LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Governor Dr. Melchor Daguines Diclas issued Executive Order No. 2022-066 on December 27, 2022 organizing the Development Board for Information Materials and Books on Home (DIBSHO), otherwise known as the Provincial Book Development Board.
Governor Diclas cited RA 8047 which “recognizes the roles of books as instrumental in the citizenry’s intellectual, technical, and cultural development.”
“Books are the most effective and economical tools for achieving education growth, imparting information, and recording, preserving, and disseminating the nation’s cultural heritage,” he stated in the order.
Aside from formulating mechanisms and guidelines on the development, production, financing, and distribution of provincial information materials, publications, and books, the DIBSHO which is chaired by the Governor, will also facilitate a yearly publication of at least one book about Benguet.
During the celebration of the Cordillera Month at the Provincial Capitol last year, Governor Diclas expressed support for more publications promoting Benguet identity and history. He bared his plan to have a Provincial Book Development Board (PBDB) following the successful implementation of the project “Kaapuan: Benguet Heritage Series,” a publication of a coffee table book containing stories and narratives about Benguet, funded by the provincial government.
Meanwhile, Executive Assistant to the Governor, Dr. Ryan Guinaran, said the creation of the board will help promote the development of indigenous authorship and of translations among various language groups in the province as well as book publication and readership particularly among the youth.
Other functions of the board include the development of skills of personnel and other people engaged in book publishing and publishing through training and inculcate the concept of intellectual property ownership and protect the rights of authors and publishers. By SAP Jr.