i ' 
THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
.i 
SENATE 
Introduced by Senator LUISA '"Mll[n P. EJSRCITO E S T W A  
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Books are instrumental in the citizenry's intellectual, technical and 
cultural development. Books me the most effective and economical tools 
for achieving educational growth, imparting information and recording, 
preserving, and disseminating the nation's cultural heritage. 
Most of the books in our libraries and bookstores are not local 
publications. The Philippines has the lowest output in terms of book 
titles compared to our neighbors in Southeast Asia. Furthermore, most 
of the local books are written by authors based in the National Capital 
Region, where most of the big publishers are also based. 
There are surely many talented authors and writers in other 
regions of the country. They can put in writing their local knowledge and 
local histories. Some of them can write scientific and technical books 
that fit their local context, while others can translate classic works into 
the local languages. Some authors have begun manuscripts or research 
works that are taking too long to finish because they are preoccupied 
with earning a living for themselves and their loved ones. 
This proposed measure is an attempt at helping both veteran and 
promising authors in the regions to produce or finish manuscripts for 
publication in the fields of' science and technology, local history, and in 
subject areas wherein local books are either few or non-existent. This 
bill seeks to create a National Book Development Trust Fund from which 
grants can be offered to deserving authors in the regions so that they can 
concentrate full time working on their manuscripts or research works for 
publications. 
If approved, the interest of this Trust Fund would be able to 
finance annually at least sixty-five (65) grants, which would be 
distributed equitably among the regions. This measures would bring us 
closer to the day when every region and province has enough good 
authors who get published, and every region has a dynamic book trade 
with the other regions. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate approval of this bill is 
earnestly sought. 
LUI~A 
QLOP 4 ESERCITO ESTMDA 
Senator 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
S E N A T E  
S .  B. No.’ 
- 
~~ 
Introduced by Senator LUISA ‘CM)In f. JMERCXTO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
CREATING A NATIONAL BOOK DEVELOPMENT TRUST FUND TO 
SUPPORT FILIPINO AUTHORSHIP 
Be it enacted by the Sende and the Hause of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the 
“National Book Development Trust Fund Act”. 
SEC. 2. Declaration of PoZiCy. - It is hereby declared as a policy 
of the State to promote the continuing development of the book 
publishing industry in all regions of the country, as stated in R.A. 8047, 
otherwise known as the Book Publishing Industry Act of 1995. Since 
authorship is one of the major components of book publishing, the State 
shall create an excellent environment for the promotion of Filipino 
authorship and other creative activities in book development. 
SEC. 3. 
The National Book DeveZopment Tmst find. - A 
National Book Development Trust Fund is hereby established exclusively 
for the support and promotion of Filipino authorship especially in science 
and technology and in subject areas wherein locally authored books are 
either few or non-existent. 


The contribution of the Fund shall be sourced from the following: 
(1) 
The amount of fifty million pesos (P50,000,000,.00) shall be 
taken from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming 
Carporation 
(PAGCOR) fund 
at 
five 
million 
pesos 
(P5,000,000.00) per month for ten (10) months. 
Another amount of fifty million pesos (P50,000,000.00) shall 
be taken from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office 
(PCSO) at five million pesos (P5,000,000.00) per month for 
ten (10) months. 
(2) 
Only the interest drawn from the Fund shall be awarded as grants 
to promote Filipino authorship and to support the completion of local 
manuscripts or research works for publication. 
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. 
Government corporations are hereby authorized to give grants to 
the Fund at their discretion, but not to exceed fifteen percent (15%) of 
their unimpaired surplus. 
The private portion of the fund shall be raised from donations and 
other conveyances including funds, materials, property and services, by 
gratuitous title. 
Contributions to the Fund shall be deductible for income tax 
purposes in accordance with the provision of Section 29(h)(A) of the 
National Internal Revenue Code. 


SEC. 4. Management of the Nationat Book Devlehpment Trust 
The National Book Development Board (NBDB) shall be the 
Fund. - 
administrator of the Fund. 
For the sound and judicious management of the Fund, the NBDB 
shall appoint a government financial institution as portfolio manager of 
the Fund, subject to the guidelines promulgated by the NBDB. 
The NBDB shall prepare the implementing guidelines and decision- 
making mechanisms, subject to the following: 
Unless otherwise stipulated by the private donor, only 
earnings of private contributions shall be used for grants; 
No part of the seed capital of the Fund, including earnings, 
thereof, shall be used to underwrite overhead expenses for 
administration; 
There shall be an external auditor to perform an annual 
audit of the F’und’s performance; and 
The Fund shall be exempt from pre-audit by the Commission 
on Audit. 
SEC. 5. #eparu&itcCy CZazue. - Any portion or provisions of this 
Act that may be declared unconstitutional shall not have the effect of 
nullifying other portions or provisions thereof as long as such remaining 
portions or provisions can still subsist and be given effect in their 
entirety. 


SEC 6. Repeazing C h a s e .  - All laws, rules and regulations, and 
municipal and city ordinances which may be inconsistent with this Act 
shall be deemed repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 7. E f f e W d ~ .  
- This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
following its complete publication in two newspapers of general 
circulation. 
Approved, 
GlZ/tere '/gvl book development j-lmd