Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
‘Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 5080
introduced by Rep. Winston “Winnie” 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 depression 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 abté to continu
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.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bit No._ 5080

Introduced by Rep. Winston “Winnie” 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 of 2014.”

SEC. 2. There shall be established libraries in all youth detention facilities 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 2015 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,