SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S. No. 
925 
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Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
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Millions of college students enroll each semester but affordable access to quality 
textbooks and supplementary learning materials remains wanting. College students 
often spend large amounts of money to purchase textbooks but find that such books are 
little used after the semester. Books are left to be stocked in a cabinet rarely, if ever, to 
be reread or reused. This is of little to no consequence to students and families with the 
means to purchase textbooks. However, for students who come from modest family 
backgrounds, the mere thought of purchasing textbooks is a challenge to their dreams 
of higher education. 
This proposed measure seeks to give life to the provisions of our Constitution 
which -gives utmost priority to education. Under this bill, book rental distribution 
branches shall be established under a Philippine Textbook Rent Foundation. 
The 
Foundation will be tasked with the reproduction and acquisition of books needed in 
collegiate courses. This Foundation will allow students to rent instead of purchase the 
books they need for any given semester. Such a program will reduce the costs of 
college and post-graduate education. 
Furthermore, a trust fund shall be established to source the funds to be used to 
purchase and reproduce the books needed by our college students in order to ensure 
the sustainability of this program. 
In. view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this bill is earnest! sought. 


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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
925 
S. No. __ _ 
) 
) 
) 
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JUL 18 P 3 :13 
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid 
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AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING THE MECHANISMS TO ENSURE THE AVAILABILITY OF 
AFFORDABLE COLLEGE AND POST-GRADUATE TEXTBOOKS AND 
SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS FOR THE POOR, APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. 
Short Title.· - This Act shall be cited as the "Cheaper Books 
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for the Poor Act of 2013". 
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SEC. 2. 
Declaration of Policy. -
It is hereby declared the policy of the 
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State to give priority to education to foster social progress and promote holistic 
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individual development. In this regard, the State shall protect and promote the right of all 
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citizens to quality education at all levels and shall take appropriate steps to make such 
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education accessible and affordable to all. 
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Towards this end, the State shall establish a mechanism whereby various 
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stakeholders shall work together to identify ways to decrease the cost of college 
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textbooks and supplemental materials for students while protecting the academic 
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freedom of faculty members to provide high quality course materials for their students. 
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In the pursuit of this policy, the State shall institutionalize a mechanism that will 
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ensure that poor college and post-graduate students will be provided with affordable 
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textbooks and supplemental materials in order to lower the cost of higher education. 
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Herewith, the State will establish an institution wherein students can borrow books at an 
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affordable price or on a loan basis in order to lower the cost of purchasing college and 
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post-graduate textbooks and supplemental materials. 


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SEC. 3. 
Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the following terms shall 
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be construed as follows: 
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(1) 
College and Post Graduate Textbook - The term shall mean a textbook or 
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a set of textbooks used for a course in tertiary and post graduate 
education at an institution of higher education. 
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(2) 
Publisher - The term shall mean a publisher of college textbooks or 
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supplemental materials used for a course in tertiary and post graduate 
education. 
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(3) 
Supplemental Material - The term shall mean educational material 
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published or produced to accompany a college and post graduate 
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textbook. 
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SEC. 4. 
Institutionalization of the Philippine Textbook Rent Foundation 
(PTRF). - There is hereby established and institutionalized a Philippine Textbook Rent 
Foundation (PTRF), herein referred to as the "Foundation" which shall serve as an 
attached agency of the Commission on Higher Education and which shall be tasked to 
promote and ensure the availability of affordable and cheaper college and post graduate 
textbooks to poor Filipino college students. 
SEC. 5. 
Composition of the Philippine Textbook Rent Foundation 
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(PTRF). - The Foundation shall be composed of the Secretary of the Department of 
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Education (DepEd) and the Chairman of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) 
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who shall serve as the chairperson of the Foundation. 
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The Foundation shall be composed of the following members: 
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a) 
One (1) representative from the duly accredited association of private 
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b) 
c) 
d) 
e) 
schools for higher education; 
One (1) representative representing the State Colleges and Universities 
(SUCs) in the country; 
One (1) representative from the duly accredited association of textbook 
publishers and distributors; 
One (1) representative from the duly accredited association of private 
school teachers of higher education; 
One (1) representative from the non-governmental organizations (NGOs) 
involved in the advocacy of "Education For All". 
