Public school students may soon receive textbooks on time as reforms were highlighted by Senator Win Gatchalian and Senate Deputy Minority Leader Rodante Marcoleta during the 75th anniversary celebration of the Philippine Educational Publishers Association (PEPA).
The event, themed “Honoring the Past, Celebrating the Present, and Publishing in the Future,” recognized decades of Filipino educational publishing and honored lawmakers, institutions, and industry leaders who supported the sector.
Gatchalian, former chairperson of the Senate Committee on Education, called for granting public schools greater flexibility in selecting textbooks suited to their students’ needs.
“Public schools should be allowed to select the textbooks best suited for their students and conditions,” he said.
PEPA President Emeritus Dominador Buhain noted that Gatchalian’s proposals reflect systems used in top-performing countries such as China, Japan, Finland, and Singapore, whose students consistently rank high in international assessments like PISA.
Gatchalian criticized delays caused by centralized procurement and said the proposed ₱28 billion Department of Education budget could provide one textbook per subject per student if paired with a more flexible approach.
“Possessing a textbook instead of having none due to bureaucratic delay could serve as a better proposition to improve our standing in the PISA,” he added.
The celebration also honored past and current PEPA presidents and awarded plaques to lawmakers and institutions instrumental in the passage of the Book Industry Development Act (RA 8047), including Gatchalian, Marcoleta, House Representatives Antonio Cerilles and Rufus Rodriguez, Atty. Rodelio Dascil, the Department of Education, and other partners.
PEPA reaffirmed its commitment to supporting education reforms and ensuring Filipino learners have access to quality textbooks.