book blockade of 2009 should be addressed

Book lovers, enthusiasts and bloggers in the Philippines have found an ally in the House of Representatives. On May 14, Bayan Muna Partylist Rep. Teodoro Casiño initiated a Congressional inquiry into the “Book Blockade of 2009” by filing House Resolution 1157 titled A Resolution Directing the House Committee on Ways and Means to Conduct an Inquiry, in Aid of Legislation, on the Basis of Department of Finance (DoF) Order No. 17-09, which Restricts the Entry of and Imposes Duties on Imported Books, as well as its Impact on the People's Access to Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Materials.

Casiño reached out to Filipino readers by aiming to resolve the “Book Blockade of 2009” which is in line with the partylist’s thrust of promoting education, literacy and culture in the country. He said, “the flow of information, books and other materials that promote our people’s literacy, level of education and cultural appreciation should be unhindered and tax-free.” He expressed concern that the people’s right to information and access to reading materials seem to be under constraint due to the said book blockade.

“Congress should look into the legal basis of the Bureau of Customs (BoC) and the Department of Finance (DoF) in imposing duties on imported books,” said Casiño.

The legislator said, “we need to determine whether the DoF and BoC’s measures on duty-free importation of books go against the UNESCO Florence Agreement and Republic Act No. 8047 or the Book Publishing Industry Development Act, or what provisions need to be amended in the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines, if there are inconsistencies in the law.”

According to Casiño, there are other imported commodities that can be taxed to increase government revenues. He added that, “government may consider increasing duties on imported products that compete with or stifle the domestic economy instead of imposing duties to books, or Customs can focus on smuggled items.”

“We certainly want to improve our people’s level of literacy and education, cultural appreciation, and reading satisfaction, thus government should revoke any measure that impedes the free flow of informational, educational, scientific and cultural materials,” concludes Casiño.