Valdez, city (1990 pop. 4,068), Valdez-Chitina-Whittier census div., S Alaska, at the head of Valdez Arm inside Prince William Sound; inc. 1901. It has tourist and fishing industries, as well as salmon spawning grounds. The city's excellent, nearly landlocked ice-free harbor was explored and named by the Spaniards in 1790. Valdez was established (1898) as a debarkation point for those seeking a route to the Yukon gold fields that would obviate the necessity of paying duty to Canada. Following a devastating earthquake and tidal wave in 1964, the city was rebuilt at a location 5 mi (8 km) west of the old site. Valdez is the southern terminus of the trans-Alaskan oil pipeline, built in the 1970s, that originates in Prudhoe Bay. Its port facilities were greatly enlarged in the mid-1970s. On Mar. 24, 1989, the Exxon Valdez hit a reef near Valdez and spilled 11 million gallons of oil into Prince William Sound. Clean-up efforts ensued, but much wildlife was killed or endangered as a result of the environmental disaster.

Ramos, Fidel Valdez, 1928-, Philippine general and politician, president of the Philippines (1992-98), b. Lingayen. A career army officer, he became deputy chief of staff of the armed forces in 1981 and chief of staff in 1986. When Corazon Aquino challenged Ferdinand Marcos's "victory" in the corrupt 1986 presidential elections, Ramos's support for her was a major factor in her ultimate success. During the Aquino administration he served (1988-92) as defense secretary, continuing to support her strongly through several coup attempts. In 1992 Ramos won the Philippine presidency with Aquino's backing. During his presidency the country experienced economic growth. Ramos sought to cut and restructure the country's bloated bureaucracy and to prosecute tax evaders.