Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

House Bit no. 8087

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill intends to amend Republic Act No. 7743, otherwise known as “An Act
providing for the establishment of provincial, city, and municipal libraries and
barangay reading center throughout the Philippines”, to strengthen this legislation
and help fully realize the intent of the law.

It seeks to improve on the current program by mandating that it be based on the
latest computer and electronic library technology. It also seeks to upgrade the
reading center facilities with complete standard sets of books, e-books, online
research resources and other materials. The electronic library system shall also be
upgrade to the latest system and that all cities and municipalities in the country be
provided with electronically-operated library systems.

In keeping with the times and with the intent to improve our education system, we
humbly submit this bill.

The approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

LUIS UNI RAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.


Republic of the Philippines:
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Queson City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
‘Second Regular Session

8087
HOUSE BILL.NO.___

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

AN ACT
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7743, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF PROVINCIAL, CITY, AND
MUNICIPAL LIBRARIES AND BARANGAY READING CENTER THROUGHOUT
THE PHILIPPINES,” AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines
in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Section 2 of RA 7743 is hereby amended to read as follows:

“Section 2. Establishment of Public Libraries and Reading Centers. The National
Library in coordination with the Department of the Interior and Local Government
(DILG) shall undertake the establishment of additional public libraries to serve all
[congressional districts] PROVINCES, cities and municipalities in the Philippines and
reading centers in every barangay except in cities or municipalities where there are
existing public libraries or in barangays where there are existing public libraries or in
barangays where there are existing reading centers: Provided, that the
[establishment of such libraries and reading centers shall be based on the
development program of the National Library] ESTABLISHMENT PROGRAM OF
THE NATIONAL LIBRARY SHALL BE BASED ON THE LATEST COMPUTER
AND ELECTRONIC LIBRARY TECHNOLOGY, in coordination with the
development council of each city or municipality and in the case of the barangay
reading centers, in coordination with the respective barangay councils: Provided,


further, that where these public libraries and reading centers already exist, the
National Library shall continue to upgrade the facilities there [.] WITH COMPLETE
STANDARD SETS OF BOOKS, E-BOOKS, ONLINE RESEARCH RESOURCES
AND OTHER MATERIALS AS PROVIDED UNDER SEC. 3 OF THIS ACT AS
WELL AS THE LATEST ELECTRONIC LIBRARY SYSTEM USING COMPUTERS
FOR STORING, CATALOGING, AND FILING OF DATA AND MATERIALS:
PROVIDED, FINALLY, THAT BY THE YEAR 2022 ALL THE CITIES AND
MUNICIPALITIES OF THE PHILIPPINES WITH BE PROVIDED WITH
ELECTRONICALLY-OPERATED LIBRARY SYSTEM.”

SECTION 2. Section 7 of RA 7743 is hereby amended to read as follows:

“Section 7. Appropriations. The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this
Act shall be included in the General Appropriations Act of the year following its
enactment into law [and for the next five (5) years: thereafter this local government
units shall undertake the maintenance of public libraries and reading centers while
the National Library shall continue to provide reading materials and supplies to the
said libraries and reading centers]. IN ORDER TO PROVIDE FUNDS NECESSARY
FOR THE ELECTRONIC LIBRARY SYSTEM TO BE IMPLEMENTED, THE
BUDGET OF THE NATIONAL LIBRARY SHALL BE INCREASED IN THE
AMOUNT OF FIVE HUNDRED MILLION PESOS (P500,000,000.00) PER YEAR
UNTIL ALL CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES IN THE PHILIPPINES ARE PROVIDED
AND HAVE ACCESS TO FULL ELECTRONIC LIBRARY FACILITIES.

SECTION 3. Role of the DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION AND
COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY (DICT). — The Department of Information and
Communications Technology (DICT) shall assist in the provision of the cutting-edge
computer and electronic library technology, as well as a fast and reliable internet
connection, through the Department's flagship program, the Technology for
Education, Employment, Entrepreneurs, and Economic Development (Tech4ED)
Project.


SECTION 4. Separability Clause. — If any section or provision of this Act shall be
declared invalid or unconstitutional, such shall not invalidate any other section or
provision of this Act.

SECTION 5. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, orders, rules, and regulations
or other issuances or parts inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.

SECTION 6. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect in fifteen (15) days after

publication in the Official Gazette or in one (1) newspaper of general circulation in
‘the Philippines.

Approved,