Do you know that the books we purchase are exempted from the value-added tax (VAT), and later the expanded VAT (E-VAT)? And do you know that there will soon be a website wherein we can access every author and publishing company in the industry?.

Actually, there is, and now that you are aware of it, it’s time to get to know the group behind these undertakings.

These actions wouldn’ have happened without the initiative of the National Book Development Board (NBDB). The Book Publishing Industry Development Act created the agency in order to formulate and implement a national book policy. The agency envisions promoting the growth of the book publishing industry in the Philippines. Ten years after its creation, it can be said that NBDB has lived up to promoting its vision.

NBDB is headed by a Chairman which is a part of a Governing Board. The Governing Board is responsible for formulating plans and programs as well as operational policies and guidelines for undertaking activities relative to promoting book development, production, and distribution as well as incentive schemes for individual authors and writers. The Governing Board is composed of seven members from different fields and will elect a chairman among themselves. The secretariat assists the Governing Board in assessing as well as addressing the needs and problems of the Publishing Industry.

NBDB is divided into six divisions in order to carry out the plans or projects of the NBDB. These divisions are the Office of the Chairman (OTC), Office of the Executive Director (OED), Research, Policies and Programs Division (RPPD), Accreditation and Incentives Division (AID), Projects Division, and the Administrative and Finance Division (A&F).

The OTC assists the Chairman in its tasks and responsibilities in the agency. They are mainly there to facilitate the formulation, adoption and implementation of the National Book Policy and the corresponding National Book Development Plan.

The OED is principally involved in the day-to-day management and direction of operations and affairs of the agency. They are also concerned with preparing annual reports and other reports the board may require within given periods.

The RPPD is tasked to gather and organize data on book publishing and other related aspects, and to plan and conduct studies and researches designed to improve the book publishing industry. They are also to provide information, education-training, communication and advocacy of the progressive growth of the publishing industry.

The AID is tasked to register and classify persons and enterprises engaged in book publishing. They are also responsible for the implementation and evaluation of programs on incentives for book development and other aspects of the publishing industry. They also process and regulate applications for tax exemption in importation of raw materials.

The Projects Division is mainly involved in developing ventures wherein NBDB can delve into. These projects are geared into the development of the book publishing industry.

Lastly, the A&F is in charge of money matters and of preparing the annual budget that can be utilized by the agency.

In a nutshell, that is the work of each division in the NBDB. Each division is manned by dedicated and passionate people who really do care for the publishing industry. These are the people we should give credit to not only for their hard work but also for making the book publishing industry flourish. The success of the agency is also the success of the individuals behind it. These personnel made NBDB’s ten years illustrious and victorious.

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