Administration of President Macapagal and President Marcos

President Diosdado Macapagal

Full name: Diosdado Pangan Macapagal Sr.
Born: September 28, 1910, Lubao
Died: April 21, 1997
He was a filipino lawyer , poet, and politician who served the 9th president of the Philippines,
serving from 1961 to 1965, and the sixth vice president, serving from 1957 to 1961.

Macapagal administration (Dec. 30 1961- dec. 30, 1965)

President Diosdado Macapagal, during his inaugural address on December 30, 1961,
emphasized the responsibilities and goals to be attained in the “new era” that was the
Macapagal administration. He reiterated his resolve to eradicate corruption, and assured the
public that honesty would prevail in his presidency.

Macapagal Contribution
Among the laws passed during the Macapagal administration were:
1. Republic Act No. 3844 or the Agricultural Land Reform Code (an act that established the
Land Bank of the Philippines)
2. Republic Act No. 3466, which established the Emergency Employment Administration
3. Republic Act No. 3518, which established the Philippine Veterans Bank.
4. Republic Act No. 3470, which established the National Cottage Industries Development
Authority (NACIDA) to organize, revive, and promote the establishment of local cottage
industries
5. Republic Act No. 4156, which established the Philippine National Railways (PNR) to operate
the national railroad and tramways. The administration lifted foreign exchange controls as part
of the decontrol program in an attempt to promote national economic stability and growth
6. Philippine Independence Day Change: One of his most notable contributions was moving
the celebration of Philippine Independence Day from July 4 to June 12. This change aimed
to commemorate the actual day when the Philippines declared independence from Spain in
1898.
7. Economic Policies: He implemented economic policies that aimed to stimulate industrial
growth and development in the Philippines. His administration focused on fostering economic
independence and reducing reliance on foreign investments.
8. Foreign Relations: Macapagal worked on improving the Philippines' foreign relations,
strengthening ties with neighboring countries and pursuing diplomatic initiatives globally. He
pursued a policy called "Filipino First," advocating for economic nationalism and prioritizing
Filipino interests.
9. Education Reforms: His administration made efforts to enhance the educational system,
making education more accessible to the masses. He pushed for the expansion of educational
facilities and programs to improve literacy rates in the country.
10. Social Reforms: Macapagal's presidency also saw efforts to address social issues,
including health care reforms and social welfare programs aimed at assisting the disadvantaged
sectors of society.
11. Macapagal worked to suppress graft and corruption and to stimulate the growth of the
Philippine economy.
12. introduced the country’s first land reform law.
13. placed the peso on the free currency exchange market
14. liberalized foreign exchange and import controls

In the field of foreign relations, the Philippines became a founding member of Maphilindo,
through the Manila Accord of 1963.The regional organization of Malay states strove for “Asian
solutions by Asian nations for Asian problems,” and aimed to solve national and regional
problems through regional diplomacy.

MAPHILINDO
Maphilindo (for Malaysia, the Philippines, and Indonesia), is a proposed, nonpolitical
confederation of the three Southeast Asian countries in the Malay Archipelago.
The Macapagal administration closed with the presidential elections of 1965. The “Poor boy
from Lubao” was defeated by the Nacionalista candidate Ferdinand E. Marcos.
PRESIDENT FERDINAND MARCOS
Full name: Ferdinand EMMANUEL Edralin Marcos SR.
Born: September 11, 1917, sarrat, Philippines
Died: Septermber 28, 1989, Honolulu, Hawaii, u.s. (Aged 72)
MARCOS WAS A FILIPINO POLITICIAN, LAWYER, DICTATOR, AND KLEPTOCRAT WHO
SERVED AS THE 10TH PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES FROM 1965 TO 1986.
HE RULED UNDER MARTIAL LAW FROM 1972 TO 1981 AND KEEP MOST OF HIS
MARTIAL LAW POWERS UNTIL HE WAS DEPOSED IN 1986, BRANDING HIS RULE AS
“CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITARIANISM” UNDER HIS KILUSANG BAGONG LIPUNAN
(NEW SOCIETY MOVEMENT). ONE OF THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL LEADERS OF THE
20TH CENTURY, MARCOS’S RULE WAS INFAMOUS FOR ITS CORRUPTION,
EXTRAVAGANCE AND BRUTALITY.

