THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
) 
S E N A T E  
L 
Introduced by Senator Luisa 'Loi' P. Ejercito Estrada 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The proposed bill puts into implementation the basic law of the land, thus 
that the State shall "establish, maintain, and support a complete, adequate, and 
integrated system of education relevant to the people and society." (Sec. 2 [I], 
Article XIV of the 1987 Constitution). 
Also Section 13 of Article XIV of the fundamental law of the land provides 
that: "The State shall protect and secure the exclusive rights of scientists, 
investors, artists, and other gifted citizens to their intellectual property and 
creations, particularly when beneficial to the people, for such period as may be 
provided by law." 
Pursuant to abovementioned constitutional provision, Congress on July 6, 
1997, enacted into law Republic Act No. 8293, entitled: "An Act Prescribing the 
Intellectual Property Code and Establishing the Intellectual Property Office, 
Providing For Its Powers and Functions, and Other Purposes". 
Moreover, under the National Book Policy adopted pursuant to Republic 
Act No. 8047, otherwise known as the "Book Publishing Industry Development 
Act", it mandates "to respect and inculcate the concept of intellectual property 
ownership and to protect the rights of authors and publishers by strictly enforcing 
copyright laws and providing legal assistance to authors and publishers in suits 
related thereto". 
It must be noted however, in spite and despite of various laws and 
regulations, intellectual infringement and piracy of intellectual rights are rampant 
in the country. The provisions of the laws are derogated if not circumvented. Due 
to these situations, Philippines is under watch list as one of the countries where 
intellectual property rights are ignored and piracy of intellectual creations is 
nationwide. 
Protection of intellectual property fosters creativity thus leading to patriotic 
enlightenment as contra-distinguished from total dependence on the outside 
world's creativity. 
Recently, Socio Economic Planning Secretary Romulo Neri stated that: 
"40% of the world's economic output involves knowledge and its management" 
and that the Philippines has a "weak knowledge based". (Philippine Daily 
Inquirer, November 13, 2004, page A-3). 
Along this line, this bill mandates the teaching of intellectual property 
ownership particularly copyright law as part of the curriculum of all primary, 
secondary and tertiary schools in the country. 


2 
Toward this end, it is imperative that the importance of copyright be 
imparted to our citizenry at an early age as well as in later in life. It may be the 
desired precondition that may convert the Philippines into one of the knowledge- 
based centers. 
With proper education it is hope that piracy will be curtailed and our laws 
will be observed properly. 
Finally, this bill if quickly passed into law will reaffirm and ensure the 
country’s commitment to the UNESCO principle of free flow of information and 
other related provisions. as embodied in the Florence Agreement and in other 
similar international agreements. 
- 
LUISA “LOI” P~EJERCITO 
ESTRADA 
Senator 


Y 
B 
THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
) 
Introduced by Senator Luisa "Loi" P. Ejercito Estrada 
AN ACT 
REQUIRING THE TEACHING OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OWNERSHIP 
PARTICULARLY COPYRIGHT LAW AS PART OF THE CURRICULUM OF ALL 
PRIMARY, SECONDARY AND TERTIARY SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTRY, AND 
FOROTHERPURPOSES 
Be if enacfed bv the Senate and House of Remesenfafives of the 
PhiliDpines in Conqress assembled: 
SECTION 1. The teaching of intellectual property ownership particularly 
copyright law is hereby required to be a part of the curriculum of all primary, 
secondary and tertiary schools in the country. 
SEC. 2. The Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on 
Higher Education (CHED) shall adopt the necessary rules and regulations for the 
effective implementation of this Act. 
SEC. 3 The funds needed for this purpose shall be taken from the 
appropriations of the Department of Education (DepEd) andlor Economic 
Support Fund allotted to said Department. Thereafter, such sum which may be 
necessary for the implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual 
General Appropriations Act. 
SEC. 4. All laws, orders, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations, 
and other issuances, or parts thereof, inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed 
or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 5. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its publication 
in a newspaper of general circulation. 
Approved,