Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

1705
HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by HONORABLE LUIS RAYMUND F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The education system relies heavily on the textbook and reading materials that it
provides the students. Much of the basic knowledge that students learn comes from
these learning aids. It is discouraging to lead news articles about how textbooks from
the Department of Education used largely by the public education system are riddled
with errors. In order to improve the education in the country, it is imperative that the
materials being published for students’ use are reviewed regularly and are up to
standards.

This bill seeks tc improve the competencies of the educationai materials In our public
educational system by mandating that an educational curricuium should have
continuity and stability by keeping the same for a period of at least 6 years.

Consequently, in order to resolve errors in textbooks and related materials, and to
ensure that they are up to standards, an annual review shall be conducted by the
Department of Education in cooperation with the National Book Development Board

The approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

LUIS JUND F. ‘LAFUERTE, JR.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 1705

Introduced by HONORABLE LUIS RAYMUND F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

AN ACT
MANDATING THE CONTINUITY OF EDUCATIONAL CURRICULUM FOR A
PERIOD OF AT LEAST SIX (6) YEARS AND ENSURING THE STABILITY OF THE
CONSEQUENT TEXTBOOKS AND RELATED MATERIALS THROUGH AN
ANNUAL REVIEW, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8047,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE BOOK PUBLISHING INDUSTRY ACT, AS
AMENDED

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 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. — It 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 dissemination the nation's cultural heritage.

Accordingly, it is hereby declared a policy of the State to promote the continuing development
Of the book public 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 exon 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.’

SECTION 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 regulation 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;

d) GUIDELINES, RULES AND REGULATIONS IN PREPARING THE MINIMUM
LEARNING COMPETENCIES AND/OR PROTOTYPES AND OTHER
SPECIFICATIONS FOR TEXTBOOK 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;
e) SUBSEQUENT ANNUAL REVIEW, IN COORDINATION AND COOPERATION OF
THE BOARD, OF THE TEXTBOOKS AND OTHER RELATED EDUCATIONAL
MATERIALS AS MENTIONED ABOVE.

The printing of public elementary and secondary school textbooks shall be done o 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 textbook 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."


SECTION 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 Education

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.

SECTION 4. Separability Clause. — Should any provision herein be declared
unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity of the other provisions of this

SECTION 5. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, orders, rules, and regulations or other
issuances or parts inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed,
amended, or modified accordingly.

SECTION 6. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect in fifteen (15) days after
publication in the Official Gazette or in one (1) newspaper of general circulation in the
Philippines.

Approved,