The Various Laws on Anti-Subversion and Increasing the Penalties for Membership in
Subversive Organization." This, in turn, was amended by Presidential Decree No. 1975. On May 5, 1987,
Executive Order No. 167 repealed Presidential Decrees Nos. 1835 and 1975 as being unduly restrictive of
the constitutional right to form associations.
▪ On September 22, 1992, Republic Act No. 1700, as amended, was repealed by Republic Act No. 7636.

 Filipino First Policy
 President García exercised the Filipino First Policy, for which he was
known. This policy heavily favored Filipino businessmen over foreign
investors. He was also responsible for changes in retail trade which greatly
affected the Chinese businessmen in the country. In a speech during a
joint session of the Senate and the House of Representatives on
September 18, 1946, President Garcia said the following:
▪ We are called upon to decide on this momentous debate whether or not this land of
ours will remain the cradle and grave, the womb and tomb of our race – the only
place where we can build our homes, our temples, and our altars and where we
erect the castles of our racial hopes, dreams and traditions and where we establish
the warehouse of our happiness and prosperity, of our joys and sorrows

 Austerity Program
 In the face of the trying conditions of the country, President García
initiated what has been called "The Austerity Program". García's
administration was characterized by its austerity program and its
insistence on a comprehensive nationalist policy. On March 3, 1960, he
affirmed the need for complete economic freedom and added that the
government no longer would tolerate the dominance of foreign interests
(especially American) in the national economy. He promised to shake off
"the yoke of alien domination in business, trade, commerce and industry."
García was also credited with his role in reviving Filipino cultural arts.

 Austerity Program
 The main points of the Austerity Program were:
▪ The government would tighten up its controls to prevent abuses in the over shipment of
exports under license and in under-pricing as well.
▪ There would be a more rigid enforcement of the existing regulations on barter shipments.
▪ Government imports themselves were to be restricted to essential items.
▪ The government also would reduce rice imports to a minimum.
▪ An overhauling of the local transportation system would be attempted so as to reduce the
importation of gasoline and spare parts.
▪ The tax system would be revised so as to attain more equitable distribution of the payment-
burden and achieve more effective collection from those with ability to pay.
▪ There would be an intensification of food production.
 The program was hailed by the people at large and confidence was expressed that
the measures proposed would help solve the standing problems of the Republic.

 Bohlen–Serrano Agreement
 During his administration, he acted on the Bohlen–Serrano
Agreement which shortened the lease of the US Bases from 99
years to 25 years and made it renewable after every five years.

 In the 1961 presidential election, Macapagal ran against
Garcia's re-election bid, promising an end to corruption and
appealing to the electorate as a common man from humble
beginnings.
 He defeated the incumbent president with a 55% to 45% margin.
His inauguration as the president of the Philippines took place on
December 30, 1961.

 Republic Act No. 3512 – An Act Creating A Fisheries Commission Defining Its
Powers, Duties and Functions, and Appropriating Funds Therefor.
 Republic Act No. 3518 – An Act Creating The Philippine Veterans' Bank, and
For Other Purposes.
 Republic Act No. 3844 – An Act To Ordain The Agricultural Land Reform Code
and To Institute Land Reforms In The Philippines, Including The Abolition of
Tenancy and The Channeling of Capital Into Industry, Provide For The
Necessary Implementing Agencies, Appropriate Funds Therefor and For
Other Purposes.
 Republic Act No. 4166 – An Act Changing The Date Of Philippine
Independence Day From July Four To June Twelve, And Declaring July Four
As Philippine Republic Day, Further Amending For The Purpose Section
Twenty-Nine Of The Revised Administrative Code.
 Republic Act No. 4180 – An Act Amending Republic Act Numbered Six
Hundred Two, Otherwise Known As The Minimum Wage Law, By Raising The
Minimum Wage For Certain Workers, And For Other Purposes.

 Economy
 In his inaugural address, Macapagal promised a socio-economic
program anchored on "a return to free and private enterprise", placing
economic development in the hands of private entrepreneurs with
minimal government interference.
 Twenty days after the inauguration, exchange controls were lifted and
the Philippine peso was allowed to float on the free currency exchange
market. The currency controls were initially adopted by the
administration of Elpidio Quirino as a temporary measure, but
continued to be adopted by succeeding administrations. The peso
devalued from P2.64 to the US dollar, and stabilized at P3.80 to the
dollar, supported by a $300 million stabilization fund from
the International Monetary Fund.

 Socio-economic program
 The removal of controls and the restoration of free
enterprise was intended to provide only the
fundamental setting in which Macapagal could work
out economic and social progress.A specific and
periodic program for the guidance of both the private
sector and the government was an essential
instrument to attain the economic and social
development that constituted the goal of his labors.

