EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez
2777

House Bill No!
EXPLANATORY NOTE

Paragraph (1), Section 5 of Article XIV of the 1987 Constitution provides that “The
State shall take into account regional and sectoral needs and conditions and shall
encourage local planning in the development of educational policies and programs.

On June 5, 1995, R.A. No. 8047, otherwise known as the Book Industry
Development Act of 1995 was enacted into law.

Pursuant to said Book Act, second paragraph of Section 2 states that: “It is hereby
declared a policy of the state to promote the continuing development of the book publishing
industry with the active participation of the private sector to ensure an adequate supply of
affordable, quality-produced books not only for the domestic but also for the export market.”

Twelve (12) years after the passage of the said law, shortages of quality textbooks
and other educational materials are still perennial problems besetting our students.

Research and discussions with the book industry players and stakeholders that there
may be certain developments which hinder the State and the private sector from complying
with the above-cited mandate based on the realization emanating from historical records.
Every time a change in administration occurs, rules for the formulation of educational
curriculum and the consequent preparation of appropriate textbooks and related materials
change, thus, nullifying developmental efforts not to mention the concomitant huge
investments incurred during the preceding administrations.

There is a consensus among the stakeholders that in order to truly come up with
sufficient quality textbooks and related educational materials in response to the requirements
of our students in the public elementary and secondary schools, it would take at least six (6)
to ten (10) years (at least three (3) to five (5) years for research and study and another three
(3) to five (5) years for implementation) to develop and jibe with the desired curriculum
development.

The bill therefore seeks to remedy the situation by mandating that educational
curriculum and the consequent preparation of textbooks and related educational materials
should have continuity and stability and that the same should not be changed for a period of
at least six years.

For the benefit of million students who are seeking knowledge, the immediate
passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

Ly

/ Z
RUFUS B. Ri aie
/

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EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
__ Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodrigué
2777

House Bill No.

AN ACT
MANDATING THAT EDUCATIONAL CURRICULUM AND THE CONSEQUENT
PREPARATION OF TEXTBOOKS AND RELATED MATERIALS SHOULD HAVE
CONTINUITY AND STABILITY, AND THAT THE SAME SHOULD NOT BE AFFECTED
FOR A PERIOD OF AT LEAST SIX (6) YEARS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8047, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE BOOK PUBLISHING
INDUSTRY ACT

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representative of the Philippines in Congress
Assembled:

SECTION 1. Section 2 of R.A. No. 8047, otherwise known as the Book Publishing Industry
Development Act is hereby amended by adding a paragraph to read as follows:

“Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. — \t is recognized that the book
publishing industry has a significant role in national development,
considering that books which are its products are instrumental in the
citizenry's intellectual, technical and cultural development — the basic
social foundation for the economic and social growth of the country.
Books are the most effective and economical tools for achieving
educational growth, for imparting information and for recording,
preserving, and disseminating the nation’s cultural heritage.

“Accordingly, it is hereby declared a policy of the State to promote
the continuing development of the book publishing industry, with the
active participation of the private-sector, to ensure an adequate supply of
affordable, quality-produced books not only for the domestic but also for
the export market. For this purpose, the Government shall formulate,
adopt, and implement a National Book Policy and a corresponding
National Book Development Plan that will serve as the enduring basis for
fostering the progressive growth and viability of the book industry’.

TO ACHIEVE THE ABOVE-MENTIONED POLICY, IT IS
HEREBY MANDATED THAT EDUCATIONAL CURRICULUM AND THE
CONSEQUENT PREPARATION OF TEXTBOOKS AND OTHER
RELATED EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS SHOULD HAVE CONTINUITY
AND STABILITY, AND THAT THE SAME SHOULD NOT BE
AFFECTED FOR A PERIOD OF AT LEAST SIX (6) YEARS.

SEC. 2. Section 10 of R.A. No. 8047 is hereby amended by adding a paragraph to read as
follows:

“Sec. 10. Public Schoo! and Textbook Publishing. - The DECS shall consult
with the Board in prescribing the guidelines, rules and regulations in preparing the
minimum learning competencies and/or prototypes and other specifications for books
required by public elementary and secondary schools.

“The DECS shall confine itself to:



a) preparing the minimum learning competencies, and/or prototypes and
other specifications for books and/or manuscripts called for;

“ b) testing, evaluating, selecting and approving the manuscripts or books to
be submitted by the publishers for multiple adoption;

“ ¢) promulgating with the participation and assistance of the Board rules.
and regulations for the private book publishers in the call, testing, evaluation,
selection, approval, as well as production specification and acquisition of public
school textbooks.

E ) GUIDELINES, RULES AND REGULATIONS IN PREPARING THE
MINIMUM LEARNING COMPETENCIES AND/OR PROTOTYPES AND OTHER
SPECIFICATIONS FOR TEXTBOOKS AND OTHER RELATED EDUCATIONAL
MATERIALS REQUIRED BY PUBLIC ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY
SCHOOLS SHOULD NOT BE AFFECTED FOR A PERIOD OF AT LEAST SIX (6)
YEARS.

“ The printing of public elementary and secondary school textbooks shall be
done on a regional or provincial level, whenever economically feasible.

* The DECS shall within a period of not more than three (3) years from the
effectivity of this Act phase out its elementary and secondary textboook publication
and distribution functions and shall support the phasing in of private sector publishers
to assume these functions here. For its part, the Board shall monitor and conduct an
annual evaluation of the progress of the shift of functions from the DECS to the
private sector’.

SEC. 3. The Department of Education (DepEd) in consultation _with the National Book
Development Board (NBDB) and with the active participation of the private publishers such
as Philippine Book Federation (Philbook), Philippine Educational Publishers Association
(PEPA) and the National Book Suppliers and Publishers Association of the Philippines
(NBSAP) shall issue guidelines and prescribe rules and regulations within sixty (60) days
after the effectivity of this Act. A copy of such guidelines, rules and regulations shall be
furnished the Congress of the Philippines through the respective Chairmen of the Committee
‘on Education, Arts, Culture of both the Senate and the House of Representatives,

SEC. 4. Separability Clause. - If any part or section of this Act is declared unconstitutional
for any reason whatsoever such declaration shall not in any way affect other parts or
sections of this Act.

SEC. 5. Repealing Clause. - Republic Act No. 8047 is hereby amended accordingly. All
other laws, decrees, rules and regulations and other administrative issuances or provisions
thereof which are contrary to or inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly.

SEC.6 Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following its complete
publication in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation,

Approved,