PRESIDENCY
FIRST TERM (1965-1969)
Ferdinand Marcos’ first term as President of the Republic of the Philippines began in 1965. First on President Marcos’ agenda as President was the immediate construction of roads, bridges and public works, which included 16,000 kilometers of feeder roads, 30,000 lineal meters of permanent bridges, a generator with an electric power capacity of one million kilowatts (1,000,000 kW) and water services to eight regions and 38 localities. He also sought to increase the national defense against smuggling, crime and graft and corruption. It was in this term that the North Diversion Road, now known as the North Luzon Expressway was constructed with the help of the AFP engineering construction battalion. [1]
When the Vietnam War broke out, President Marcos made an official request in February 1966 for congressional approval to send a combat engineer battalion to the assistance of South Vietnam.[2] The Marcos administration sent over 10,450 Filipino soldiers through the Philippine Civil Affairs Assistance Group (PHLCAAG)
SECOND TERM (1969-1972)
Because of his impressive performance, President Marcos was reelected in 1969. Marcos had the most infrastructure and constitutional accomplishments more than any other President the country had. Though in his second term, economic crisis hit the Philippines brought by external and internal forces. This economic crisis was brought about by effects of the Cold War; the increase of leftists throughout the provinces. To add to this, due to the response of the West to aid the Arab-Israeli conflict, the Oil producing countries decided to cut back oil production resulting in higher fuel prices worldwide. Natural calamities also played a factor and ravaged infrastructure and the agricultural sector leading to uncontrolled increases in the prices of prime commodities.
The second term of Marcos was marred by violent studentry and the re-emergence of the communist movement. On January 30, 1970, now known as the First Quarter Storm, 50,000 student demonstrators stormed pushing for educatuoMalacanang Palace burning part of a medical building and crashing through Gate 4 of the palace with a fire truck forcibly commandeered by the demonstrators. The Metropolitan Command and Philippine Constabulary was had no choice but to use force on the crowd; gunfire was exchanged and tear gas grenades were used to disperse the crowd. 4 persons were killed from both sides and numbers injured.
The violent protests continued over the rest of the year. Explosions of Pillboxes in a number of schools, students in the University of the Philippines boycotted their classes. Universities such as San Sebastian College, University of the East, Letran College, Mapua Institute of Technology, the University of Sto. Tomas all partook in the violent protests which led to President Marcos to describe these demonstrations as an “act of insurrection”.
MARTIAL LAW
Marcos declared Martial Law on September 21, 1972 by Proclamation No. 1081 due to the rising wave of lawlessness and the threat of a Communist Insurgency.
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferdinand_Marcos
[2] http://www.historynet.com/the-philippines-allies-during-the-vietnam-war.htm
President Ferdinand Marcos 