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

NINETEENTH CONGRESS.
First Regular Session

“4 2037

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by HON. CHRISTOPHERSON “COCO” M. YAP

EXPLANATORY NOTES

"The State shall give priority to education, science and technology, arts,
culture and sports to foster patriotism and nationalism, accelerate social
progress, and promote total human liberation and development.” '

The renowned Walter Cronkite once said, “Whatever the cost of our libraries, the price
is cheap compared to that of an ignorant nation.” The State could not have agreed more
with this statement having institutionalized the public library system in 1994 with the
passage of Republic Act No. 7743, an Act Providing for the Establishment of
ngressional, City and Municipal Libraries and Barangay Reading Centers
Throughout the Philippines, and Appropriating Funds Therefore and for Other
Purposes.

In Section 1 of the said Act, the State declared it a policy “to promote the moral and
intellectual well-being of the people: clevate the literacy level of every Filipino to the end
that illiteracy is eradicated by the end of the century; and recognize the vital role of
knowledge and information in nation-building by establishing public libraries in every
congressional district, city and municipality, and reading centers in every barangay
throughout the Philippines”.

This measure seeks to establish a modern congressional library and museum in the newly
created Second Legislative District of Southern As a modern public library and
museum, it shall nor only lend our reading materials and serve as repository of cultural
assets of the second district, it shall also function as venue for face-to-face seminars and
webinars, cultural appreciation activities, public WiFi hotspot access and the likes. Aside

from that it shall also provide services that will make it easy for the public, particularly

' The 1987 Constitution, Article 2, Section 17


students and professionals, to conduct research by providing scanning, printing, and
copying services for a minimal fee.

This new library will be situated in Sogod, Southern Leyte home many schools and
colleges including the Southern Leyte State University - Main Campus, the Saint Thomas
Aquinas College, Ormoc City Institute of Technology ~ Sogod Campus, national high
schools, training centers, and other learning institutions. It shall serve both the First and
cond Legislative District of Southern Leyte being Located at the center of the

This bill also seeks to ensure that the operational expenses of the library are properly
laid out in the annual appropriations, and ensure that the officers and employees thereof
are within the organizational structure of the National Library of the Philippines. This
will ensure the efficient and adequate delivery of library and allied services; thereby
improving the education development of the people of Southern Leyte.

In view of the above, the immediate passage of this bill is hereby earnestly sought.

CHRISTOPHERSON “COCO” M. YAP
Representative, Second District of Southern Leyte


auswne

12
13
14
15

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Quezon City, Metro Manila

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 2037

Introduced by HON. CHRISTOPHERSON “COCO” M. YAP

AN ACT

ESTABLISHING THE SECOND DISTRICT OF SOUTHERN LEYTE
CONGRESSIONAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF
SOGOD, PROVINCE OF SOUTHERN LEYTE, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS

THEREFOR

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

Congress assembled:

SECTION 1.

SECTION 2.

SECTION 3.

Second District of Southern Leyte Congressional Library and
Museum, There shall be established in the Municipality of Sogod,
Province of Southern Leyte the Sccond rict of Southern Leyte
Congressional Library and Museum, which shall be under the
direct control and supervision of the National Library of the
Philippines (NLP).

Access to Digital Information. The congressional library
established by this act shall have at least ten (10) computers units
with access to the Internet, which shall be used exclusively for
education and research purposes only. The use thereof shall be free
of charge to the public.

Additional Functions. In addition to the functions of Public
Libraries as stated in Section 6 of Republic Act No, 7743, the
Second District of Southern Leyte Congressional Library shall also
have the following functions:

a. to be used as venue for seminars, training modules,
webinars, and other activities with objectives that
include but are not limited to:


19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27

28
29
30
31

32
33
34
35
36

37
38
39

41
42
43
44
45

46
47
48
49
50
51

52
53
54
5S
56
s7

58
59
60

61
62
63

SECTION 4.

SECTION 5.

SECTION 6.

SECTION 7.

increasing the functional literacy rate
encouraging a culture of reading, self-study, and
lifelong learnings

preserving local heritage and histor
4, promoting nationalism, socio-civic consciousness
and harmony through the local community.

b. to bea repository for cultural and historical assets of the
Second Legislative District of Southern Leyte.

c. to serve as access point 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),
senior citizens, and out-of-school youth affordable and
reliable services such as, but not limited to, printing,
scanning, and photocopying.

Appointment of Personnel. The Director of the NLP shall appoint
the following to manages the Second District of Southern Leyte
Congressional Library:

Librarian Ill;
Librarian I;
Administrative A:
Computer File Librarian Is
Administrative Aide Vl and
Watchman (Security Guard).

mp ep

The appointments of said positions shall be in accordance with the
Compensation and Position Classification System and other civil
service rules and regulations/ In addition, their salaries and
allowances shall be in accordance with Republic Act No. 11466,
otherwise known as the “Salary Standardization Law of 2019,”
and other applicable laws.

Appropriations, The sum of Ten Million Pesos (P10,000,000) is
hereby appropriated out of the National Treasury not otherwise
appropriated for the maintenance and operation of the library for
the current fiscal year. Thereafter, such sum as may be necessary
for the purpose of this Act shalll be included in the annual General
Appropriations Act.

Implementing Rules and Regulations. Within sixty (60) days from
the effectivity of this Act, the NLP shall promulgate the necessary
rules and regulations for the proper implementation of this Act.

Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, executive orders, issuances,
rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are
hereby repealed or modified accordingly.


64
65
66

67
68
69

70

SECTION 8.

SECTION 9.

APPROVED,

Separability Clause. If any provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provision not
affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.

Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from
the date of the completion of its publication in the Official Gazerte
or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.