Title
Textbook Board Composition and Operations
Law
Presidential Decree No. 687
Decision Date
Apr 22, 1975
Presidential Decree No. 687 amends the existing law on textbooks in the Philippines, establishing a Textbook Board responsible for the evaluation, selection, and distribution of textbooks, with a focus on promoting Filipino authors and ensuring fair pricing and quality.
A

Secretariat and Operational Support

  • The Textbook Board has a Secretariat staffed per the Integrated Reorganization Plan.
  • The Board can engage qualified personnel from the public or private sector to appraise manuscripts.
  • Such appraisers receive honoraria as determined by the Board.

Rules, Regulations, and Policies of the Board

  • The Board adopts its own operational guidelines.
  • It ensures fair and objective manuscript appraisal and final selection criteria.
  • The Board conducts continuous evaluation of approved textbooks.
  • It studies the national textbook situation, promotes minimal production costs, and guides allocation and distribution policies.

Manuscript Submission and Government Treatise Adoption

  • Free competition is encouraged among writers and registered publishers for manuscript submission.
  • The Board may automatically adopt government-prepared treatises or textbooks.
  • Production of government-prepared works is outsourced to qualified publishers/printers.

Pricing and Production Cost Determination

  • Approved manuscripts are printed in determined copies and conditions as directed by the Board.
  • A Price Committee composed of three members (Board representative, publisher association, Bureau of Printing) evaluates production costs.
  • The Board determines a markup to ensure publishers earn reasonable profits while minimizing government procurement costs.

Conflict of Interest and Board Member Restrictions

  • Board members with direct or indirect interests in manuscripts or publishing firms are barred from considering such works.
  • Board members cannot own interests in publishing entities during their term.

Textbook Use Duration and Private School Regulations

  • Selected textbooks are mandatory for at least six years.
  • Private schools recognized by the government should use Board-approved textbooks whenever possible.
  • The Board can prohibit use of non-approved textbooks if they violate law, government policies, or are pedagogically inappropriate.

Nationalism and Cultural Sensitivity

  • The Board promotes textbooks by Filipino authors rooted in Philippine sources.
  • Textbooks should foster nationalism, respect for institutions, and cultural heritage appreciation.

Administrative Oversight and Technical Assistance

  • The Board operates directly under the Secretary of Education and Culture.
  • The Chairman can obtain technical assistance from other government agencies.
  • Compensation for such technical assistance is set by the Board.

Board Member Compensation

  • Members receive P100 per meeting attended, up to P400 per month.
  • Reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses related to official duties is provided.

Appropriations and Funding

  • An annual appropriation of P100,000 (or necessary amount) from the National Treasury is allocated to the Board.
  • This is in addition to regular appropriations for operation and maintenance.

Repeal and Effectivity

  • All inconsistent laws, decrees, and rules are repealed or amended to conform to this Decree.
  • The Decree takes effect immediately upon issuance.

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