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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 14^th Congress have approved R. A. 9521 - An Act Creating 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.

Salient Points of R.A. 9521

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)

DATE	DETAILS
12^th Congress
23/07/2003	Deputy Speaker Raul M. Gonzalez filed HB 6226
03/08/2003	Senate Majority Floor Leader Loren Legarda filed SB 2612
	135 signatures generated at the Phil. Normal University for the Trust Fund during a conference where the NBDB Chair was a guest speaker.
13^th 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 47^th Manila International Book Fair held at the World Trade Center, Pasay City
	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.
14^th 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 Peter Cayetano 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).