NBDB Book Club and Asia Pacific College students read Dean Francis Alfar's Salamanca
The NBDB Book Club will be joining World Literature students of Asia Pacific College as they discuss Dean Francis Alfar's fantasy novel Salamanca, Grand Prize winner of the Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature.
Site Last Modified:Wednesday 1 September 2010, 1:49
PGMA Signs Trust Fund Law for Philippine Authors
Now, local
authors, publishers and the reading public have more cause to celebrate.
President
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has signed into law last 5 March 2009 the National Book Development
Trust Fund Act after both Houses of the 14th Congress have approved
R. A. 9521 - An ActCreating a National Book Development Trust Fund To
Support Philippine Authorship. A milestone legislation in local book
development authored by Iloilo City Rep. Raul T. Gonzalez Jr., Cagayan de Oro
Rep. Rufus Rodriguez and co-authored by several members of the House as well as
Senators Edgardo Angara, Allan Peter Cayetano, and Jinggoy Estrada, this law
will provide authors from all regions of the country a reasonable amount to
complete their manuscripts for publication.
The NBDB
Chairman, Dr. Dennis T. Gonzalez, says: “this will benefit veteran and
promising authors working or researching on topics in which local books are
either few or non-existent.” There are many subject areas in which local books
are insufficient in number and variety, and most of the books in libraries and
bookstores are foreign publications.
According to
data gathered by the NBDB, the United Kingdom exported £2.23 million (around Php 155 million)
worth of books to the Philippines in 2007. The United States exported US$18.89 million worth of books to this country in the same year. US book
export to the Philippines in 2008 (US$19.20M) is bigger than its book
exports to New
Zealand
(US$12M), Malaysia (US$9.95M), Thailand (US$10.10M), Taiwan (US$15.06M) and Hong Kong (US$18.88M).
With its
enactment into law, the National Book Development Trust Fund of Php 150 million
will be established within a period of one year, and the interest from the Fund
will provide annually at least fifty (50) grants to authors in all regions in
order to spur creativity and support the completion of local manuscripts or
research works for publication.
The NBDB shall
be the administrator of the Fund and shall appoint a government financial
institution as portfolio manager, subject to guidelines and decision-making
mechanisms promulgated by the NBDB.
The Trust Fund
will assist authors to produce books especially on science and technology, local
history, indigenous children’s stories, and translations of classic works into
local languages, among others. “This will motivate and inspire veteran and
budding authors to produce new titles or complete their manuscripts,” adds Dr.
Gonzalez, who is also Associate Dean of the Ateneo School of Government.
Policy: It is the policy of the State to promote the continuing
development of the book publishing industry in all regions of the country as
embodied in Republic Act No. 8047 or the "Book Publishing Industry
Development Act."
Since authorship is one of the
major components of book publishing, the national book policy obliges the State
to create a dynamic and conducive environment for the promotion of Filipino
authorship and other creative activities in book development.
A National Book Development Trust
Fund is 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.
Fund Sources:
1. The amount of fifty million
pesos (P50,000,000.00) shall be allotted in the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA) for the next
five (5) years starting from the enactment of this law;
2. The amount of
fifty million pesos (P50,000,000.00) from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming
Corporation (PAGCOR) fund at five million pesos (P5,000,000.00) per month for
ten (IO) months;
3. Another fifty
million pesos (P50,000,000.00) from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) at five million
pesos (P5,000,000.00) per month for ten (10 ) months.
Grants Program Guidelines:
1. Only interests drawn from the fund sources shall be used;
2. Grants will be awarded after one year and distributed equitably in
the regions;
3. Government corporations are authorized to give grants to the fund at
their discretion;
4. Contributions to the Fund shall be exempt from the donor's tax and
the same shall be considered as allowable deductions from the gross income of
the donor, in accordance with the provisions of the National Internal Revenue
Code of 1997, as amended;
5. 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;
6. The NBDB in coordination with the national and local government
units (LGUs) shall undertake activities to inform, promote and develop Filipino
authorship;
7. The NBDB may provide incentives to LGUs such as, but not limited to,
matching the funds being provided by the LGUs, in activities that reflect their
partnership towards attaining the objectives of this Act.
Effectivity. -This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
its publication in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general
circulation in the Philippines.
