When pleasure reading vanishes, so does commercial viability.

The Philippine Educational Publishers Association (PEPA) recently marked its 75th anniversary, using the occasion to highlight systemic failures in textbook procurement that threaten learning outcomes.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, addressing the Manila event, stressed how centralised purchasing processes have delayed textbook delivery for the 2025–26 academic year, citing new guidelines under RA12009 as the latest obstacle.

Centralised Procurement Failures

Gatchalian argued that public schools should emulate private institutions by allowing teachers to select textbooks suited to local needs. He compared the Philippines unfavourably with high-performing PISA nations – China, Japan, Finland, Singapore – where liberalised procurement ensures timely, quality materials.

While a PHP 28-billion budget was deemed sufficient for one textbook per subject per pupil, bureaucratic bottlenecks persist. Private schools, free from these constraints, choose materials through subject coordinators, ensuring both accessibility and presumed quality via market competition. The Philippines’ dismal PISA performance intensifies pressure for reform.

Reform At A Crossroads

PEPA’s honourees included architects of the 1995 Book Industry Development Act (RA 8047), reminding the sector that legislative frameworks require constant updating. The association now faces reconciling its mission with regulations that inadvertently hamper distribution.

The View From The Beach

Educational publishing remains the bedrock of many national book industries, often eclipsing trade publishing in revenue and reach. The Philippines, however, sustains a vibrant trade sector alongside educational publishing – a symbiosis that risks fraying if students engage with texts solely for examinations rather than developing lifelong reading habits.

Markets prioritising test-driven reading often witness trade publishing’s brief functionality: when pleasure reading vanishes, so does commercial viability.

The Philippines’ dual strength in educational and trade publishing depends on nurturing readers, not just test-takers.

As PEPA embarks on its next chapter, the challenge extends beyond procurement reform to safeguarding a culture where books serve both classroom and leisure, ensuring the sector’s long-term health.

This post first appeared in the TNPS LinkedIn newsfeed.