FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
7 
LIUL -3 
i: I :!I 
13 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
S E N A T E  
Senate Bill No. 619 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Books are instrumental in the citizenry's intellectual, technical, and cultural 
development. Books are the most effective and economical tools for achieving 
educational growth, imparting information, and recording, preserving and 
disseminating the nation's cultural heritage. 
Most of the books in our libraries and bookstores are not local 
publications. The Philippines has the lowest output in terms of books titles 
compared to our neighbors in Southeast Asia. Furthermore, most of the local 
books are written by authors based in the National Capital Region, where most of 
the big publishers are also based. 
This proposed measure is an attempt at helping both veteran and 
promising authors in the regions to produce or finish manuscripts for publication 
in the fields of science and technology, local history, and in subject areas 
wherein local books are either few or non-existent. This bill seeks to create a 
National Book Development Trust Fund from which grants can be offered to 
deserving authors in the regions so that they can concentrate full time working on 
their manuscripts or research works for publications. 
The early passage of this proposed measure is highly recommended. 
J fid 
GO EJE CITOESTRADA 
-Senator 


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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
) 
7 ,IUL -3 
A? :m 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
CREATING A NATIONAL BOOK DEVELOPMENT TRUST FUND TO 
SUPPORT FILIPINO AUTHORSHIP 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of fhe Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "National Book 
Development Trust Fund Act. 
SEC 2. Declarafion of Policy. - It is hereby declared as a policy of the 
State to promote the continuing development of the book publishing industry in 
all regions of the country, as states in Republic Act 8047, otherwise known as the 
Book Publishing Industry Act of 1995. Since authorship is one of the major 
components of book publishing, the State shall create an excellent environment 
for the promotion of Filipino authorship and other creative activities in book 
development. 
SEC 3. The National Book Development Trust Fund. - A National Book 
Development Trust Fund, hereinafter referred to as "Fund", is hereby established 
exclusively for the support and promotion of Filipino authorship especially in 
science and technology and in subject areas wherein locally authored books are 
either few or non-existent. 
The contribution of the Fund shall be sourced from the following: 
(1) The amount of Fifty Million Pesos (P50,000,000.00) shall be taken 
from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) 
fund at Five Million Pesos (P5,000,000.00) per month for ten (IO) 
months; 
(2) Another Fifty Million Pesos (P50,000,000.00) shall be taken from the 
Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) at Five Million Pesos 
(P5,000,000.00) per month for ten (IO) months. 
Only the interest drawn from the Fund shall be awarded as grants to 
promote Filipino authorship and to support the completion of local manuscripts or 
research works for publication. 


The grants can be awarded only after one (I) 
year from the organization 
of the Fund, and the grants shall be awarded equitably among the regions. 
Government corporations are hereby authorized to give grants to the Fund 
at their discretion, but not to exceed fifteen percent (15%) of their unimpaired 
surplus. 
The private portion of the Fund shall be raised from donations and other 
conveyances including funds, materials, properties and services, by gratuitous 
title. 
Contributions to the Fund shall be deductible for income tax purposes in 
accordance with the provision of Section 29 (h)(A) of the National Internal 
Revenue Code. 
SEC 4. Management of the National Book Development Trust Fund. - 
The National Book Development Board (NBDB) shall be the administrator of the 
Fund. 
For the sound and judicious management of the Fund, the NBDB shall 
appoint a government financial institution as portfolio manager of the Fund, 
subject to the guidelines promulgated by the NBDB. 
mechanisms, subject to the following: 
The NBDB shall prepare the implementing guidelines and decision-making 
(1) unless otherwise stipulated by the private donor, only earnings of 
(2) no part of the seed capital of the Fund, including earnings thereof, 
shall be used to underwrite overhead expenses for administration; 
(3) there shall be an external auditor to perform an annual audit of the 
(4) the Fund shall be exempt from pre-audit by the Commission on Audit. 
private contributions shall be used for grants; 
Fund's performance; and, 
SEC 5. Separabilify Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation 
contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, 
modified, or amended accordingly. 
SEC 6. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation 
contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, 
modified or amended accordingly 
SEC 7. Effecfivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,