Republic of the Philippines RECEIVED
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ? avres.AUe 17 ange \
Quezon City, Metro Manila FAT 20a
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EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House pitt No. 7409

Introduced by CIBAC Party-List Representatives
EDUARDO “BRO. EDDIE” C. VILLANUEVA and DOMINGO C. RIVERA

AN ACT AMENDING 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

Republic Act No. 7743 was enacted more than two decades and a half ago, “to
promote the moral and intellectual well-being of the people: elevate 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.”

Unfortunately, two and a half decades later and amidst rapid technological
advances, the Philippines is even further behind in promoting literacy and e-literacy,
especially in terms of adapting to, and adopting, new technologies towards the
promotion of literacy. In fact, while it has already been recognized globally that
Information and Communications Technology (ICT) is essential to improving
literacies,' our institutions remain to be suspended in time with antiquated materials,
equipment and facilities. This, on top of the fact that the noble objectives of Republic

* A Global measure of digital and ICT literacy skills. Australian Council for Educational Research (2016).
Available at https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/p!0000245577 (date last accessed: May 1, 2020).



‘Act No. 7743 remain to be fully realized, make the situation worse in terms of
promoting the intellectual and well-being of the people thru the provision of libraries,
and reading centers nationwide.

For example, the results of the 2018 Programme for International Students
Assessment (PISA) paint a dismal picture on the state of education and over-all
literacy of students in the country. Specifically, out of 79 countries assessed, the
Philippines was the lowest in terms of Reading Literacy (79"), and second from the
bottom for Mathematics and Science Literacy (78"), ahead only of the Dominican
Republic.

Reading Mathematics | Science
Literac Literacy Literacy
Ranking 79" 78" 78"
(out of 79 countries)
PH Average Score 340 363 367
OECD Average Score _| 487 489 489

Meanwhile, the results of pretests administered by the Philippine Informal Reading
Inventory (Phil-IRI) between July and August 2019 showed that 70,000 Bicol pupils
cannot read.

These are just some of the situations that highlight the need to improve our library and
reading center systems to pave the way for the adoption and use of new technologies
that would further promote literacy among our citizens. Thus, the early passage of this
bill is earnestly sought.

HON. EDUARBO Sal bone OLANUEVA

Hi SOJESRIVERA

2 2020, February 17. 70,000 Bicol pupils can't read - DepEd. Inquirer. Available at
https://newsinfo inquirer. net/1229537/70000-bicol-pupils-cant-read-deped (date last accessed: May 1,
2020),


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

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. _7409

Introduced by CIBAC Party-List Representatives
EDUARDO “BRO. EDDIE” C. VILLANUEVA and DOMINGO C. RIVERA

AN ACT AMENDING 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, otherwise known as “An Act
Providing for the Establishment of Congressional, City, and Municipal Libraries and
Barangay Reading Centers Throughout the Philippines,” is hereby amended to read
as follows:

Sear sHewne

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"Sec. 2. Establishment of Public Libraries and Reading Centers. — The
National Library in coordination with the Department of the Interior and
Local Government (DILG) AND ASSISTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF
INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY (DICT),
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (DEPED), AND THE COMMISSION
ON HIGHER EDUCATION (CHED) 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 already existing public libraries or
reading centers: Provided, That the establishment of such libraries and
reading centers shall be based on the development program of the
National Library, 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, THAT


THE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM OF THE NATIONAL LIBRARY
SHALL BE BASED ON THE LATEST COMPUTER AND ELECTRONIC
LIBRARY TECHNOLOGIES: 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
AND OTHER MATERIALS, AS WELL AS THE LATEST ELECTRONIC
LIBRARY SYSTEM USING COMPUTERS FOR STORING,
CATALOGING, AND FILING OF DATA AND MATERIALS: PROVIDED,
FINALLY, THAT BY 2022, ALL THE CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES OF
THE PHILIPPINES SHALL HAVE BEEN PROVIDED WITH
ELECTRONICALLY-OPERATED LIBRARY SYSTEMS.

The National library shall continue to coordinate and organize seminars,
workshops and other trainings for the professional benefit of librarians.”

SEC. 2. Role of the Department of Information and Communications Technology
(DICT). — The DICT shall assist the National Library and the DILG in the provision of
cutting-edge computer and electronic library technologies, as well as fast and reliable
internet connections.

SEC. 3. Role of Education Agencies. - The Department of Education (DepEd) and
the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) shall assist the National Library and the
DILG in the selection of standard print and non-print library materials.

SEC. 4, 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 every year thereafter, to ensure all cities and municipalities in
the Philippines are provided and have access to full electronic library facilities and the
latest library technologies and content and the same are upgraded periodically

The local government units shall continue to undertake the maintenance of public
libraries and reading centers while the National Library shall continue to provide
reading materials and supplies to the said libraries and reading centers.

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. 7. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,