REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES y
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES zi
Quezon City, Metro Manila “VED

23 JUL 2014
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bil No, 4754

Introduced by Kabataan Party-list Representative Terry L. Ridon

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Even with the advent of the Internet, textbooks remain to be the main vehicle of
learning in most of our educational institutions, especially in public basic education schools.
Unfortunately, our public schools still suffer from a severe shortage in textbooks. The ideal
textbook to student ratio should be 1:1, but at present, a single textbook is still shared by 3
students (1:3).

The Philippine government — both the Executive and the Legislative branches — have
strived to close this textbook shortage in our public basic education institutions by annually
allocating billions of pesos for textbooks and instructional materials. Yet due to compounded
factors, including the recent change in the curriculum to the K-12 Program and the onslaught
of calamities such as Supertyphoon Yolanda, such actions have yielded little result in
improving the textbook-to-student ratio. Even our public school libraries are greatly lacking,
with shelves either remaining empty for years, or with the school collection filled with outdated
books,

Due to lack of reading materials, the habit of reading is not instilled in the Filipino youth
at an early age. There is indeed a need, not only to provide adequate instructional materials
but also to create programs that would instill and regain the Filipino student's interest in
reading books. These programs should be innovative and efficient, and should involve various
sectors of our country.

Institutionalizing a National Book Drive program is one effective way of gathering books
that could alleviate the severe shortage in reading materials and textbooks in schools, and at
the same time encourage public participation. Knowledge that we derive from books are after
all meant to be shared and not to be treated as private goods. Aside from highlighting the
importance of reading, a nationally-coordinated book drive will help boost public participation,
especially of the youth, in socio-civic endeavors meant to raise a generation of readers.

Thus, this bill seeks to declare the fourth week of March of every year as the "National
Book Drive Week’ in order to engage school, organizations and various sectors in the
community service through the book drives. The 4" week of March was chosen because of its
ideal time to conduct the program since the last week of class is conducted during this period.

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Students would no longer utilize their textbooks and reference or reading materials at this point
of the year.

In light of the foregoing, we refile this bill first proposed by my predecessor, former
Kabataan Rep. Raymond Palatino. The passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

Refresentative, Kabataan Party-list


REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
‘Quezon City, Metro Manila

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No._4754_

Introduced by Kabataan Party-list Representative Terry L. Ridon

ANACT
DECLARING THE FOURTH WEEK OF MARCH OF EVERY YEAR AS NATIONAL,
BOOK DRIVE WEEK

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. -This act shall be known as the "National Book Drive Week Act of
2014”

SECTION 2. Declaration of policy. - The State recognizes and supports all endeavours and
ventures to promote reading considering that books are instrumental in the citizen's
political, social and cultural development. Books are the most effective and economical
tools for achieving educational growth, for imparting information and for recording,
preserving and disseminating the nation’s cultural heritage.

SECTION 3. Definition of terms. - For purposes of
construed as follows:

is Act, the terms below shall be

‘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;

b, Textbook.- As defined by the Republic Act 8047, a book which is an exposition of
accepted principles in one (1) subject, intended primarily as a basis for instruction ina
classroom or pupil-book-teacher situation;

¢. Book Drive. ~ collection, sorting and redistribution of new or used books intended for
donation;

SECTION 4. National Book Drive Week. - The fourth week of March of every year shall be
declared as the National Book Drive Week. All educational Institutions, in elementary,
secondary, and tertiary levels, the Sangguniang Kabataan, and local government units are
mandated to provide full support and assistance to the events and activities to be conducted
in recognition of the National Book Week Drive. The books and other reading materials that
would be collected from various book drive efforts shall go to the public learning institutions


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that have textbook shortages and public libraries in poverty stricken and marginalized areas
and communities,

SECTION §. Coordination mechanism. ~ To ensure the effectivity and sustained inter-
agency and multisectoral coordination, the National Book Development Board shall serve as
the main coordinating agency together with the National Library, Department of Education,
Commission on Higher Education and the local government units as auxiliaries for the
implementation of this Act.

SECTION 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations, ~ The National Book Development
Board, in coordination with the Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education,
National Library, Department of Interior and Local Government and non-government
organizations shall formulate and issue the necessary rules and regulations for the
implementation of this Act.

SECTION 7. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the implementation of this Act shall
be incorporated in the Annual General Appropriations Act.

SECTION 8. Repealing Clause, - All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, issuance,
and rules and regulations, or part thereof, inconsistent with this act are hereby repealed.

SECTION 9. Separabilty Clause. — If any section or provision of his Act shall be declared
unconstitutional, the remaining sections and provisions shall not be affected thereby.

SECTION 10. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after the
completion of its publication in the official gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,