This is consistent with other relevant policies:
Section 2 of Republic Act 8047
recognized that “the book publishing industry has a significant role in
national development…considering that books are the most effective and
economical tools for achieving educational growth, for imparting information
and for recording, preserving, and disseminating the nation’s heritage;
The same law declares as a policy
of the State to promote the continuing development of the book publishing
industry, with the active participation of the private sector, to ensure the
adequate supply of affordable, quality-produced books not only for the domestic
but also the export market;
Letter j, Section 6, Rule IV of
the Rules and Regulations Implementing R.A. 8047 provides for the Governing
Board the power and function to “receive donations, grants, levies, devices,
and similar acquisitions which shall form a trust fund of the Board to
accomplish its development plans on book publishing. Any intended disbursement
from the trust fund must be covered by a duly approved Board resolution;
General Policy #1 of the National
Book Policy, promulgated and adopted on 4 July 1999 through Executive Order No. 119, provides that
“the State shall create the best condition for the promotion of Filipino
authorship and other creative activities in book development;”
Implementing Policy 1.1 and 1.9
of the National Book Policy provide that “new writers/authors shall be
developed…with preferential attention to subject areas wherein there is
scarcity or no locally-authored publications” and “a book development fund for
authors and other personnel in the book publishing industry shall be
established, respectively;
Expected Outcomes and Externalities: A National Book Development
Trust Fund to support Filipino authorship may solve the following:
1. The problem of low levels of output in book production in the Philippines. This
is a concern that has been raised by government policy-makers and stakeholders
in the industry (Pacheco, 1996:2,13; UNESCO, 1995; Miranda, 1987:5;Aprieto,
1981:3-4; Albert, et al., 1966:2). The estimates made on the number of
titles we produced yearly pales in comparison with other countries.
This will increase the number of titles produced annually especially on local
history, science and technology, indigenous children’s stories, and
translations of classic works into local languages, among others.
2. The lack of incentives for authors and creative artists caused by
the limited number of research grants and fellowships which force authors to
move to more financially rewarding endeavors.
This will
motivate and inspire veteran as well as budding authors and book writers to
write books in Filipino, English and in other local languages.
3. The lack of trained and
competent authors, editors, designers, graphic artists and production
specialists.
This will
create more training and development activities to encourage authors and the
creative members of the industry to come out with bigger quality outputs and
create more trained and competent personnel.
4. Minimal number of works written
in any of the eight major local languages or dialects viz. Cebuano, Hiligaynon
(Ilonggo), Bikol, Kapampangan, Ilokano, Waray, Tagalog, and Pangasinan.
This will
eventually spur a vibrant book trade in the regions in the future.
Chronology of Events on the Legislative Drive for a National Book Development Trust Fund (2003-2009)
135
signatures generated at the Phil.NormalUniversity for the Trust Fund during a conference where the
NBDB Chair was a guest speaker.
13th
Congress
20/07/2004
Cong.
Raul T. Gonzalez Jr. filed HB 1531
03/08/2004
HB
1531 on First Reading
11/10/2005
HB
1531 on Second Reading authored by Gonzalez, Reyes (E), Lapus, Villafuerte,
Carmona, Barinaga, Dominguez, Dy (C.), Gullas, Macarambon, Chungalao, Plaza,
Joaquin, Acosta, Suplico, Yapha and Banaag
30/06/ 2004
SB
78, authored by Senator Luisa P. Ejercito, was filed
28/07/2004
read
on first reading at the Senate
11/08/2005
Co-authored
by Senator Edgardo Angara
21/02/2006
House
approved HB 1531on Third Reading
01/03/2006
House
version transmitted to Senate
17/03/2006
Forum-consultation
on Trust fund for comment and to propose possible rules on the implementation
of HB 1531 and SB 78 is held at NBDB
17/03/2006
The Governing Board passed resolution #4 asking the Senators
to act promptly to expedite the passing of the National Book Development
Trust Fund into law. The Board further resolved to direct the Secretariat to
include their recommendations in the plan i.e. to write to all the book industry stakeholders to send their
respective letters or position papers expressing support of said bill and to
conduct informal lobbying with the Senators.
7/04/2006
National Book Development Trust fund Task Force
composed by NBDB employees – Dir. Castillo, Rene Catangay, Alvin Buenaventura,
Bong Versoza, Jun Briola and Ed
Sabalvoro, was convened.
Visits were made to the Office of Senator Flavier,
Education Committee Chair, by NBDB Task Force.
31/08/2006 – 03 /09/2006.
NBDB
distributed brochures on the Trust Fund at the NBDB Booth during the 47th
Manila International Book Fair held at the WorldTradeCenter, PasayCity
NBDB
established ties with Read or Die, Inc., a local book club, to campaign for
the passage of the Trust Fund at the Senate. They began to post trust fund
campaign contents on their website on October 2006 and discuss it among their
members.
