Memorandum Order No. 451 (1974)

MALACAÑAN PALACE

MANILA

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES

[ MEMORANDUM ORDER NO. 451, September 11, 1974 ]

CREATING A COMMITTEE FOR THE FORTHCOMING 8TH SESSION OF THE FAO INTERGOVERNMENTAL GROUP ON HARD FIBERS

WHEREAS, the Philippines is a major world producer of abaca and as such must sustain the ever-increasing demand from all sectors dependent on it for raw materials to manufacture marine cordage, pulp and paper, handicrafts and all other abaca-based products;

WHEREAS, in addition to the current program of the Department of Agriculture to rehabilitate and develop the abaca industry, the forthcoming 8th session of the FAO Intergovernmental Group on Hard Fibers to be held in Manila would undoubtedly drum up more enthusiastic response from among our abaca farmers/ producers;

WHEREAS, the Philippines being the host to the FAO’s Session on Hard Fibers which will be held in Manila on January 20-25, 1975, the first FAO Conference ever held in Asia and only the second outside of Rome, would considerably prove to the world the changes and achievements of our New Society;

WHEREFORE, there is hereby constituted a Committee to supervise and coordinate the necessary preparations and arrangements for the forthcoming FAO Conference on Hard Fibers in Manila, and to undertake liaison work with the FAO Secretariat in Rome.

This Committee shall be composed of the following:

Agriculture Undersecretary J. D. Drilon, Jr. | Chairman Mr. Arcadio D. Sarmiento, Department of Agriculture | Vice-Chairman Mr. Bienvenido Jimenez Department of Trade | Member Mr. Jose Concepcion, Jr. Board of Investments | Member Mr. Verden Dangilan, Development Bank of the Philippines | Member Mr. Manuel Soliven, Philippines National Bank | Member Mr. Ernesto Singson, Department of Tourism | Member Mr. Sergio A. Barrera, Department of Foreign Affairs | Member Mr. Lorenzo Cruz, Bureau of National Foreign Information | Member Mr. Marcelino de Guzman, Department of National Defense | Member Mr. Dominador Ricarte, Bureau of Customs | Member Representative, Office of the First Lady | Member Mr. Bernardo G. Silverio Isarog Pulp and Paper Co. | Adviser Mr. Jose R. Mejia, Columbian Philippine Co. | Adviser

All departments, bureau, offices, agencies and instrumentalities of government are hereby enjoined to cooperate with and assist the Committee in the performance of its assigned tasks, to endure the successful staging of the FAO Conference in Manila.

By Authority of the President:

(Sgd.) ALEJANDRO MELCHOR

Executive Secretary

Manila, 11th September 1974