Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. _ 143 5

Introduced by Honorable CARMELO F. LAZATIN

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Section 17, Chapter 2, Book 1 of the Local Government Code of 1991 mandates the
establishment and maintenance of public libraries in the cities, provinces, municipalities and
barangays in the local government units as one of the basic services and facilities for the
continuing intellectual nourishment of the citizenry. Yet despite the presence of this law, some local
government units lack a formal and permanent staffing pattern that shall manage the affairs of the
Public Library.

Further, although Republic Act 6966 otherwise known as the, “Philippine Librarianship Act of
1990 has regulated the practice of librarianship thru the Board of Librarians of the Professional
Regulation Commission (PRC) and elevated the status of librarians to be at par with other
professionals, the position of the Provincial, City and Municipal Librarian is not given equivalent
recognition and importance by its exclusion as one of the mandatory.

Thus, this bill seeks to provide for the inclusion of the Office of the Public Librarian as one of
the mandatory positions in local government units in recognition to the essential role of
librarianship as a profession in developing the intellectual capacity of the citizenry making library
Services'as a regular component for national development.

Towards this end, the establishment of the Office of the Public Librarian in various local
government units shall be geared towards the recognition of the vital role of knowledge and
information technology in nation building,

In view of the foregoing premises, approval of ths bill is ardently sought



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bit No. 1435

introduced by Honorable Carmelo F. Lazatin

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE INCLUSION OF THE OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC
LIBRARIANS AMONG THE MANDATORY POSITIONS IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS,

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives in Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known and cited as the “Public Library Act”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy, — It is the deciared policy of the State to further promote
literacy and dissemination of knowledge through the establishment of the Office of the Public
Librarian as one of the mandatory positions in local government units in recognition to the essential
role of librarianship as a profession in developing the intellectual capacity of the citizenry making
library services as a regular component for national development.

SECTION 3. Enforcement of the Act. - Towards this end, this Act shall mandate every
local government unit (LGU) to establish a city or municipal library headed by the Public Librarian.

SECTION 4. Qualifications- in order to serve as a Public Librarian, an applicant or
appointee must possess the following:

a. - A Bachelors degree in Library Science and/or a Masters and post-graduate degree in a
related field;

b. — Career Service Professional Eligibility; and

¢. Atleast three years experience in librarianship, office management and other related
fields.

SECTION 5. Assisting Entries — The Civi! Service Commission (CSC) shall formulate the
staffing pattern and corresponding salary including assessment of the qualification of the fibrary
staff. The National Library of the Philippines, on the other hand, shall provide technical supervision
and material support to al pubic libraries.

SECTION 6. Appropriations- The Department of Budget (DBM) shall allocate an annual
amount corresponding to the financial needs of the office.


SECTION 7. Separability Clause. - if any provisions or part hereof, is invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain valid
and subsisting

SECTION 8. Repeating Clause. - Any iaw. presidential decree or issuance, executive
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule of regulation contrary to or inconsistent with,
the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly.

SECTION 9. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in at least two {2} newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,