The National Book Development Board (NBDB) is the lead agency that promotes the continuing development of the book publishing industry to ensure an adequate and accessible supply of quality books for the global market. Under the Book Publishing Industry Development Act, the NBDB is mandated to conduct or contract research on the book publishing industry (R.A. 8047, Section 8d) and to conduct a survey to determine the reading habits and attitudes of Filipinos (Section 5d). Moreover, Rule V, Section 2f of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA 8047 states that NBDB shall plan and conduct studies and researches designed to improve the book publishing industry. Since 2003, the NBDB, together with the Social Weather Station (SWS) had already conducted three readership surveys (2003, 2007 and 2012) which showed the reading habits of Filipinos. This year, the NBDB commissioned the Philippine Statistical Research and Training Institute (PSRTI) to assist them in conducting the 2017 Readership Survey. The specific objectives of the survey are as to identify the reading behavior of Filipinos in terms of readership of books, newspapers, magazines, and comics and non-school books (NSBs) in both print and digital formats, determine Filipinos’ reading preferences, determine patterns of purchase and acquisition of reading materials, determine the extent of electronic book readership, determine attitudes towards books and reading; and formulate recommendations to improve readership. The 2017 NBDB Readership Survey covered both adult respondents (aged 18 years old and above) and child respondents (aged 6 to 17 years old). In selecting a national representative sample for the study, the Philippines was divided into four geographic domains, namely (1) Luzon Group, (2) Visayas Group, (3) Mindanao Group, and (4) National Capital Region. The total sample size is 1200 households. The design is a multi-stage sampling where Barangays from the domain areas are selected based on the results of the 2010 Census of Population and Housing. The results of the survey will guide the NBDB and the book publishing industry in determining and developing medium- and long-term strategic goals for the industry. Future policies and programs will be based on these strategic goals.

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