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The five (5) members of the Foundation coming from the representatives of the 
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associations of private schools for higher education, state colleges and universities 
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(SUCs), textbook publishers and distributors, private school teachers of higher 
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education, and non-government organizations shall be appointed by the President of 
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the Philippines from a list of three (3) nominees from each sector and shall serve for a 
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term of three (3) years which may be renewable for another term: Provided, That the 
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person appointed shall be of good moral character, of unquestionable integrity, and with 
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expertise and experience of a least six (6) years in their respective sector: Provided, 
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further, That in the event of a vacancy, the successor appointed to fill the same shall 
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serve only the unexpired portion of the term of the member he/she succeeded. 
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The members of the Foundation appointed from government agencies and 
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institutions may designate permanent representatives who shall have a rank not lower 
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than an assistant secretary or its equivalent to attend meetings in their absence. All 
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members of the Foundation shall receive emoluments as may be determined by the 
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Foundation, in accordance with existing budget and accounting rules and regulations. 
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SEC. 6. 
Meetings. - The Philippine Textbook Rent Foundation shall meet 
at least once a month upon a three-day notice signed by the Chairperson or as often as 
necessary upon the written request signed by two-thirds (2/3) of its members. 
The presence of a majority of the members of the Foundation shall constitute a 
quorum in order for it to conduct its business. 
SEC. 7. 
The Philippine Textbook Rent Foundation Secretariat. - The 
Philippine Textbook Rent Foundation shall establish a Secretariat that shall serve as the 
technical support staff to effectively implement the provisions of this Act. 
The Foundation Secretariat shall be headed by an Executive Director who shall 
be aPPointed by the Chairman of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). The 
Executive Director of the Foundation shall be responsible for the day-to-day operations 
of the Philippine Textbook Rent Foundation. 
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SEC. 8. 
The Powers and Functions of the Philippine Textbook Rent 
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Foundation. -
The Philippine Textbook Rent Foundation shall have perpetual 
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succession and shall have all legal powers appertaining to a juridical person, particularly 
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the following powers: 
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a) 
to sue and be sued; 
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b) 
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to enter into contracts; 
to hold real and personal property as may be necessary for corporate 
purposes; 
to solicit and receive public and private donations and contributions for 
purposes of performing their mandated functions; 
to accept and receive real and personal property by gift, devise or 
bequest; 
to levy and charge affordable and reasonable fees from the textbooks and 
supplemental materials that they lease or rent to poor college and post-
graduate students; 
to adopt a seal, and to alter the same at pleasure; 
to have offices and conduct its affairs in the Metro Manila area and other 
parts in the country; 
to make and adopt by-laws, rules and regulations not inconsistent with this 
Act and the laws of the Philippines; 
to promote the enforcement of this Act, as well as the other applicable 
national legislations, rules, regulations, and standards; 
to establish, initiate and coordinate multi-sectoral action plans at the 
regional and local government unit level to mainstream the advocacy of 
promoting the accessibility of cheaper books to the students; 
to coordinate the implementation and dissemination of information on the 
Philippine Textbook Rent Foundation website, which shall created 
pursuant to this Act, so that the program on cheaper books will be made 
accessible to the various parts of the country; 
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m) 
to receive donations and grants from international funding institutions, 
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foundations, and multilateral and bilateral foreign donor agencies involved 
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in the promotion and advocacy of "Education For All"; 
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n) 
to provide a forum and avenue for exchange of information, exchange 
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p) 
programs, and sharing of best practices on issues relating to the provision 
of cheaper textbooks to students; 
to manage and operate the various branches that will be established in the 
different local government units in the country in order to make cheaper 
textbooks and supplementary materials accessible to poor college and 
post-graduate students in the country; 
to establish a databank which will provide detailed information on the 
available textbooks for college students in the country; and 
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q) 
to hire and avail of the services of technical experts, consultants and staff 
relevant fields of discipline for the effective implementation of its mandated 
duties and functions. 
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The seal and emblem of the Philippine Textbook Rent Foundation shall be kept 
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in its national Office. 