24/01/2007
Page
C-1 of Manila Bulletin article “Read to Live” mentions NBDB signature drive
for National Book Development Trust Fund
3-4/02/2007
Signature Drive on the Book Trust Fund at the Read
or Die Convention, Hotel Intercon, Makati
Committee
posted the Alert Action on the Trust Fund Bill online at the NBDB website
hoping for more support. Campaign resources were even made available such as
sample letters, email addresses and other contact information of Senators.
14th
Congress
26/07/2007
Cong.
Raul T. Gonzalez Jr. filed HB 1401
08/08/2007
Cong.
Rufus B. Rodriguez filed HB 1948
02/07/2008
NBDB
Chair sends letter to Committee Chair Alan Peter Cayetano to co-author and to
convene Education Committee and hold a hearing on the Trust Fund Bill.
03/06/2008
Approved
by the House on second reading HB 04213 filed by Cong. Raul T. Gonzalez Jr.
with the following co-authors – Rufus RODRIGUEZ,
Del DE GUZMAN, Edcel LAGMAN, Laarni CAYETANO,Edgardo
CHATTO, Isabbelle CLIMACO, Carlos PADILLA, Crispin REMULLA, Thelma ALMARIO,
Carmencita REYES, Marcelino TEODORO, Rodolfo VALENCIA, Liza MAZA, Trinidad
APOSTOL, Mariano PIAMONTE, Mark Llandro MENDOZA, Isidro UNGAB, Florencio
GARAY, Arturo ROBES, Francisco MATUGAS, Salvador ESCUDERO, Eufrocino CODILLA (with NBDB delegation led by Chair Dennis Gonzalez
and joined by Exec. Dir. Atty. Andrea Pasion Flores, Dep. Exec. Dir. Frances
Jean Sarmiento, and Ed Sabalvoro)
11/06/2008
Approved
by the House (by 198 votes ) on third reading
17/06/2008
Transmitted
to the Senate/received by the Senate
11/06/2008
Senate’s
Committee Report 78 submitted recommending approval and substituting SB nos
619, 1720 and 2403, with Senator Jinggoy Estrada, Edgardo J. Angara, Manny
Villar and Allan Peter S. Cayetano as Authors
22/09/2008
Sen.
Lito Lapid is made co-author of SB 2409
08/10/2008
NBDB
Secretariat conferred with Senator Alan PeterCayetano and staff for the Senate’s Education Committee Hearing on
Trust Fund
09/10/2008
Sponsorship
Speech of Senator Cayatano; SB 2409 approved on Second Reading w/o amendments; Senator Zubiri made co-author;
10/11/2008
SB
2409 is approved on Third Reading in the Senate
13/11/2008
SB
2409 Sent to the House of Representatives requesting concurrence;
19/01/2009
House
of Representatives adopted SBN-2409 as an amendment to HBN-4213;
05/02/2009
Enrolled
copies of the consolidated version of SBN-2409 and HBN-4213, sent to the
House of Representatives for the signature of the Speaker and the Secretary
General;
16/02/2009
Enrolled
copies of the consolidated version of SBN-2409 and HBN-4213, sent to the
Office of the President of the Philippines, for the signature and approval of President
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo;
NBDB co-organizes Publishing in Cyberspace
The NBDB, in partnership with the Book Development Association of the Philippines (BDAP), the University of the Philippines, and the University of the Philippines Press,
conducted a cutting-edge seminar on "Publishing in Cyberspace" recently at
the Pulungang Claro M. Recto Hall, Bulwagang Rizal of the UP College of Arts
and Letters in UP Diliman.
The event, which was attended mainly by publishers, writers, booksellers, and other book industry stakeholders, focused on what the future holds for book publishing in and how online marketing can be used to maximize sales. Speakers included Cambridge University Press's Christopher Boughton and Yehey! Philippines' Miguel Lim. The event was a good example of collaboration by academe and industry, reflecting both UP’s commitment to strengthening academic publishing in the Philippines, and the commitment of NBDB and BDAP to creating a world-class and globally competitive Philippine book publishing industry.
NBDB launches books
The NBDB recenly launched three landmark publications that will help put the Philippines in the world map of the book industry.
Launched last January 28 at the Filipinas Heritage Library were the Catalogue
of Award-Winning Philippine Titles, Directory of Book Industry Stakeholders,
and Train of Thought (poems from Tulaan
sa Tren).