FIFTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES —)
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
. 707

Introduced by Representative Rutus 8. Rodriguez and
Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

House Bill

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 proceeding 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 ihe 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.

RUFUS B. ROPRIGUEZ

OL
MAXIMO B. RODRIGUEZ, JR.


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES —)
First Regular Session

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
707

House Bill No.”

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and
Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

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 (8) YEARS, AMENDING
FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8047, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS
THE BOOK PUBLISHING INDUSTRY ACT

Be it enacted by the Sens
Philippines in Congress Assembled:

and House of Representative of the

SECTION 4. Section 2 of RA. 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
ate 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 HE

BY
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 (8) YEARS.

SEC. 2. Section 10 of RA 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:

@) preparing the minimum leaming competencies, and/or
prototypes and other specifications for books and/cr manuscripis called
for;

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

) promulgating with the participation and assistance of the
Board rules end 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 ANDIOR 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 (8) YEARS.

“ The printing of public elementary and secondary schoo! textbooks
shall be done on 4 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 Depariment 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 shell 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

anyway affect other paris 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. & 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.