In 2017, the National Book Development Board (NBDB) commissioned the Philippine Statistical Research and Training Institute (PSRTI) to assist them in conducting the 2017 Readership Survey. 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. Since 2003, the NBDB, together with the Social Weather Station (SWS) conducted three readership surveys showing the reading habits of Filipinos. The NBDB is the lead agency promoting the continuous 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 and a survey to determine the reading habits and attitudes of Filipinos. Moreover, NBDB shall plan and conduct studies and researches designed to improve the book publishing industry.

The readership survey aimed 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 project was spearheaded by then Dean of the UP School of Statistics and now National Statistician, Dr. Dennis S. Mapa. The research commenced in December 2017 with the results of the study presented in September 2018.