 In the last few months, the importation of books into the Philippines has virtually stopped.
The reason why is explained in this article by Robin Hemley, a University of Iowa creative writing professor currently on a fellowship in the Philippines. If you have no time to read the article (and I suggest you do, and read his other dispatches as well), the essence is that because the Bureau of Customs has decided to impose duties on the importation of books into the Philippines.
This, despite the 1950 Florence Agreement on the Importation of Educational, scientific and Cultural Materials (which you can see here), which the Philippines ratified in 1979. The preamble of the agreement states: "Considering that the free exchange of ideas and knowledge and, in general, the widest possible dissemination of the diverse forms of self-expression used by civilizations are vitally important both for intellectual progress and international understanding, and consequently for the maintenance of world peace...", an indisputable proposition. Towards that end, Article I(1)(a) of the Florence Agreement states: "1. The contracting States undertake not to apply customs duties or other charges on, or in connection with, the importation of: (a) Books, publications and documents, listed in Annex A to this Agreement;" What does Annex A state? "Annex A Books, publications and documents (i) Printed books. xxx" Obviously,this new policy of the Bureau of Customs contravenes the Florence Agreement. More fundamentally, shunting aside the legalities, this is a tax on knowledge imposed by people who are not that smart. Only through intellectual progress can we have a fighting chance to succeed as a nation, and intellectual progress can only be possible in an atmospherewhere information and ideas flow free and freely. And if you think that the problem will be cured by carving an exception for "educational books", then you are wrong. Ideas are not confined to textbooks -- they are steeped in fiction, non-fiction, poetry, pulp novels, and MadMagazine. By no means, in 1887, would Noli me Tangere have been considered an "educational book", but it reeks of enlightenment and liberal ideas from which the reader can learn from. That is why the Florence Agreement is unequivocal in its prohibition of duties onbooks. Please forward this or disseminate this in any way you can. In the name of reading. | |
|
