hb 4113- national book drive week

8/7/2019 HB 4113- National Book Drive Week

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REPUBLIC OF TILE PHILIPPINESHOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Quezon City, Metro Manila

02 FES ?911f'lt . flyFIFTEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Session

House Bill No. 4113

Introduced by Kabataan Partylist Rep. Raymond V. Palatino, SayanMuna Partylist Reps Teodoro A. Casino and Neri J. Colmenares,

Gabriela Women's Party Reps. Luzviminda C. Ilagan and EmerenclanaA. De Jesus, Anakpawis Partylist Rep. Rafael V. Mariano and ACT

Teachers' Partylist Rep. Antonio L. Tinto

EXPLANATORY NOTE

A perennial problem that has continually hounded our educational system is theshortage of textbooks for our public school students. The ideal book to student ratio of I:1has yet to be achieved. Textbooks on Mathematics and Filipino remain inadequate as thecurrent ratio stands at 1:3. This poses a serious problem in our public school system as thetextbook remains to be the single most important learning tool inside the classroom.

Meanwhile, our already few public libraries continue to suffer from too many emptyspaces and empty shelves. The collection of books in our public libraries is also in dire needof updating. Given the inadequate funding for Our public libraries (perhaps the onlyinstitution whose main purpose is to provide the public with free access to books and otherliteraturel, children who cannot afford their own reading materials and who turn to thesepublic libraries are depraved of the chance to read even a classic such as Hugo's LaMiserables or an important historical text in our history like Rtzal s Noli Me Tangere.

The most important recourse in addressing this costs is for the government toprovide the funding our public libraries and schools rightfully deserve. Our educationbudget should truly reflect the basic needs of our schools and libraries such as books.chairs and classrooms. Aside from this, the government should come up with innovativeand efficient programs that involve various sectors in our country in order to address theshortages without completely abandoning its responsibility of educating the youth.


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Institutionalizing a national book drive program is one effective way of gatheringbooks than could at least help reduce the shortages and encourage public participation atthe same time. Knowledge that we derive from books, after all, is meant to be shared andnot treated as a pnvate good. Aside from highlighting the importance of reading, the activityencourages the public, especially the youth, to participate in such endeavors that involvecolkct ve action and community service.

Thus, this bill seeks to declare the fourth week of March of every year as the'National Book Drive Week" in order to engage schools, nrg,utizahuns and various sectors incommunity service through book doves. The fourth week of March is an ideal time toconduct a nationwide book drive since the last week of classes are usually held during thisperiod. Students who would no longer utilize their textbooks and reference materials will beencouraged to donate thew books instead of making them gather dust.

In light of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

pRAY D V. PALATINOK$ balaan Partylist

TEODORO CASINORoom Mona Partylist OLMENARESna Partylist

EMERENCIANA . DE JESUSGabriela Women's Patty

V INDA C. ILAGG.rbnelt 'Vom( n's Patty

TONIOACT Teachers' Partylist


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R I C P L l 3 L I C O F T H E I ' H I I . I I ' P I N l SHOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Qne?Ain City, Metro Manila

FIFTEENTH CONGRESSFirst Regular Session

I l o u s e . B i l l N o . 4113

Introduced by Kabataan Partylist Rep. Raymond V. Palatino, BayanMuna Partylist Reps Teodoro A. Casino and Neri J. Colmenares,Gabriela Women's Party Reps. Luzviminda C. Ilagan andEmerenciana A. De Jesus, Anakpawis Partylist Rep. Rafael V.Mariano and ACT Teachers' Partylist Rep. Antonio L. Tinio

AN ACTDECLARING THE FOURTH WEEK OF MARCH OF EVERY YEAR AS NATIONALBOOK DRIVE WEEK

5 Be it enacted by the Senate and the House ofRepresentatives of the Phil ippines rn Con gress6 Assembled'7B SECTION 1. Sho rt Tale. - This act shall be know n as the 'National Bo ok Drive W eek Act9 SO II'

1 0I1 SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State recognizes and suppo rts a l l endeavors1 2 and ventures to promote reading, considering that beaks are instrumental in the1 3 citizenry's political, social and cultural development. Books air the most effective and1 4 economical look for achieving educational growth. for Imputing information and for1 5 recording, prese rving, and dissem inating the nation's cultural heritage.1 61 7 SECTION 3. Definition of terms. - For purposes of this Act, the terms below shall be1 8 , ,a.stnrcc to m ean a s fol lows:1 92 0 a Book - As defined by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural2 1 org anization (UNESCO), a printed no n-periodical publication o f at least forty-eight (4812 2 page s. exclusive of cover pag es;

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12 b. Textbook. - As defined by Republic Act 8047. a book which is an exposition of generally3 accepted principles in one QI subject, intended primarily as a busts for instruction in a4 classroom or pupilbook-teacher situation;56 c. Book Drive. - collection, sorting and redistribution of new or used books intended for7 donation:89 SECTION 4. National Book Drive Week. - The fourth week of March of every year shall be

1 0 declared as the National Book Drive Week. All educational institutions, in elementary,ll secondary and tertiary levels, the Sangguniang Eabutaan, and local government units arc1 2 mandated to provide their full support and assistance to events and activities to be1 3 conducted by in recognition of the National Book Drive Week. The books and other1 4 reading materials that would be collected from the various book dove efforts shall go to1 5 public learning institutions that have textbook shortages and public libraries in poverty .1 6 stricken and marginalized areas and communities-1 71 8 SECTION 5. Coordination Mechanism- - To ensure effective and sustained inter-agency1 9 and multisectoral coordination, the National Book Development Board shall serve as the20 main coordinating agency together with the National Library. Department of Education,2 1 Commission on Higher Education and local government units as auxiliaries for the22 implementation of this Act.2324 SECTION 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The National Book Development2 S Boari, ui coordination with the Department of Education, Commission on Higher26 Education. National Library, Department of Interior and Local Government and non-27 government organizations shall formulate and issue the necessary rules and regulations28 for the Implementation of this Act.2930 SECTION 7. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the implementation of this Act3 1 men: tic incorporated in the Annual General Appropriations Act.3233 SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders.3 4 issuance, and rules and regulations, or part thereof, inconsistent with this Act are hereby3 S repealed.363 7 SECTION 9. Separability Clause. - If any section or provision of this Act shall be38 declared unconstitutional. the remaining sections or provisions shall not be affected

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ilurcr..t3 SECTION 10. hffiliuity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (IS) days after the4 ;utplrnon of ns publication in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of generalS circulation.6I Approved,

Approved,

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hb 4113- national book drive week

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