Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. GUSTAVO S. TAMBUNTING 
AN ACT 
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8047, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "BOOK 
PUBLISHING INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT ACT," PROVIDES FOR THE SCANNING AND 
CONVERSION OF PUBLIC SCHOOL TEXTBOOKS INTO E-BOOKS AND OTHER DIGITAL 
FORMATS 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This proposed measure mandates publishers participating in the Public Schools Textbook Program 
to allow the conversion of textbooks, in part or in full, to digital formats to be made available and 
accessible to all public-school students. The said conversion would still be subject to the 
Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines. 
In the usual face-to-face learning setting, textbooks are usually shared among students within 
the same class. Students are also not able to bring textbooks home as they are shared between 
students from different shifts of classes. With the implementation of online classes, public learning 
institutions are facing difficulties in the provision of necessary learning materials to all students 
due to the inadequate copies of textbooks. 
The digitization of learning materials would greatly aid public schools as they would be able to 
distribute copies of textbooks to students in a shorter amount of time as they would not need to 
have them printed for all students. This would also lessen the burden public schools face in the 
delivery of learning materials as they would only have to deliver printed textbooks and other 
learning materials to students who cannot access learning materials digitally.  
On behalf of the people of Parañaque City’s Second District, and for the common good of the 
Filipino people, the approval of the said measure is earnestly sought. 
REP. GUSTAVO S. TAMBUNTING 
2nd District, Parañaque City 
August 22, 2022
10:22 am
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. GUSTAVO S. TAMBUNTING 
AN ACT  
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8047, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "BOOK 
PUBLISHING INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT ACT," PROVIDES FOR THE SCANNING AND 
CONVERSION OF PUBLIC SCHOOL TEXTBOOKS INTO E-BOOKS AND OTHER DIGITAL 
FORMATS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Section 11 of Republic Act No. 8047, otherwise known as the "Book Publishing 
Industry Development Act," Is hereby amended to read as follows: 
"Sec. 11. Participation of Private Publishers in the Public School Textbook Program. 
– Guided by the minimum learning competencies for the elementary level, the
desired learning competencies for the secondary level, and other specifications
prepared by the [DECS] DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (DEPED), publishers
shall develop and submit to the [DEGS] DEPED those syllabi and/or prototypes
and manuscripts or books Intended for use in the public schools for testing,
evaluation, selection, and approval.
Upon approval of the manuscripts or books, publishers shall produce and supply 
the textbooks as ordered by the [DECS] DepEd. 
PUBLISHERS PARTICIPATING IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL TEXTBOOK 
PROGRAM SHALL ALLOW THE SCANNING OR CONVERSION INTO E-
BOOKS AND OTHER DIGITAL FORMATS, IN PART OR IN FULL, OF THEIR 
APPROVED TEXTBOOKS, SUBJECT TO COMPLIANCE WITH REPUBLIC 
ACT NO. 8293, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY 
CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES”. THE E·BOOKS AND DIGITAL FORMAT 
COPIES OF THE TEXTBOOKS SHALL BE MADE AVAILABLE AND 
ACCESSIBLE TO ALL PUBLIC-SCHOOL STUDENTS, IN A MANNER DEEMED 
APPROPRIATE AND REASONABLE BY THE DEPED. 
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Sec. 2. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within sixty (60) days from the effectivity 
of this Act, the Department of Education (DepEd), In coordination with the National Book 
Development Board (NBDB), and ·other relevant government agencies and stakeholders, shall 
issue the necessary rules and regulations to Implement the and stakeholders, shall issue the 
necessary rules and regulations to Implement the provisions of this Act. 
Sec. 3. Repealing Cause. – All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, proclamations, 
rules, and regulations, or any part thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act 
are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.  
Sec. 4. Separability Cause. – If any provision or part of this Act, or the application thereof to 
any person or circumstance, is held unconstitutional or invalid, the remainder of this Act shall not 
be affected thereby.  
Sec. 5. Effectivity Cause. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from its publication In 
the Official Gazette or In at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,