The Third Republic

1940 Constitutional Amendment of 1935

Constitution
 Unicameral assembly was abolished and replaced by a
bicameral congress
April 23, 1946
 Congress called for a national election set
 Prior to this election, worsening relation between
Osmeña and Roxas reached breaking point
 Liberals won over Nacionalista Party
 Independence and Republic
• July 4, 1946
 Independence and inauguration of the
Third Philippine Republic
 American Ambassador Paul McNutt-
Lowered the American flag
 President Manuel Roxas- Raised the
Philippine flag
First President of the
Third Republic

Manuel A. Roxas
(1946-1948)
EARLY POLITICAL CAREER
Began his active and prominent role in
Philippine politics as a member of the
legislature
Was elected to the senate in 1941
Offered his services to MacArthur as
military aide
Acted as liaison officer between the Army
Commander and Philippine Government
Was appointed presidential secretary by
Manuel Quezon
Third Philippine Republic
Efforts Towards Rehabilitation
• Started on a foundation of a war-damaged
nation
• Went to Washington to solicit the help of
US for funds
• Request for immediate loan of $25 million
within 5 years and $1 billion at 1.5%
interest for 30 years
BELL TRADE ACT
• Law authorized by Congressman C. Jasper Bell
on April 30, 1946
• Provided for free trading relations between
Philippines and the US up to the year 1954
after which, Philippine exports to the US
would be taxed an ascending tariff of 5%
every year until 1974, when all the Philippine
exports will be paid in full to US import tax
• Fixed the exchange rate at Php2 to a $1
Rebellion problem in Central and Southern
Luzon
Started as a guerilla organization in 1942
under Luis Taruc and was, above all, anti-
Japanese
A peasant organization who believes in the
ideals of protecting the rights of the poor and
the land less
Finality of conflict came when Magsaysay
became president
Roxas
Outlawed HUKBALAHAP, referring to them
as lawless and communists

Quirino
Offered them an absolute amnesty after
negotiations with Luis Taruc

April 28, 1949

Mrs. Aurora Quezon, wife of late President
Quezon and their daughter were ambushed
and shot to death in Nueva Ecija
QUIRINO ADMINISTRATION

Elpidio Quirino
(1948-1953)
 Elpidio Quirino’s Promise

 As vice president, he immediately succeeded

Roxas as president after the latter’s death in
1948
 Promised to accomplish his two objectives:
- continuation of the country’s economic
recovery
- preservation of the faith and confidence of
the people through restoration of peace and
order
 BELL MISSION REPORT
• Headed by Daniel W. Bell to survey all aspects of
the Philippine economy
• Cited the existence of inefficient production, low
incomes excessive volumes of ports, misdirected
investments, mounting deficits, inefficiency and
corruption in the government
• Recommended reforms in public administration,
improvement of production, higher taxes, more
foreign exchange and land reforms
• Recommended an economic aid of $250 million
be granted to Philippine government
QUIRINO ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• Successful in disabling the powerful HUKBALAHAP, thereby
restoring peace and order
• Worked on the creation of the President’s Action Committee on
Social Amelioration (PACSA) to improve economic condition of
the masses
• Established the Agricultural Credit Cooperation Financing
Administration (ACCFA) to aid farmers in availing from
government low interest loans
Built the Ma. Cristina and Ambuklao Dam Projects
Established the Boy’s Town of the Philippines
Downfall: Most damaging was the scam on the US War Surplus
Property
RAMON MAGSAYSAY
(1953-1957)

“Man of the Masses”

MAGSAYSAY’S ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
Revitalized the Philippine Armed Forces by
boosting the morale of the soldiers
His policy of attraction among the masses
through personal touch restored people’s
faith in government
First president who conducted visits to the
barrios
Upliftment of barrio life as his focus
First time for Philippine president in his
inauguration to wear the barong tagalog
Philippines entered into a treaty with US,
France, Britain, Australia, New Zealand and
Pakistan to prevent communist expansion in
Southeast Asia
Establishment of Southeast Treaty
Organization (SEATO) in Manila on
September 1954
Malacañang opened its gates and was
declared as a “house of the people”

March 17, 1957

Magsaysay was killed in a plane crash
GARCIA ADMINISTRATION

Carlos P. Garcia
(1957-1961)
GARCIA’S ACHIEVEMENTS:
National Economic Council passed the
Resolution No. 204 upon his
endorsement
Promulgated “Filipino First” Policy on
August 28, 1958
Austerity program was adopted to
encourage budget savings on the part of
the government
Macapagal Administration

Diosdado Macapagal
(1961-1965)
MACAPAGAL’S ACHIEVEMENTS:
Took his post December 30, 1961
Promised about a “New Era” of
peace and prosperity to Filipino
people
Lifted economic controls
Under the Decontrol program,
licenses for imports were lifted and
peso was devaluated
Agricultural Land Reform Law was
enacted by congress on August 8,
1963
Philippine officially filed its claim
to Sabah on June 22, 1962
Responsible for transferring the
celebration of Philippine
Independence day from July 4 to
June 12
MARCOS ADMINISTRATION

Ferdinand E. Marcos
(1965-1986)
 MARCOS’ FIRST TERM
(1965-1969)

 Took his office on December 30,

1965
 Began his administration with a
mountain of serious problems
inherited from the past
administration
 MARCOS’ ACCOMPLISHMENTS
 Stabilization of government finances
 Greater rice production
 Building of more roads and bridges, schoolhouses, and
other public works
 Philippine National Railways improved
 Intensive operations against smuggling, crime
syndicates and the NPA
 Holding of Manila Summit Conference on October
24-25, 1966
RE-ELECTION OF MARCOS
 Marcos was the only president of the
republic to be re-elected for a second term
 Was the first Philippine president to take his
oath of office in the native language
ECONOMIC PROBLEMS
 Rising oil prices
 Prices of prime commodities spiraled
skyward
 Overspending in 1969 elections that
led to higher inflation and floating
peso
 Frequent visits of natural calamities