Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
19TH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ___ 
Introduced by Honorable Michael L. Romero 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
It is the policy of the State to promote the continuing development of book 
publishing industry in all regions of the country, as embodied in Republic Act 
No. 8047 or the "Book Publishing Industry Development Act". Since 
authorship is one of the major components of book publishing, the national book 
policy obliges the State to create a dynamic and conducive environment for the 
promotion of Filipino authorship and other creative activities in book 
development. 
This House Bill seeks to oblige the state to promote that the book publishing 
industry has a significant role in national development, and to foster the creation 
of these products that are very instrumental in the citizenry's intellectual, 
technical and cultural development. 
Thus, the early passage of this bill is earnestly requested. 
MICHAEL L. ROMERO Ph.D.   
July 1, 2022 
11:10 am
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
19TH CONGRESS 
 First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by Honorable Michael L. Romero 
AN ACT 
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9521 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS 
THE "NATIONAL BOOK DEVELOPMENT TRUST FUND ACT", TO 
FOSTER A MORE DYNAMIC AND CONDUCIVE ENVIRONMENT 
FOR THE PROMOTION AND SUPPORT OF FILIPINO AUTHORSHIP 
AND OTHER CREATIVE ACTIVITIES IN BOOK DEVELOPMENT, 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. 
Section 3 of Republic Act. No. 9521, is hereby amended to read as follows:
Section 3. The National Book Development Trust Fund - A National Book 
Development Trust Fund, hereafter referred to as the Fund, is hereby 
established exclusively for the support and promotion of Filipino 
authorship especially in science and technology in subject areas wherein 
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locally authored books are either few or nonexistent. The Fund shall be 
subject to the following; 
(a) 
The contribution to the Fund shall be sourced from the 
following: 
(1) 
The amount of One hundred million pesos (Php 
100,000,000.00) shall be alloted in the annual General 
Appropriation Act (GAA) for the next five (5) years starting 
from the enactment of this law; 
(2) 
The amount of One hundred million pesos (Php 
100,000,000.00) shall be taken from the Philippine 
Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) fund at Five 
(5) million pesos per month for twenty (20) months; 
(3) 
Another amount of One hundred million pesos (Php 
100,000,000.00) shall be taken from the Philippine Charity 
Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) at Five (5) million pesos per month 
for twenty (20) months; 
(b) 
Only the interest drawn from the Fund from sources cited in 
Section 3 (a1), (a2) and (a3) shall be awarded as grants to promote 
Filipino authorship and to support the completion of local 
manuscripts or research works for publication; 
(c) 
The grants can be awarded only after one (1) year from the 
organization of the Fund, and the grants shall be awarded equitably 
among the regions. 
(d) 
Government corporations are hereby authorized to give grants 
to the Fund at their discretion; 
(e) 
The private portion of the Fund shall be raised from donations 
and other conveyances including funds, materials, property and 
services, by gratuitous title; 
(f) 
Contributions to the Fund shall be exempt from the donor's 
tax and the same shall be considered as allowable deductions from 
the gross income of the donor, in accordance with the provisions of 
the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended: 
Provided, That the allowable deductions shall be equivalent to one 
hundred fifty percent (150%) of the value of such donation; 


(g) 
The National Book Development Board (NBDB) shall be the 
administrator of the Fund; 
(h) 
For the sound and judicious management of the Fund, the 
NBDB shall appoint a government financial institution, with sound 
track record on fund management, as portfolio manager of the Fund, 
subject to guidelines promulgated by the NBDB; and 
(i) 
The NBDB shall prepare the implementing guidelines and 
decision-making mechanisms, subject to the following: 
(1) 
No part of the seed capital of the Fun, including 
earnings thereof, shall be used to underwrite overhead 
expenses for the administration; and 
(2) 
There shall be an external auditor to perform an 
annual audit of the Fund's performance. 
SECTION 2. TRANSITORY PROVISION - Existing industries, 
businesses and offices affected by the implementation of this Act shall be 
given six (6) months transitory period from the effectivity of the IRR or such 
other period as may be determined, to comply with the requirements of 
this Act. 
SECTION 3. IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS. - The 
departments and agencies charged with carrying out the provisions of this 
Act shall, within sixty (60) days after the effectivity of this Act, formulate 
the necessary rules and regulations for its effective implementation. 
SECTION 4. REPEALING CLAUSE. - All laws, decrees, executive 
orders, rules and regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent with the 
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SECTION 5. SEPARABILITY CLAUSE. - If, for any reason, any 
section or provision of this Act is held unconstitutional or invalid, the other 
sections or provisions hereof shall not be affected thereby. 


SECTION 6. EFFECTIVITY CLAUSE. - This Act shall take effect 
after fifteen (15) days from its publication in the Official! Gazette or in at 
least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation whichever comes 
earlier. 
Approved,