EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBUC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
S e n a te
' ^ \ c t  of tfjf » r tr r tn r f
*1^ AUG 20 P3 25
S E N A T E
s. No. 945
RECElv.Om
Introduced by Senator Grace Poe
AN ACT
TO ENHANCE GENUINE F ILIP IN O  CULTURE, PROMOTE NATIO NALISM , AND 
RECOGNIZE W RITERS AND ARTISTS, BY SUPPORTING THE PH ILIPPINE 
KO M IKS INDUSTRY THROUGH ITS MANDATED USE IN  INSTRUCTIONAL 
MATERIALS IN  PUBLIC SCHOOLS, PROVIDING FINANCIAL INCENTIVES, AND 
FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Explanatory Note
The box-office dominance of superhero films such as Wonder Woman, Black 
Panther, and Avengers: Infinity War has brought a resurgence of interest in comic 
books. In 2015, the overall revenue for comics broke $1 billion in 2015 and grew 5% to 
nearly $1.1 billion in 2016.1 "Casual" and "Hardcore" fans alike are turning to the source 
material to appreciate the origins of big-screen superheroes.
It is an opportune time to revisit our local comics industry. Colloquially known as 
komiks, our local comics industry first boomed in the 1940s-1950's. This was the 
heyday of komiks such as Tagalog Klasiks (1949), Hiwaga (1950) and Espesya! Komiks 
(1952).
Now, the comics industry is propped up by small but much-loved publishers. Of 
course, everyone is familiar with Apolonio "Pol" Medina's much-loved Pugad Baboyav\(\ 
Manix Abrera's Kikomachine Komix. But there are also rising stars such as Budjette Tan 
and Kajo Baldisimo's horror/crime serial Trese and Toto Madyang's hilarious Libreng 
Komiks.
1 Cox, G. and Steinber, B. "Comic Book Sales Fly on the Capes of Hit Movies, TV Shows" Variety (19 July 2017). 
Retrieved from https://varietv.eom/2017/film /news/comic-book-sales-superhero-movies-1202499029/


Clearly, our komiks industry is full of talented artists and writers who should be 
supported. Their work is part of our uniquely /7//P//70 cultural and artistic heritage. Thus, 
this representation submits the proposed Galing Pinoy Komiks Support A c t. It proposes 
to create the following support mechanisms for writers and artists in the Komiks 
industry:
1. It seeks to promote Philippine Komiks as an instructional material and a tool 
of popular art;
2. It mandates that ten percent (10%) of the printable instructional materials 
being used in elementary and secondary education should be in the form of 
komiks1,
3. It 
mandates that, 
as far as practicable, 
all 
departments, 
agencies, 
instrumentalities of the national government should incorporate the use of 
komiks in all its printing and information campaign dissemination for the 
general public; and
4. It provides that all equipment and materials that are reasonably necessary 
and are not manufactured or produced locally for the propagation and 
popularization of komiks shall be tax or duty-free.
In a globalized world where everything seems to be the same, it is desired to 
have particular things, distinctly Filipino, rooted in its milieu. Certainly, the Filipino 
komiks is one of them.
Immediate enactment of the legislation is earnestly sought.


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
S E N A T E
s. No. 9 4 5
gi^cuaie
of tb f fr i'c r fW r ?
T9 m  20 P3 :25
RECEIVtOir.'.___
Introduced by Senator Grace Poe * 1 1
AN ACT
TO ENHANCE GENUINE F ILIP IN O  CULTURE, PROMOTE NATIO NALISM , AND 
RECOGNIZE W RITERS AND ARTISTS, BY SUPPORTING THE PH ILIPPIN E 
KO M IKS INDUSTRY THROUGH ITS MANDATED USE IN  INSTRUCTIONAL 
MATERIALS IN  PUBLIC SCHOOLS, PROVIDING FINANCIAL INCENTIVES, AND 
FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House o f Representatives o f the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. -  This Act shall be known as the " Gaiing Pinoy Komiks
2 
Support A ct"
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration o f Policy. -  It is a declared policy of the State that it shall
4 
preserve, enrich, and evolve Filipino national culture based on the principle of unity in
5 
diversity in a climate of free artistic and intellectual expression. It likewise declared that
6 
arts and letters enjoy the patronage of the State and that the nation's historical and
7 
cultural heritage and resources as well as artistic creations must be conserved,
8 
promoted and popularized. To this end, komiks (comics) is hereby recognized as an
9 
essential part of Philippine arts and culture, and support for its popularization and use
10 
shall be promoted.
11 
Sec. 3. Komiks as Instructional Material in Basic Education. -  The Department of
12 
Education is hereby mandated that ten percent (10 % ) of all instructional materials


1 
being printed and utilized in all academic institutions, both public and private, shall be
2 
in komiksfovvn.
3 
Sec. 4. Utilization o f Komiks fo r Government Advocacy Campaigns. -  As far as
4 
practicable, all departments, agencies and instrumentalities of the national and local
5 
government units (LCDs) shall take immediate steps to implement this Act and shall
6 
incorporate the use of komiks in all policy advocacy campaigns: Provided, that it shall
7 
be prohibited for government officials to use komiks^or partisan political activities, or to
8 
place the name, symbol, logo, or likeness of any public official on such materials.
9 
For the purpose of this Act, "partisan political activity" refers to activities,
10 
statements or manifestations, which solely or primarily serve to campaign for or against
11 
any particular political party or candidate for any elective public office.
12 
Sec. 5. Tax Incentives. -  All equipment and materials that are reasonably
13 
necessary and are not manufactured or produced locally for the propagation and
14 
renewed popularization of komiks shall be tax or duty-free.
15 
Sec. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. -  Within sixty (60) days from the
16 
effectivity of this Act, the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), the National
17 
Commission on Culture and Arts (NCCA), the Department of Education (DepEd) and the
18 
Philippine Information Agency (PIA) shall jointly come up and promulgate the necessary
19 
rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.
20 
Sec. 7. Separability Clause. -  In the event that any provisions of this Act is
21 
declared unconstitutional, the validity of the other provisions not affected shall remain.
22 
Sec. 8. Repealing Clause. -  All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or
23 
portions thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
24 
Sec. 9. Effectivity Clause. -  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
25 
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of national
26 
circulation.
27
Approved,