SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES)
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

House Bill No. 8073

Introduced by HONORABLE MARK A. VILLAR

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Books are the cheapest and the most effective tools for imparting information,
achieving educational growth and for recording, preserving and disseminating the
nation’s cultural heritage. It is therefore imperative that these books be made available
to public through government libraries and state universities

This bill proposes to require all publishers to furnish government libraries and
state universities with books, free of charge, and likewise to provide depositories of
these books to preserve for posterity and against unforeseen events.

This bill likewise endeavors to encourage book publishers to disseminate the
books by granting them 100% tax credit of the value of books actually disseminated.
This will eventually benefit the government as it will save a large sum of money in
acquiring books for its universities.

Thus, the approval of this bill is highly recommended

——_

MARK A. VILLAR


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES)
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
HOUSE BILL No._ 38073

Introduced by HONORABLE MARK A. VILLAR.

AN ACT
REQUIRING PUBLISHERS OF ALL BOOKS TO FURNISH CERTAIN
GOVERNMENT LIBRARIES AND STATE UNIVERSITIES PRINTED BOOKS FREE
OF CHARGE ANDPROVIDING CERTAIN PRIVILEGES THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Title - This Act shall be known as the “Book Dissemination Act".

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy - It is recognized that the book publisher has
significant role in national development, considering that books are instrumental in the
citizenry's intellectual, technical and cultural development which is 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 disseminating that nation's cultural
heritage. Accordingly, it is hereby declared a policy of the State to ensure that all quality
produced books are made available to the public through national libraries and state
and the role of its publisher be recognized by the government by giving certain
privileges such as tax credit

SECTION 3. Book Dissemination - Within a period of thirty (30) days from the
date of any printed book, as this term defined herein, is first delivered out of the press,
the publisher of such book, whether private or government owned, individual or juridical
person, shall furnish, free of charge and in the same finish as the best copies of the
same are produced, two copies thereof to the National Library, and a copy each to the
University of the Philippines Main Library, the University of the Philippines Library at
Cebu City, the Mindanao State University Library, Congress of the Philippines Library



and to at least ten State Universities in the Philippines. Upon receipt of the respective
copies, the Chief Librarian concerned shall issue an acknowledgment receipt therefor to.
the proper person and shall keep a copy of such receipt for record purposes

SECTION 4. Definition of Terms - For the purpose of this Act, the terms below
shall mean:

a) Book - as defined by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO), a printed non-periodical publication of at least forty
eight (48) pages, exclusive of cover pages, published in the country and made
available to the public which includes all printed literary works, musical
arrangements, catalogues, periodicals, government publications, prints,
photographs, drawing and other graphic arts, maps, plans, charts, and tables,
and all supplements thereto, whether in their original form or adaptations or
reproduction of the same, which are made available for sale or free distribution
to the general public, but shall not include legal documents, printed forms, trade
circulars, timetables and other commercial documents.
Textbook - a book which is an exposition of generally accepted principles in one
(1) subject, intended primarily as a basis for instruction in a classroom or pupil-
book-teacher situation.
Printed - as applied to books, means that which is produced by printing
establishment.
d) Printer- refers to the proprietor of the printing establishment.
e) Publisher - refers to the person, natural or juridical, which undertakes the
production of a book and its offer for sale or free distribution. The publisher of a
book may also be a printer.

b

c

SECTION 5. Tax Credit - A tax credit equivalent to One Hundred Percent (100%)
of the value of the books disseminated to government libraries and state universities
libraries as provided herein shall be given to the publisher who complied with the
minimum requirement of this Act

SECTION 6. Duties of the Director of the National Library - (a) The Director of the
National Library is hereby empowered to make use of, allocate or distribute in the
manner he deems fit, and in the interest of educational or cultural advancement,
scholarship or research, the materials on legal deposit in the National Library.

(b) The Director of the National Library shall keep a record of all materials received
under Section 3 of this Decree, which record shall contain, as far as practicable, the
following particulars as supplied by the publisher:

1. The title of the book and the contents of the title page with a translation into
English language;

2. The language in which the book is written:

3. The name of the author, translator, or editor of the book;


The subject matter;

The place of printing and the place of publication;

The name or firm of the printer and/or the name or firm of the publisher;
The date of issue from the press and/or the date of publication:

The number of sheets, leaves or pages:

The size;

10. The number of the edition;

11. The number of copies which the edition consists;

12. The price at which the book is sold to the public; and

13. The name and residence of the proprietor of the copyright or any portion of the
copyright;

CEI saw

(c) The records to be kept by the Director of the National Library, pursuant to the
immediately preceding section, shall be published in the Official Gazette at the end of
each quarter, counted from the beginning of each calendar year, or not less than one
month after the end of such quarter.

SECTION 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations - The National Book
Development Board shall issue guidelines and prescribe rules and regulations for the
implementation of this Act.

SECTION 8. Penalties - Any person who violates any provision of this Act or the
terms and conditions of the rules and regulations issued pursuant thereto, or aids or
abets in any manner any violation shall be subject to a fine not less than Ten Thousand
Pesos (P10,000.00) but not exceeding Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50,000.00) or
imprisonment of not less than six (6) months but not more than five (5) years or both, at
the discretion of the Court. If the violation is committed by a juridical entity, it shall be
subject to a fine not exceeding One Hundred Thousand Pesos (P100,000.00). The
President and/or officials responsible therefore shall also be subject to a fine and/or
imprisonment as provided above.

SECTION 9. Separability Clause - If any part or section of this Act is declared
unconstitutional for any reason whatsoever such declaration shall not in any way affect
other parts or sections of this Act

SECTION 10. Repealing Clause - Presidential Decree 812 is hereby repealed.
All other laws, decrees, rules, regulations, and other administrative issuances or
provisions thereof which are contrary to or incol'1sistent herewith are hereby repealed
or modified accordingly.

SECTION 11. Effectivity - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days
following its publication in any newspaper of general circulation

Approved,