No one of the d TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) First Regular Session AUG -5 P3:39 SENATE RECEIVLO 3Y S. No. 917 Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada AN ACT MANDATING THE USE OF PHILIPPINE KOMIKS IN INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, PROVIDING FINANCIAL INCENTIVES, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES EXPLANATORY NOTE For decades, the Philippine komiks industry has played a significant role in shaping the nation's creative identity. As a uniquely Filipino form of storytelling, komiks have served as a powerful medium to reflect social realities, inspire civic consciousness, and preserve cultural heritage. From household names like Francisco Coching and Mars Ravelo to today's new generation of artists, komiks continue to resonate with audiences across age groups, offering accessible narratives rooted in Filipino values and imagination. Despite its cultural importance, the local komiks industry faces persistent challenges-limited government support, lack of mainstream exposure, and scarce funding for creators. These factors have stifled its growth and made it difficult for many talented artists to sustain their work and reach wider audiences. There is an urgent need to institutionalize support for Filipino komiks as both an art form and a viable creative industry.
The proposed bill seeks to promote and revitalize the komiks industry by integrating Filipino komiks into the public education curriculum, providing grants and incentives to local creators, and recognizing the art form as a vital component of Philippine cultural and educational development. The bill envisions a future where komiks are not only preserved but thrive as a tool for learning, artistic expression, and national pride. A similar version of this bill was filed by Senator Grace Poe during the 19th Congress. In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. rigolt 1 JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA
TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 25 AUG -5 P3:39 First Regular Session SENATE RECEIVED BI S. No. 917 Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada AN ACT MANDATING THE USE OF PHILIPPINE KOMIKS IN INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, PROVIDING FINANCIAL INCENTIVES, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Galing Pinoy Komiks
Support Act".
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is a declared policy of the State that it shall
preserve, enrich, and evolve Filipino national culture based on the principle of unity in 5 diversity in a climate of free artistic and intellectual expression. It likewise declared that arts and letters enjoy the patronage of the State and that the nation's historical 7 and cultural heritage and resources as well as artistic creations must be conserved, promoted and popularized. To this end, komiks (comics) is hereby recognized as an essential part of Philippine arts and culture, and support for its popularization and use shall be promoted.
Sec. 3. Komiks as Instructional Material in Basic Education. - The Department
of Education is hereby mandated that ten percent (10%) of all instructional materials being printed and utilized in ail academic institutions, both public and private, shall be in komiks form.
Sec. 4. Utilization of Komiks for Government Advocacy Campaigns. - As far as
practicable, all departments, agencies and instrumentalities of the national and local
1 government units (LGUs) shall take immediate steps to implement this Act and shall 2 incorporate the use of komiks in all policy advocacy campaigns: Provided, that it shall be prohibited for government officials to use komiks for partisan political activities, or 4 to place the name, symbol, logo, or likeness of any public official on such materials. For the purpose of this Act, "partisan political activity" refers to activities, 6 statements or manifestations, which solely or primarily serve to campaign for or 7 against any particular political party or candidate for any elective public office.
Sec. 5. Tax Incentives. - All equipment and materials that are reasonably
necessary and are not manufactured or produced locally for the propagation and 10 renewed popularization of komiks shall be tax or duty-free.
Sec. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from the
effectivity of this Act, the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), the National Commission on Culture and Arts (NCCA), the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) shall jointly come up and promulgate the 15 necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.
Sec. 7. Separability Clause. - In the event that any provisions of this Act is
declared unconstitutional, the validity of the other provisions not affected shall remain.
Sec. 8. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or
19 portions thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly
Sec. 9. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
21 complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of national circulation. Approved,