EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 127 - REDEFINING THE FUNCTIONS OF THE INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS COUNCIL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, CULTURE AND SPORTS

WHEREAS, Sec. 2 (1), Article XIV of the Constitution provides that the State shall “[e]stablish, maintain, and support a complete, adequate, and integrated system of education relevant to the needs of the people and society;”  

WHEREAS, Executive Order No. 806 (1982) created the Textbook Council for “the formulation of policies on and the selection of textbooks, supplementary and reference books in the public elementary and secondary schools, as well as the approval of textbooks for private elementary and secondary schools;”  

WHEREAS, the General Appropriations Acts of 1983 and 1984 (B.P. Nos. 230 and 640, respectively,) referred to an Instructional Materials Council instead of a Textbook Council;

WHEREAS, on 13 November 1985, the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports (MECS) issued MECS Order No. 64 (s. 1985) which specifically stated that the Textbook Council “has been renamed the Instructional Materials Council in the annual appropriations for 1983 and 1984;”

WHEREAS, Executive Order No. 117 (1987) and Executive Order No. 292, otherwise known as the Administrative Code of 1987, provided for the attachment of the Instructional Materials Council to the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS); and

WHEREAS, there is a need to revitalize the Instructional Materials Council by redefining its functions.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FIDEL V. RAMOS, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:

Section 1. The Instructional Materials Council, hereafter referred to as the “Council”, which is an attached agency of the Department of Education, Culture and Sports and which was established primarily as the policy-making agency on textbooks, supplementary and reference books, and other instructional materials for use in elementary and secondary schools, shall have the following functions:

a. Select and prescribe textbook and supplementary and reference books for use in public elementary and secondary schools, consistent with the curricula approved by the Department of Education, Culture and Sports;

b. Approve textbooks for use in private elementary and secondary schools;

c. Determine the prescriptive life of textbooks;

d. Formulate and adopt policies, guidelines and priorities for the development and production of textbooks, supplementary and reference books, and other instructional materials for use in public elementary and secondary schools consistent with the curricula, courses of study and relevant policies established by the Department of Education, Culture and Sports;

e. Adopt criteria and standards for the fair and objective evaluation of textbook manuscripts and other instructional materials submitted for its review and consideration; and

f. Adopt rules and regulations for its operations.

Sec. 2. The Council shall be composed of:

a. The Secretary of Education, Culture and Sports, as Chairman;

b. The Administrator of the Instructional Materials Development Center or his duly authorized representative;

c. The Director of Elementary Education;

d. The Director of Secondary Education; and  

e. Two (2) other members to be appointed by the President, upon the recommendation of the Secretary of Education, Culture and Sports.