NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez 
House Bill No.  _____ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
 Section 20 of Article II of the 1987 Constitution mandates that:  “The State 
recognizes the indispensable role of the private sector, encourages private enterprises, and 
provides incentives to needed investments.” 
Consistent with the above quoted policy, there is an imperative need to outline said 
incentives in order to ensure the affordability, accessibility and quality of the textbooks and 
related educational materials as well as to be transparent in all transactions concerning the 
same. 
There is no doubt that until today, there are no clear guidelines or incentives on book 
trade transactions.  Said lack of clear guidelines is manifested in the textbook scandal which 
hit the media brought about the Maslog incident.  Based on news report, “under the table 
considerations and/or exorbitant discounts,” serve as the criteria for the purchase of books, 
textbooks and other reading materials instead of the merits and quality thereof. 
Consistent with the NBP, this bill seeks to adopt the Retail Price Maintenance and 
Uniform Discounting Scheme.  It is hoped that with the enactment of the bill, the government 
could ensure for our children affordable, accessible and quality-laden textbooks and related 
educational materials. 
The bill provides for a uniform discount scheme of not lower than ten (10) percent but 
not more than twenty-five (25) percent to bookstores or private educational institutions. 
Records show that Japan, South Korea, Germany and other progressive countries 
have been adopting the Retail Price Maintenance and Uniform Discounting Scheme.  Under 
the said scheme the publisher shall maintain the retail prices of their products everywhere 
while giving a uniform discount to bookstores. 
Considering that school year 2007-2008 has already started and parents have been 
purchasing books, regulation on the discounting scheme is necessary if not imperative for 
the benefits of the students and their parents. 
Finally, this legislation would address the shortage of books and other instrumental 
materials every school year. 
In view of the foregoing immediate enactment of the bill is earnestly sought. 
 RUFUS B. RODRIGUEZ 
December 13, 2022
1:32PM
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NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez 
House Bill No.  _____ 
AN ACT 
ADOPTING A RETAIL PRICE MAINTENANCE AND UNIFORM DISCOUNTING SCHEME 
IN BOOK TRADE WITH THE END VIEW OF ENSURING AFFORDABLE, ACCESSIBLE 
AND 
QUALITY-LADEN 
TEXTBOOKS 
AND 
OTHER 
RELATED 
EDUCATIONAL 
MATERIALS TO BE USED BY PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representative of the Philippines Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1.  This Act shall be known as the “Retail Price Maintenance and Uniform 
Discounting Act”. 
SEC. 2.  It is declared a policy of the State to support the development of the book 
publishing industry in all regions of the country and to provide fiscal and non-fiscal incentives 
to book publishing policy. 
SEC. 3.  In order to encourage the establishment of bookstores that shall be situated outside 
the cities and provincial capitals, such bookstores, in such localities shall be registered with 
the duly organized publishing association and accredited by the National Book Development 
Board (NBDB). 
Complying with the said criteria, said bookstores shall be entitled to the following: 
a.
A six-year tax holiday from the commencement of commercial operations for
upstart firms and a four-year tax holiday for established firms;
b.
Deductions from taxable income for five years of 50% of the wages
corresponding to the increment in the number of direct labor hired.
c.
Low interest loans with participating banks;
d.
Availment of the retail price and uniform discounting scheme.
SEC.  4.  There is hereby adopted a retail price maintenance and uniform discounting 
scheme in the procurement of textbooks and related educational materials used in private 
and public schools.  The uniform discount scheme shall be not lower than ten (10%) percent 
but not more than twenty-five (25%) percent to be given by the publishers only to bookstores 
accredited and registered with the duly organized publishing association and registered with 
the NBDB irrespective of their location. 
SEC.  5.  The uniform discount scheme of not lower than ten (10%) percent but not higher 
than twenty-five (25%) percent shall also be given by publishing association or its 
educational agent or material consultant to private educational institutions, schools’ 
bookstores or to private book coordinators or subject coordinators.  Likewise, it is prohibited 
to provide such other consideration aside from the discount such as loan facilities, motor 
vehicles, travel abroad, accommodation and the likes. 
SEC.  6.  A declared retail price shall be forwarded by the duly organized and accredited 
publishing association to the NBDB and be observed nationwide.  Said price can only be 
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altered or changed upon a formal pronouncement by the publisher concerned and that the 
same must be forwarded to the NBDB to have efficacy. 
 
SEC.  7.  Any persons who violate any provisions of this Act shall in addition to the penalties 
imposed under R.A. No. 8047 and the Executive Order adopting the National Book Policy 
shall suffer the imprisonment of four (4) years to six (6) years and a fine of Two Million (P 
2M) Pesos.  In case of juridical person, the president, chief executive officer or chief 
operating officer shall be held liable. 
 
SEC.  8.  The NBDB in consultation with the Department of Education (DepED), and the 
other appropriate agencies from the government sectors with the active participation of the 
private sector shall promulgate the implementing rules and regulations within sixty (60) days 
from the enactment of this Act.  A copy of such guidelines, rules and regulations shall be 
furnished to the Congress of the Philippines through the Committee on Education, Culture 
and Arts of both houses. 
 
SEC.  9.  If any provision of this Act or the application of such provision to any person or 
circumstances is declared unconstitutional, the remainder of the Act or the application of 
such provision to other provision, to other person, entity or circumstances shall not be 
affected by such declaration. 
 
SEC.  10.  All laws, decrees, rules and regulations and other administrative issuances or 
circulars or provisions therefore which are contrary to or inconsistent herewith are hereby 
repealed or modified accordingly. 
 
SEC.  11.  This Act shall take effect fifty (15) days from the date of its publication in the 
Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation. 
 
 
Approved,