Republic ofthePhilippinesHOUSE OFREPRESENTATIVESQuezonCity,MetroManilaFOURTEENTHCONGRESSSecondRegularSession
HOUSERESOLUTIONNO.----*lll
IntroducedbyAKBAYANRepresentativeRISAHONTIVEROSA RESOLUTIONDIRECTINGTHECOMMITTEEONFOREIGNAFFAIRSAND COMMITTEEONWAYSAND MEANSTO CONDUCTANINVESTIGATIONINAID OFLEGISLATIONINTO THE "BOOKTAX"LEVIEDBYTHEBUREAUOF CUSTOMSONBOOKSIMPORTEDINTOTHEPHILIPPINESWhereas,booksre theoldest,most enduring,andmostlovedinventionsof thehumanracetheyarethemost accessibleyetimmortalinstrumentsbywhichmankindhas, sincethedawnofcivilization,recordedthe entiretyof thebodiesof knowledgeofwhichit hascometo beaware;preservedallofits ideas,recollectionsandimaginings;and sharedwitheachandeveryor,"th"experiences,hopes andaspirationswhichdefinethehistory,evolution,andfuture ofhumanity;Whereas,n1950,theinternationalcommunity,throughtheUnitedNationsEducationalScientificCulturalandOrganizationrecognizedand affirmedthistruthbysponsoringtheAgreementon theImportationof Educational,ScientificandCulturalMaterials,otherwiseknownas theFlorenceAgreement,whichdeclaredthat"the free exchangeofideasandknowledgeand,ing"tr".ul,thewidestpossibledisseminationofthediverseformsof self-expressio-nusedbycivilizationsarevitallyimportantbothforintellectualprogressandinternationalunderstanding,andconsequentlyfor themaintenanceofworldpeace"andthat suchinterchangeis accomplishedprimarilybymeansofbooks,publicationsandothereducational,scientificandculturalmaterials;Wherens,hePhilippinesratifiedthisAgreementonAugust30,1952becomingoneof theearliestpartiestneretoandeffectivelyupholdingitscommitrnentsaspart ofthelawof theland;Whereas,undertheFlorenceAgreement,thePhilippineshasundertakennot toimposecustomsdutieson,orin connectionwith,theimportationofbooks,publicationsanddocuments(ArticleI,FlorenceAgreement)andto, asfaraspossible,continueefforts topromotebyeverymeansthefreecirculationofeducational,scientificorculturalmaterials,ubolrhorieduceanyrestrictionsto thatfreecirculationthatmayotherwisenotbe specifiedin theAgreement,simplifythe administrativeproceduregoverningthe importationof
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