Amendment on Textbook Selection Board Law

Public-school textbooks are governed by the Board’s selection and approval authority (Section 1).
Private-school textbooks recognized or authorized by the Government must be submitted to the Board before use (Section 1).
The Board may prohibit a private-school textbook based on legal, political, honor/dignity, policy, or pedagogical standards (Section 1).
The Board’s textbook decisions require the Secretary of Instruction approval after National Council of Education recommendation (Section 1).

Section 2 provides that the Board on Textbooks is composed of five members appointed by the President of the Philippines with the consent of the Commission of Appointments.
Each member holds office for a period of six years and serves without compensation (Section 2).
For the first Board, appointments are staggered: one member for two years, two members for four years, and two members for six years (Section 2).
Every two years, the Board selects a Chairman from among its members (Section 2).
All Board members must be citizens of the Philippines (Section 2).

Section 2 makes it unlawful for the Board to consider for adoption or to adopt any treatise, textbook, or manuscript in whose authorship, editorship, or preparation a Board member has direct or indirect interest.
The prohibition does not apply to deliberation and adoption of a treatise, textbook, or manuscript written by a member during the period of incumbency, provided the member does not participate in the deliberation (Section 2).
The treatise, textbook, or manuscript under the exception must be turned over to the Government, which may undertake printing and distribution (Section 2).
Section 2 further makes it unlawful for any Board member, during incumbency, to own, directly or indirectly, any interest whatsoever in any firm, partnership, or corporation publishing or dealing in school textbooks.

Section 3 places the Board on Textbooks directly under the Secretary of Instruction for administrative purposes.
The Chairman of the Board may obtain technical assistance from officers and employees of any government department, bureau, or office, but only with the approval of the Department Head and only as necessary for performance of duties (Section 3).
The Board must have a permanent secretary with compensation at the rate of PHP 4,800 per annum (Section 3).
The Board may have such additional employees as may be necessary (Section 3).

Section 4 appropriates PHP 10,000 from funds in the National Treasury not otherwise appropriated for the current fiscal year to carry out the Act, including purchase of necessary equipment and supplies.
For succeeding years, Section 4 requires that a like amount (PHP 10,000) be included in the annual General Appropriation Act to meet expenses authorized by the Act.

Section 5 repeals all acts or parts of acts inconsistent with the Act’s provisions.
Section 6 states that the Act takes effect on approval.
The Act was approved on June 14, 1947.