SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
) 
) 
) 
Senate Bill No. 659 
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'13 
JUL -8 P5 :24 
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR JOSEPH VICTOR G. EJERCITO 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The proposed bill puts into implementation the basic law of the 
land, such that the State shall "establish, maintain, and support a 
complete, adequate, and integrated system of education relevant to the 
people and society." (Sec. 2 [1], 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. " 
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Pursuant to abovementioned Constitutional provisions, 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 Functior-s, and 
Other Purposes." 
. 
I 
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, the Philippines is under the 
watch list as one of the countries where intellectual property rights are 
ignored and piracy of intellectual creations is widespread. 


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. 
Toward this end, it is imperative that the importance of copyright 
be imparted to our citizenry at an early age as well as 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 strictly implemented. Finally, this bill if passed irtto law 
will reaffirm and ensure the country's commitment to the Ul)l"ESCO 
Principle of Free Flow of Information and other related provisions as 
embodied in the Florence Agreement and in other similar international 
agreements. 
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f 
JOSEPH VICTOR G. EJERCITO 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 6 5 9 
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'13 
JUL -8 P5 :23 
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR JOSEPH VICTOR G. EJERCITO 
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 FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. The teaching of intellectual property o~ership, 
particularly copyright law is hereby required to be a part 'of the 
curriculum of all primary, secondary and tertiary schools in the country. 
SECTION 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. 
SECTION 3. The funds needed for this purpose shall be taken 
from the appropriations of the Department of Education (DepEd) and/or 
the 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. 
SECTION 4. All laws, orders, decrees, executive orders, rules and 
regulations, and other issuances, or parts thereof, inconsistent herewith 
are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its 
publication in a newspaper of general circulation. 
Approved,