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Senate
of tijf ^i'frptart*
NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
SENATE
S. B. No. 631
*22 JUL 14 P3 39
RECEIVED BY:
Introduced by Senator SONNY ANGARA
AN ACT
STRENGTHENING THE PHILIPPINE PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM, AMENDING 
FOR THE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7743, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS "AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF CONGRESSIONAL, CITY, AND 
MUNICIPAL LIBRARIES AND BARANGAY READING CENTERS 
THROUGHOUT THE PHILIPPINES," AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
One of the trends that go hand in hand with the phenomenon of globalization 
is the promotion of the use of information technology in various fields such as 
business, media, communication and education. With information technology, 
learning is no longer restricted within the four walls of the classroom, nor is it limited 
to the use of books and magazines.
Republic Act No. 7743 was enacted specifically to put up libraries and/or 
reading centers in every city, municipality and barangay in order to boost the literacy 
rate of our citizenry. A number of years have passed already but the intent of the 
law has yet to be fully implemented.
This measure seeks to ensure that congressional, city, or municipal libraries 
and barangay reading centers are equipped with the latest information management 
systems, considering the learning challenges encountered from the COVID-19 
pandemic. In particular, we aim to underscore that in a time where social distancing 
and strict health protocols are implemented, public libraries and reading centers 
should not only continue lending out reading materials—physical or digital—but also 
provide other services that would benefit the community. Such services may include


access to free WiFi, and affordable rentals of ICT equipment like smartphones, 
tablets, laptops, desktop computers and mobile WiFi hotspots. These may also 
include webinars and online training modules for reskilling or upskilling.
We also intend to underscore that public libraries and reading centers should 
actively participate in the preservation of local heritage and history. In this way, ( 
they become crucial to promoting nationalism, socio-civic consciousness, and 
harmony throughout the community.
In view of the foregoing considerations, early passage of this bill is earnestly 
sought.
SONNY ANGARA


Senate
'^t4<^0ffi£p of tl)c g?;:actni7
NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S. B. No. £31
*22 JUL 14 P3 39
RECEIVED BY:
Introduced b / Senator SONNY ANGARA
AN ACT
STRENGTHENING THE PHILIPPINE PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM, AMENDING 
FOR THE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7743, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS "AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF CONGRESSIONAL, CITY, AND 
MUNICIPAL LIBRARIES AND BARANGAY READING CENTERS 
THROUGHOUT THE PHILIPPINES," AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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Section 1. Section 2 of Republic Act No. 7743 is hereby amended to read as
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follows:
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"Sec. 2. Establishment of Public Libraries and Reading Centers. - The
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National Library in coordination with the Department of the Interior and
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Local Government (DILG) shall undertake the establishment of additional
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public libraries to serve all congressional districts, cities and municipalities
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in the Philippines and reading centers in every barangay except in cities or
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municipalities where there are existing public libraries or in barangays
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where there are existing reading centers: Provided, That the
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[establishment of such librarics-and reading centers shall be based on the
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development- program of the -National Library] PROGRAM OF THE
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NATIONAL LIBRARY FOR ESTABLISHING SUCH PUBLIC
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LIBRARIES AND READING CENTERS SHALL BE CONTINUOUSLY
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UPDATED TO INCLUDE THE LATEST COMPUTER AND ELECTRONIC
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LIBRARY TECHNOLOGY, in coordination with the development council


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of each city or municipality and in the case of the barangay reading
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centers, in coordination with the respective barangay councils: Provided,
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further, That where these public libraries and reading centers already
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exist, the National Library shall continue to upgrade the facilities thereof
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WITH COMPLETE STANDARD SETS OF BOOKS, E-BOOKS, ONLINE
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RESEARCH RESOURCES, SUBSCRIPTIONS TO ONLINE ACADEMIC
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JOURNALS, DATABASES AND PERIODICALS, AND OTHER
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MATERIALS AS PROVIDED UNDER SEC. 3 OF THIS ACT AS WELL
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AS THE LATEST ELECTRONIC LIBRARY SYSTEM FOR STORING,
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CATALOGING, AND FILING OF DATA AND MATERIALS:
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PROVIDED, FINALLY, THAT BY THE YEAR 2022, ALL THE CITIES
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AND MUNICIPALITIES OF THE PHILIPPINES WILL BE PROVIDED
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WITH AN ELECTRONICALLY-OPERATED LIBRARY SYSTEM."
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Sec. 2. Section 6 of Republic Act No. 7743 is hereby amended to read as
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follows:
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"Sec. 6. Functions of the Public Libraries and Barangay Reading Centers. —The
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public libraries and barangay reading centers shall have the following functions:
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(a) to make available to the members of the community reading materials of
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wide array, CONTENT AND FORMAT, WHETHER PHYSICAL OR
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DIGITAL, including BUT NOT LIMITED TO reading materials prescribed
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by the Department of Education, Culture, and Sports and national
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newspapers of general circulation and others;
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(b)to be used as a venue for audio-visual presentations [in the community]
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and other kinds of exhibitions, SEMINARS, TRAINING MODULES,
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WEBINARS, and activities WITH OBJECTIVES THAT INCLUDE BUT
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ARE NOT LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING:
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1. INCREASING THE FUNCTIONAL LITERACY RATE;
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2. ENCOURAGING A CULTURE OF READING, SELF-STUDY AND
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LIFELONG LEARNING;
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3. PRESERVING THE LOCAL HERITAGE AND HISTORY; AND,


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4. PROMOTING 
NATIONALISM, 
SOCIO-CIVIC
CONSCIOUSNESS, AND HARMONY THROUGHOUT THE 
LOCAL COMMUNITY;
(c) TO SERVE AS ACCESS POINTS FOR FREE FAST INTERNET 
CONNECTIVITY, IN LINE WITH THE POLICIES, PROGRAMS AND 
PROJECTS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION AND 
COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY (DICT);
(d) TO PROVIDE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY 
STUDENTS, TEACHERS, PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES (PWDS), 
AND SENIOR CITIZENS, AFFORDABLE AND RELIABLE RENTAL 
SERVICES FOR INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS 
TECHNOLOGY (ICT) AND EQUIPMENT SUCH AS BUT NOT LIMITED 
TO SMARTPHONES, TABLETS, LAPTOPS, DESKTOP COMPUTERS, 
AND MOBILE WIFI HOTSPOTS;
(e) to offer such other related services in the furtherance of this Act.
Sec. 3. Section 7 of Republic Act No. 7743 is hereby amended to read as
follows:
"Sec. 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) ycars:-thGrcQftGr-this local-government-tinits-shall undertakG the
maiRtcnoncG of pubfie-HbrariGS and reading centers while tho-National
Library shall-eontinuG to provide reading ■moterialG-and-GuppliGG 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."


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Sec. 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 programs, including but not limited to the 
Technology for Education, Employment, Entrepreneurs, and Economic Development 
(Tech4ED) Project.
Sec. 4. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is 
subsequently declared invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions hereof which are 
not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.
Sec. 5. Repealing Clause. - All other laws, acts, prei;idential decrees, 
executive orders, presidential proclamations, issuances, rules and regulations, or 
parts thereof which are contrary to or inconsistent with any of the provisions of this 
Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.
Sec. 6. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette ox In a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,