FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
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INTRODUCED BY SENATOR MANNY VILLAR 
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 book titles 
compared to our neighbors in Southeast Asia. Furthermore, authors based in the 
National Capital Region, where most of the big publishers are also based, write 
most of the local books. 
There are surely many talented authors and writers in other regions of the 
other country. They can put in writing their knowledge and local histories. Some 
of them can write scientific and technical books that fit their local contexts, while 
others can translate classis works into the local languages. Some authors have 
begun manuscripts or research works that are taking too long to finish because 
they are preoccupied with earning a living for themselves and their loved ones. 
This proposed measure is an attempt at helping both veteran and 
promising authors in the regions to produce or finish manuscripts for publications 
in the fields of science and technology, local history, and in subject areas 
wherein the 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 they can concentrate full time on their 
manuscripts or research works for publication. 
If approved, the interest of this Trust Fund would be able to finance 
annually at least 65 (65) grants, which would be distributed equitably among 
regions. This measure would bring us closer to the day every region and 
province has enough good authors who get published, and every region has 
dynamic book trade with the other regions. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate approval of this bill is earnestly 
sought. 


INTRODUCED BY SENATOR MANNY VILLAR 
AN ACT 
CREATING A NATIONAL BOOK DEVELOPMENT TRUST FUND 
TO SUPPORT FILIPINO AUTHORSHIP 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
f th 
SECTION 1. Title. This Acts shall be known as the "National Book 
Development Trust Fund Act. " 
SECTION 2. Statement of Policy. It is the policy of the State to promote 
the continuing development of the book industry in all regions of the country, as 
stated in the 1995 Book Publishing Industry Development (RA 8047). Since 
authorship is one of the major components of book publishing, the National Book 
Policy oblige the State to create and excellent environment for the promotion of 
Filipino authorship and other creative activities in book development. 
SECTION 3. The National Book Development Trust Fund. A National 
Book Development Trust 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. 
(a) The contribution of the Fund shall be sourced from the following: 
(1) The amount of fifty million pesos (50,000,000.00) shall be taken 
from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation 
(PAGCOR) fund at Five million pesos (P5,000,000.00) per month 
for ten (1 0) months. 
(2) Another amount of fifty million pesos (P50,000,000.00) shall be 
taken from the Philippine Charity Sweepstake Office (PCSO) at five 
million pesos (P5,000,000.00) per month for ten (IO) months. 
(b) 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. 
(c) The grants can be awarded only after one (1) year from the organization 
of the Fund, and the grants shall be awarded equitable among regions. 


(d) Government corporations are hereby authorized to give grants to the Fund 
at their discretion, but not to exceed fifteen percent (15%) of unimpaired 
surplus. 
(e) The private portion of the fund shall be raised from donations and other 
conveyances including funds, materials, property and services, by 
gratuitous title. 
(9 Contributions to the Fund shall be deductible from income tax purposes in 
accordance with the provision of Section 29 (h) (a) of the National Internal 
Revenue Code. 
(9) The National Book Development Board (NBDB) shall be the administrator 
(h) 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 guidelines promulgated by the NBDB. 
(i) The NBDB shall prepare the implementing guidelines and decision-making 
mechanisms, subject to the following: 
(1) Unless otherwise stipulated by the private donor, only the earnings 
of private contributions shall be used for grants. 
(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 
Fund’s performance. 
(4) The Fund shall be exempt from pre-audit by the C.ommission on 
Audit. 
of the Fund. 
SECTION 4. Separability Clause. Any portion or provision of this Act that 
may be declared unconstitutional shall not have the effect of nullifying other 
portions or provisions thereof as long as such remaining portions or provisions 
can still subsist and be given effect in the entirety. 
SECTION 5. Saving Clause. All laws, rules, regulations, other issuances 
or parts which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby replaced or modified 
accordingly. 
SECTION 6. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect immediately upon its 
approval. 
APPROVED,