Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

2191

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Rep. Precious Hipolito Castelo

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Detained youth offenders lose their freedom and their opportunity to secure for themselves
bright future. What lies ahead for them is rather obscure and the pursuit of their dreams has
become elusive. In detention cells, their world has shrunk and their activities are limited to
the detention facilities program. Nevertheless, the government can grant such juvenile
Prisoners a spark of hope by establishing libraries in all youth detention facilities.

In a study in November 2010 at the University of Liverpool entitled “An investigation into the
therapeutic benefits of reading in relation to depression and well-being,” it was found out that
“the program (Get into Reading) helped patients suffering from depfession in terms of: their
Social well-being, by increasing personal confidence, reducing social isolation, fostering a
sense of community and encouraging communication skills; their mental well-being, by
improving powers of concentration, fostering an interest in new learning or new ways of
understanding, and extending their capacity for thought, verbalised and internalised: their
emotional and psychological well-being, by increasing self-awareness, enhancing the ability
to articulate profound issues of being, and making possible a shift in internal paradigms (or
the telling of ‘a new story’) in relation to self and identity.”

While the juvenile offenders serve time in detention facilities, they shall be able to continue
enriching themselves and have better chances for reformation and rehabilitation by getting
into reading. The moment they are set free then they shall also have graduated to more
mature and reformed individuals possessing the characteristics of upright and productive
members of the society.

The immediate passage of this measure is sought for.

O CASTELO


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 2191

Introduced by Rep. Precious Hipolito Castelo

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING LIBRARIES IN ALL YOUTH DETENTION FACILITIES IN THE
PHILIPPINES AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as the “Library in Every Youth Detention Facility
Act.”

SEC. 2. There shall be established libraries in all youth detention facilties in the
Philippines.

SEC. 3. The establishment of such libraries shall be determined and undertaken by
the Department of Education in cooperation with the Department of Social Welfare and
Development

SEC. 4. The amount needed to carry out the provisions of this Act shall be charged
against the 2019 appropriations of the DepEd. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary
for the continued maintenance of the libraries shall be included in the annual General
Appropriations Act

SEC. 5. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its publication in the
Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,