National Book Development Board Public Relations Officer and playwright Marc Noesis “Noe” Marquez called on schools and libraries to strengthen access to books and promote regional literature as a response to the country’s declining reading culture, in a talk during the MSEUF Quezon Literature Festival 2026 at AEC Little Theater, April 8.
During the seminar’s open forum, Marquez was asked how he responds to the challenge of declining readership in his work as a writer and as Public Relations Officer of the NBDB.
“There is a reading crisis sa panahon ngayon,” Marquez responded, citing survey findings under NBDB initiatives that show even basic familiarity with foundational literary figures such as José Rizal and other classic works is declining among younger readers.
A National Readership Survey, as reported by the Philippine Daily Inquirer based on data from the NBDB and Social Weather Stations, showed that non-school book readership among Filipinos declined from about 80 percent in 2017 to about 42 percent in 2023, a significant drop in reading engagement.
He pointed to limited access to reading materials as one of the key drivers of this decline, raising concerns about the condition of school and community libraries.
“May library, pero updated ba ang library? Updated ba ang trade books, textbooks?” he said, adding that in some areas such as Atimonan, the absence of bookstores and limited visibility of libraries further restrict opportunities for reading.
“Nagsisimula ang pagbabasa sa bahay. Kung walang libro, napakahirap simulan,” Marquez emphasized.
“When it comes to accessibility, napakahirap niya. That’s why sa NBDB we are providing initiatives and projects para mas ilapit ang libro sa tao at ma-engage sila,” he added.
From this discussion on access and institutional response, Marquez shifted toward regional literature as a way to rebuild engagement by grounding stories in lived environments and local identity.
He cited his work “Balsa,” which was also staged by first-year AB Communication students as part of the Literature Festival, as an example of how regional storytelling can be reinterpreted through different creative lenses.
“Paigtingin ang literary works ng mga batang ito, and eventually we will take over the world,” he said, expressing hope that schools and libraries will play a stronger role in expanding access to literature and nurturing future writers.
The talk is part of the celebration of the MSEUF Quezon Literature Festival 2026 with the theme “Bekët (Bigkis): Panitikan sa Katwiran at Kalikasan.”