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SEC. 9. 
Information, Education and Communication (IEC). -
The 
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Philippine Textbook Rent Foundation, in coordination with the Commission on Higher 
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Education (CHED) and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), shall conduct a 
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nationwide information, education and communication (IEC) campaign to inform tHe 
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general public how to avail of the services and benefits offered by the Foundation. 
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SEC. 10. 
Creation of a National Website. - The Philippine Textbook Rent 
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Foundation, in coordination with the various stakeholders, is hereby mandated to 
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establish a national website its services publicly accessible. The Website shall highlight 
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the various packages and services being offered by the Foundation and provide the list 
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of accredited branches and distributors of cheaper books so that prospective borrowers 
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can register at the website and avail of the Foundation's services. 
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The Philippine Textbook Rent Foundation Website shall also incorporate a 
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market information system which shall be installed for the use and benefit of all the 
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prospective borrowers of college and post-graduate books all over the country. 
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SEC. 11. 
On-Line Textbooks. -
Subject to the protection of intellectual 
property rights, the Philippine Textbook Rent Foundation shall study the viability and 
feasibility of uploading textbook content on its website so that students can have online 
access to textbooks, should such access be more convenient. 
Towards this end, the Philippine Textbook Rent Foundation shall make a 
recommendation to Congress, within three (3) years from the date of the effectivity of 
this Act, on the needed legislative reforms to make textbooks easily accessible online to 
students from lower income families. 
SEC. 12. 
The Philippine Textbook Rent Foundation Trust Fund. - There 
is hereby established a Philippine Textbook Rent Foundation Trust Fund, hereinafter 
referred to as the "Foundation Trust Fund", envisioned to exclusively support the 
promotion and dissemination of accessible and affordable college and post-graduate 
books all over the country. 
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The contribution to the Foundation Trust Fund shall be sourced from the 
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following: 
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a) 
b) 
c) 
An amount of One Hundred Million pesos (Php100,000,000.00) shall be 
allotted annually in the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA) for a 
period of five (5) years starting from the enactment of this Act; 
An allocation of at least 25% of the net income of international airports and 
seaports, to be taken from the share of the National Government under 
Republic Act No. 7656; and 
An amount of Fifty Million pesos (Php50,OOO,OOO.OO) annually which shall 
be taken from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO). 
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Government Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCCs) are hereby 
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authorized to give grants to the Fund at their discretion; 
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The contributions to the Fund shall be exempt from donor's tax and the shall be 
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considered as allowable deductions from the donor's gross income, in accordance with 
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the provisions of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended. 
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The Philippine Textbook Rent Foundation shall be the administrator of the Fund. 
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For the sound and judicious management of the Fund, the Foundation shall appoint a 
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government financial institution, with sound track record on fund management, as 
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portfOlio manager of the Fund, subject to guidelines promulgated by the Foundation. 
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The Foundation shall prepare the implementing guidelines and decision-making 
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mechanisms, subject to the following conditions: 
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a) 
b) 
No part of the seed capital of the Fund, including earnings thereof, shall 
be used to underwrite overhead expenses for administration, and 
There shall be an external auditor to perform an annual audit of the Fund's 
performance. 
SEC. 13. 
Authority to Utilize Funds. -
The Philippine Textbook Rent 
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Foundation is hereby given the power to utilize its funds derived from dues, 
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assessments, donations, contributions, fees charged for services rendered, and such 
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other income from book rentals. 
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SEC. 14. 
Appropriation. -
The amount necessary to implement the 
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provisions of this Act shall be included and incorporated in the annual general 
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appropriations of the various agencies of the government involved in the implementation 
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of the provisions of this Act. 
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SEC. 15. 
Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). - Within six (6) 
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months from the date of effectivity of this Act, the Department of Education (DepEd) 
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shall promulgate such necessary implementing rules and regulations to implement the 
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provisions of this Act. 
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SEC. 16. 
Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and 
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regulations, or parts thereof not consistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
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repealed or modified accordingly. 
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SEC. 17. 
Separability Clause. - If any provision or part of this Actshall be 
held unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions of this Act which are not affected 
thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
SEC. 18. 
Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
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from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers 
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of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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