Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE PM VARGAS 
AN ACT 
DIGITIZING ALL BOOKS NECESSARY FOR PRIMARY AND SECONDARY 
PUBLIC EDUCATION AND ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE ONLINE 
LIBRARY, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The State provides that it shall protect and promote the right of all citizens to 
quality education at all levels and shall take appropriate steps to make such education 
accessible to all.   
With the lockdowns and mobility restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, 
the landscape of education in the country has drastically changed, relying mostly on 
the ever-expanding influence of technology. For most schools with access to the internet, 
the primary option for learning mode was an online platform while those that did not 
have access to the internet resorted to modular learning.  
Among the lessons learned during the pandemic were that connectivity and 
digital information are crucial elements in ensuring that education is continuous, 
especially in remote areas.  
This bill seeks the digitization of textbooks and reference books in primary and 
secondary public schools to make them more accessible to many more learners even in 
isolated villages and eventually break down the barriers to education and learning.  
The proposed “Philippine Online Library Act” envisions an entire collection of 
essential reading materials in public schools as well as other literature materials that 
young learners can access online through computers, laptops, or other digital devices 
in all primary and secondary public schools nationwide.  
In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
REP. PM VARGAS 
Fifth District, Quezon City 
August 30, 2023
9:26 am
9001


Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE PM VARGAS 
AN ACT 
DIGITIZING ALL BOOKS NECESSARY FOR PRIMARY AND SECONDARY 
PUBLIC EDUCATION AND ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE ONLINE 
LIBRARY, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Philippine Online 
Library Act”. 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. -It shall be the policy of the State to ensure 
that its citizens are computer literate and are provided access to an increasingly 
digitized world. Thus, the State shall provide its citizens with the opportunity to 
increase their adaptability to information and communications technology and 
to enhance their learning experience by providing access to digitized copies of 
textbooks necessary for the provision of quality primary and secondary 
education. 
SECTION 3. Philippine Online Library. – The Department of Education 
(DepEd) shall create a digitized copy of all textbooks and reference books it deems 
necessary for the public education of Philippine elementary and secondary 
students. This shall be compiled in the Philippine Online Library which shall be 
jointly managed by the DepEd and the Department of Information and 
Communication Technology (DICT). 
SECTION 4. Provision for Access to the Digitized Copies of Textbooks. - The 
DepEd shall ensure access to the digitized copies of textbooks by providing 
computers, laptops, or appropriate wherewithal to all primary and secondary 
public schools nationwide. Similarly, in order to ensure access to digitized copies 
9001


of textbooks, the DICT shall provide fast and reliable internet access to each 
primary and secondary public school. 
SECTION 5. Recycling of Computers. - In order to offset expenses related to 
the procurement of computers, laptops or appropriate wherewithal necessary for 
the immediate execution of the provisions of this Act, national government 
agencies, government-owned and controlled corporations, and other government 
financial institutions which shall procure new computers shall endorse their old 
units to the DICT to check if the computers can still be used for the intent of this 
Act and afterward shall be given to DepEd for deployment to primary and 
secondary public schools nationwide. 
SECTION 6. Additional Online Educational Materials. - The DepEd may seek 
the assistance and support of the National Library of the Philippines to 
complement the Philippine Online Library's digital repository of textbooks with 
additional materials that is representative of Filipino culture and literature. 
DepEd shall also be allowed to add other online materials that it deems 
necessary for expanding the learning opportunities for students. 
SECTION 7. Custody over Digitized Copies of Textbooks. - The DepEd and 
the National Library of the Philippines shall have joint custody over the digitized 
copies of the textbooks. The DICT shall likewise ensure the technological 
management of the digital repository to ensure the integrity of the system. 
SECTION 8. Appropriations. - The initial amount of Five hundred million (Php 
500,000,000.00) shall be appropriated for the immediate implementation of this 
Act and shall be jointly managed by the DepEd and DICT. The amount necessary 
for the continuous and effective implementation of this Act shall be included in 
the annual General Appropriations Act. 
SECTION 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days 
from the approval of this Act, the DepEd, the DICT, and the National Library of 
the Philippines shall promulgate the necessary implementing rules and 
regulations for the effective execution and enforcement of this Act. 
SECTION 10. Separability Clause. -If, for any reason, any part, section, or 
provisions of this Act is held invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining 
provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
SECTION 11. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive 
orders, rules and regulations, and parts thereof which are inconsistent with the 
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SECTION 12. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days 
following the completion of its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least 
two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
 
Approved,