 Socio-economic program
 Such a program for his administration was formulated under his
authority and direction by a group of able and reputable economic
and business leaders the most active and effective of which was
Sixto Roxas III. From an examination of the planned targets and
requirements of the Five-Year program – formally known as the
Five-Year Socio-Economic Integrated Development Program – it
could be seen that it aimed at the following objectives.
▪ immediate restoration of economic stability;
▪ alleviating the plight of the common man; and
▪ establishing a dynamic basic for future growth.

 Land reform
 Like Ramon Magsaysay, President Diosdado Macapagal came
from the masses. He savored to call himself the "Poor boy from
Lubao".
▪ Ironically, he had little popularity among the masses.This could be
attributed to an absence of charismatic appeal of his stiff personality.
 But despite this, Macapagal had certain achievements.Foremost of
these was the Agricultural Land Reform Code of 1963 (Republic Act
No. 3844) which provided for the purchase of private farmlands
with the intention of distributing them in small lots to the landless
tenants on easy term of payment.

 Anti-corruption drive
 One of Macapagal's major campaign pledges had been to clean
out the government corruption that had proliferated under former
President Garcia.
 The administration also openly feuded with Filipino
businessmen Fernando Lopez and Eugenio Lopez, brothers who
had controlling interests in several large businesses.
 The administration alluded to the brothers as "Filipino Stonehills
who build and maintain business empires through political power,
including the corruption of politicians and other officials".[13] In
the 1965 election, the Lopezes threw their support behind
Macapagal's rival, Ferdinand Marcos, with Fernando as Marcos'
running mate.

 Independence Day
 Macapagal appealed to nationalist sentiments by shifting the
commemoration of Philippine independence day.
 On May 12, 1962, he signed a proclamation which declared Tuesday,
June 12, 1962, as a special public holiday in commemoration of the
declaration of independence from Spain on that date in 1898.
 The change became permanent in 1964 with the signing of Republic Act
No. 4166.For having issued his 1962 proclamation, Macapagal is
generally credited with having moved the celebration date of the
Independence Day holiday.
▪ Years later, Macapagal told journalist Stanley Karnow the real reason for the
change: "When I was in the diplomatic corps, I noticed that nobody came to our
receptions on the Fourth of July, but went to the American Embassy instead. So,
to compete, I decided we needed a different holiday.

 Sabah Claim
 On September 12, 1962, during President Diosdado Macapagal's
administration, the territory of North Borneo, and the full sovereignty, title and
dominion over the territory were ceded by the then reigning Sultan of Sulu, HM
Sultan Muhammad Esmail E. Kiram I, to the Republic of the Philippines.
 The cession effectively gave the Philippine government the full authority to
pursue their claim in international courts.
 The Philippines broke diplomatic relations with Malaysia after the federation
had included Sabah in 1963.
 It was revoked in 1989 because succeeding Philippine administrations have
placed the claim in the back burner in the interest of pursuing cordial economic
and security relations with Kuala Lumpur.
 To date, Malaysia continues to consistently reject Philippine calls to resolve the
matter of Sabah's jurisdiction to the International Court of Justice. Sabah sees
the claim made by the Philippines' Moro leader Nur Misuari to take Sabah to
International Court of Justice (ICJ) as a non-issue and thus dismissed the claim.

 Maphilindo
 Maphilindo was described as a regional association that would approach issues
of common concern in the spirit of consensus. However, it was also perceived as
a tactic on the parts of Jakarta and Manila to delay, or even prevent, the
formation of the Federation of Malaysia. Manila had its own claim
to Sabah (formerly British North Borneo), and Jakarta protested the formation
of Malaysia as a British imperialist plot.
 The plan failed when Sukarno adopted his plan of konfrontasi with Malaysia.
The Konfrontasi, or Confrontation basically aims at preventing Malaysia to
attain independence. The idea was inspired onto President Sukarno by the
Partai Komunis Indonesia (PKI), or literally the Indonesian Communist Party.
The party convinced President Sukarno that the Formation of Malaysia is a form
of neo-colonization and will later affect tranquility in Indonesia. The subsequent
development of ASEAN almost certainly excludes any possibility of the project
ever being revived.

 Vietnam War
 Before the end of his term in 1965, President Diosdado
Macapagal persuaded Congress to send troops to South
Vietnam. However this proposal was blocked by the
opposition led by Senate President Ferdinand Marcos who
deserted Macapagal's Liberal Party and defected to
the Nacionalista Party.

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