MARCOS ADMINISTRATION ( DEC. 30, 1965- FEB. 25, 1986)

The last president of the Third Republic of the Philippines was President Ferdinand E. Marcos.
Prior to the events of Martial Law, the first term of the Marcos administration, as emphasized in
his inaugural address on December 30, 1965, focused on “the revival of the greatness of the
nation.”
President Marcos, faced with the challenge of corruption in the government, reorganized the
Armed Forces, the Philippine Constabulary, and the Bureau of Internal Revenue. In an attempt
to solve the problem of technical smuggling, the Bureau of Customs was also reorganized.
The administration, with a goal to strengthen the local economy, devised construction programs
and irrigation projects. The promotion of Philippine heritage, culture, and arts was achieved
through the establishment of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) in 1969.

MARCOS CONTRIBUTION
1. Under the Marcos administration, the country hosted the Manila Summit in 1966. The
conference aimed to resolve the Vietnam War, and sought the restoration of peace and
the promotion of economic stability and development throughout the Asia-Pacific region.
2. Among the laws approved by President Marcos were: Republic Act No. 5186 or the
Investments Incentives Act
3. Republic Act No. 4864 or the Police Act of 1966
4. Republic Act No. 5173, which established the Philippine Coast Guard.
5. Infrastructure Development: Marcos initiated major infrastructure projects across the
Philippines, including the construction of roads, bridges, and buildings, aimed at modernizing
the country's infrastructure.
6. Economic Policies: His administration implemented economic policies that initially led to
economic growth and development, focusing on industries such as agriculture, tourism, and
manufacturing. However, corruption and mismanagement later undermined these gains.
7. Martial Law and Authoritarian Rule: One of the most controversial aspects of Marcos's
presidency was the declaration of Martial Law in 1972. While he cited reasons such as civil
unrest and communist insurgency, this move centralized power in his hands, leading to human
rights abuses, suppression of dissent, and censorship.
8. Education and Health Programs: Marcos initiated various social programs, including
initiatives in education and healthcare. He aimed to improve access to education and healthcare
services, though the success of these programs varied.
9. Land Reform: Marcos attempted to address land reform issues by implementing agrarian
reform programs. However, the effectiveness of these programs was limited, and many land
issues remained unresolved.
10. Crony Capitalism and Corruption: The Marcos regime was characterized by crony
capitalism and widespread corruption. Close associates and family members amassed
immense wealth and power, leading to economic disparities and discontent among the
populace.

President Marcos won his re-election bid in the 1969 presidential elections against Liberal
Party’s Sergio Osmeña Jr. President Marcos gained 5,017,343 votes or 61.47% of the
electorate to become only the second Philippine president in history to win reelection and the
first to do so in the Third Republic.
Opponents of the administration were incarcerated; decree-making powers were asserted by
the President, and when the ongoing Constitutional Convention produced a draft document, a
series of “barangay assemblies” were held to prevent Congress from convening as scheduled
in January, 1973.
Downfall and Ouster, Marcos's presidency ended in 1986 when a peaceful people-powered
uprising, known as the EDSA Revolution, forced him into exile. The widespread corruption,
human rights abuses, and economic mismanagement during his regime led to his downfall.
After claiming approval of a new Constitution, the dictatorship ordered Congress padlocked. The
“ratification” of the 1973 Constitution marked the end of the Third Republic and the beginning of
the Bagong Lipunan—the New Society as the martial law regime was called—under President
Marcos
Marcos's contributions were complex and contentious, with both positive and negative impacts
on the Philippines. While some infrastructure and economic initiatives aimed at development,
his authoritarian rule, widespread corruption, and human rights abuses remain a significant part
of his legacy. In 1981, through Proclamation No. 2045, Martial Law was lifted throughout the
country and marked the beginning of the “New,” or Fourth, Republic of the Philippines.