EDUCATIONAL PUBLISHING: FUELING THE GROWTH OF THE PHILIPPINE BOOK INDUSTRY

WHO ARE THE PHILIPPINE EDUCATIONAL PUBLISHERS?

According to the records of the National Book Development Board, there are 180 registered publishers:  66 who are dedicated to producing textbooks, 17 publishers producing both text and trade books. The remaining  97 publishers products  are tradebook publishers and other reading materials such as workbooks, references, supplementary materials, and magazines. These publishers reported a total  of 5,129 textbook titles produced to date.  The National  Library of the Philippines. reported that a  total of 7,825 new titles were produced in 2014.

The Census of Philippine Businesses (PSA)  records show that there were 95 publishers, with 3,326 in their employ,  has a combined earning  almost P6Billion in gross revenues, and a net income of P1.57Billion.

There are  over 400 bookstores and almost 1,800 libraries in the country, not including library hubs and school-based libraries.

There is a  need for more bookstores and libraries in regions where the number of households with disposable income is growing steadily in the past 10 years, and have been observed to have an increasing rate of spending on education as well. These are Regions 1 (Ilocos), 5 (Bicol), 7 (Central Visayas), and 11 (Davao).

The data gathered from a recent  industry survey became the basis  for   the roadmap of the book industry of the Philippines, undertaken by the group of Atty. Andrea Pasion-Flores. A major recommendation of this roadmap is to institutionalize data gathering by the NBDB.

Four major strategies were identified as the key areas of change and growth in the Roadmap. These are:

A.    Increase and Develop Sources of Content

B.    Create wider distribution channels

C.    Develop concern for reader/learner well-being

D.    Pursue a clear legislative agenda