Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Queson City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 8027

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

AN ACT STRENGTHENING THE PHILIPPINE PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM,
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE 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

This measure seeks to ensure that every congressional, city, or municipal libraries and
barangay reading centers are equipped with the latest information management
systems.

With the challenges arising from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, public libraries and
reading centers should not only lend out reading materials but also provide other
services that would benefit the community. Services may include access to free WiFi,
and affordable rentals of ICT equipment like smartphones, tablets and mobile WiFi
hotspots.

Now, more than ever, learning is an activity that is beyond the classroom. Public
libraries can also provide seminars, webinars and training modules that can help
promote a culture of reading and learning. Public libraries and reading centers should
also have an active role in the preservation of local heritage and history to promote
nationalism and socio-civic consciousness.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is most earnestly sought.

ord

LUIS RAY! ID “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

NOV 19 2020


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 8027

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

AN ACT STRENGTHENING THE PHILIPPINE PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM,
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE 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:

Section 1. Section 2 of Republic Act No. 7743 is hereby amended to read as follows:

"Sec. 2. Establishment of Public Libraries and Reading Centers. - The
National Library in coordination with the Department of the Interior and
Local Government (DILG) shall undertake the establishment of additional
public libraries to serve all congressional districts, cities and
municipalities in the Philippines and reading centers in every barangay
except in cities or municipalities where there are existing public libraries
or in barangays where there are existing reading centers: Provided that

the-developmant th National_Library} PROGRAM
OF THE NATIONAL LIBRARY FOR ESTABLISHING SUCH PUBLIC
LIBRARIES AND READING CENTERS SHALL BE CONTINUOUSLY
UPDATED TO INCLUDE THE LATEST COMPUTER AND
ELECTRONIC LIBRARY TECHNOLOGY, in coordination with the
development council of each city or municipality and in the case of the
barangay reading centers, in coordination with the respective barangay
councils: Provided, further, That where these public libraries and reading
centers already exist, the National Library shall continue to upgrade the
facilities thereof WITH COMPLETE STANDARD SETS OF BOOKS, E-
BOOKS, ONLINE RESEARCH RESOURCES, SUBSCRIPTIONS TO
ONLINE ACADEMIC JOURNALS, DATABASES AND PERIODICALS,



AND OTHER MATERIALS AS PROVIDED UNDER SEC. 3 OF THIS
ACT AS WELL AS THE LATEST ELECTRONIC LIBRARY SYSTEM
FOR STORING, CATALOGING, AND FILING OF DATA AND
MATERIALS: PROVIDED, FINALLY, THAT BY THE YEAR 2022, ALL
THE CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES OF THE PHILIPPINES WILL BE
PROVIDED WITH AN ELECTRONICALLY OPERATED LIBRARY
SYSTEM."

Sec. 2. Section 6 of Republic Act No. 7743 is hereby amended to read as follows:

"Sec. 6. Functions of the Public Libraries and Barangay Reading Centers.—The
public libraries and barangay reading centers shall have the following functions:

(a) to make available to the members of the community reading materials
of wide array, CONTENT AND FORMAT, WHETHER PHYSICAL OR
DIGITAL, including BUT NOT LIMITED TO reading materials prescribed
by the Department of Education, Culture, and Sports and national
newspapers of general circulation and others;

(b) to be used as a venue for audio-visual presentations [inthe
community] and other kinds of exhibitions, SEMINARS, TRAINING
MODULES, WEBINARS, and activities WITH OBJECTIVES THAT
INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING:

1, INCREASING THE FUNCTIONAL LITERACY RATE;

2. ENCOURAGING A CULTURE OF READING, SELF-STUDY AND
LIFELONG LEARNING;

3. PRESERVING THE LOCAL HERITAGE AND HISTORY; AND,

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 ofthe year following its enactment
into law [and-tor-the-next-five (6) years: thereatter—th Hg f-units-shall
ndertake the malntenance-of public
: pees rears
J. 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.

Sec. 4. 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. 5. 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. 6. Repealing Clause. -All other laws, acts, presidential 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 or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,