TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
SENATE
S. No. 7"'95
i r
of iHc fu i<iip
25 AUG-4 PI :15
received av
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda
AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF LATE-NIGHT LEARNING 
HUBS IN HIGHLY URBANIZED AND FIRST-CLASS COMPONENT CITIES TO 
PROVIDE SAFE, SUSTAINABLE, AND ACCESSIBLE PUBLIC STUDY SPACES, 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Philippine Constitution guarantees the right to quality education at all levels 
and mandates the State to make such education accessible to all (Article XIV, Section 
1). Public libraries play a vital role in fulfilling this constitutional mandate by serving 
as inclusive spaces for reading, research, and lifelong learning. Republic Act No. 7743, 
enacted in 1994, laid down this vision by providing for the establishment of 
congressional, city, and municipal libraries and barangay reading centers nationwide.
However, the needs of Filipino learners and the nature of learning itself have 
significantly evolved in the past three decades. In today's highly urbanized and digitally 
driven environment, many students resort to 24-hour coffee shops, fast-food chains, 
and convenience stores just to find a place to study or access the internet. These 
spaces are not always safe, accessible, or conducive to learning—often posing financial 
burdens and exposing students to late-night risks.
This bill seeks to modernize Republic Act No. 7743 by institutionalizing Late- 
Night Learning Hubs within public libraries, particularly in highly urbanized and first- 
class component cities. These hubs shall remain open beyond regular hours—and in 
key cities, operate 24/7—and be equipped with essential amenities such as reliable 
Wi-Fi, charging stations, study desks, lighting, and restrooms. The measure also 
mandates that these facilities be accessible via public and active transport (e.g., bike


racks and pedestrian pathways), ensuring safe and inclusive mobility for students and 
users.
To future-proof library infrastructure and align with the country's environmental 
goals, the bill also encourages green building design, including energy-efficient 
lighting, solar energy systems, and water conservation features. Moreover, national 
government agencies such as the Department of Education (DepEd), Department of 
Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Department of the Interior and 
Local Government (DILG), and the National Library of the Philippines are tasked to 
provide the technical support and digital infrastructure necessary for sustainable 
implementation.
The Late-Night Learning Hubs Act affirms the State's commitment to 
educational access, safety, and sustainability. It ensures that public libraries are not 
only preserved, but meaningfully transformed to meet the needs of a new generation 
of learners in a knowledge-based and digitally connected society.
In view of the foregoing, the urgent passage of this bill is sought.
^REN LEGARDA


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
SENATE
►•1
S. No.
r95
jran’r
of l!)f
25 AUG-4 PI :16
RliCeVtDB;
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda
AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF LATE-NIGHT LEARNING 
HUBS IN HIGHLY URBANIZED AND FIRST-CLASS COMPONENT CITIES TO 
PROVIDE SAFE, SUSTAINABLE, AND ACCESSIBLE PUBLIC STUDY SPACES, 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Late-Night Learning
2 
Hubs Act."
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to promote inclusive
4 
access to education and safe learning environments, particularly in highly urbanized
5 
and densely populated areas. To support students who study during late hours and
6 
reduce dependence on commercial establishments, the State shall institutionalize the
7 
establishment of 24/7 public libraries that are accessible, well-equipped,
8 
environmentally sustainable, socially inclusive, and conducive for academic use.
9 
Sec. 3. Mandatory Establishment of 24/7 Public Libraries or Study Hubs. - All
10 
highly urbanized cities (HUCs) and first-class component cities shall establish and
11 
operate at least one public library or study hub that remains open and operational
12 
twenty-four (24) hours a day, seven (7) days a week.
13 
These facilities must be safe, well-lit, and equipped with essential amenities
14 
such as broadband internet, charging stations, study desks, and clean restroom
15 
facilities. They shall be designed or retrofitted in accordance with recognized green
16 
building standards, incorporating energy-efficient lighting, solar panels, rainwater


1 
harvesting systems, and other sustainability features to reduce their environmental
2 
footprint and operational costs.
3 
Sec. 4. Accessible Location and Active Transport Integration. - To promote
4 
inclusive mobility, 24/7 public libraries shall be located in accessible areas and
5 
supported by active transport infrastructure, including but not limited to bicycle racks,
6 
pedestrian walkways, and proximity to public transportation stops to ensure ease of
7 
access for users at all hours.
8 
Sec. 5. Green and Climate-Resilient Infrastructure and Procurement - To
9 
encourage sustainability and resilience in public infrastructure, local government units
10 
are strongly encouraged to design, retrofit, and operate Late-Night Learning Hubs in
11 
accordance with green building principles and climate-adaptive features. This may
12 
include the use of energy-efficient lighting, passive cooling systems, solar energy,
13 
water-saving technologies, and disaster-resilient design, particularly in flood- or
14 
earthquake-prone areas.
15 
LGUs are further encouraged to adopt environmentally and culturally
16 
responsive procurement practices. This includes prioritizing 
locally sourced,
17 
renewable, or recycled materials—such as sustainably harvested bamboo, rattan,
18 
abaca, and other indigenous and heritage-based materials—for furniture, furnishings,
19 
and finishes used within the hubs.
20 
In support of these efforts, national government agencies may provide
21 
technical assistance, knowledge-sharing platforms, or grant incentives to LGUs that
22 
adopt innovative or exemplary green and cultural design practices in their
23 
implementation of this Act.
24 
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), in coordination
25 
with the Climate Change Commission (CCC), the National Commission for Culture and
26 
the Arts (NCCA), and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), shall develop
27 
supplemental guidelines or incentive programs to support local governments in
28 
adopting sustainable and culturally respectful standards under this section.
29 
Sec. 6. Social Inclusion and Accessibility. - No person shall be denied access to
30 
Late-Night Learning Hubs on the basis of age, gender, disability, reiigion, ethnicity,
31 
sexual orientation, gender identity or expression (SOGIE), or socioeconomic status.


1 
All facilities shall adopt gender-responsive and disability-inclusive designs, including
2 
but not limited to: separate and secure restrooms for all genders; ramps, tactile
3 
surfaces, and assistive technology for persons with disabilities; and well-lit, safe
4 
premises with trained security personnel and surveillance systems.
5 
The design and operation of these facilities shall be coordinated with the
6 
Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), the National Council on Disability Affairs
7 
(NCDA), and the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).
8 
Sec. 7. Safe Spaces and Anti-Harassment Protocols. - The Late-Night Learning
9 
Hubs shall implement safety measures in accordance with Republic Act No. 11313 or
10 
the Safe Spaces Act. Library staff and security personnel shall undergo gender
11 
sensitivity and anti-sexual harassment training. Each facility shall post clear safe space
12 
guidelines, and provide accessible mechanisms for reporting and addressing violations.
13 
Sec. 8. Community Participation and Feedback Mechanisms. - LCDs shall
14 
ensure meaningful community engagement in the planning and operation of Late-
15 
Night Learning Hubs. Youth groups, student organizations, women's and PWD
16 
organizations, and civil society shall be consulted. Each facility shall maintain an
17 
anonymous feedback system, both onsite and online, to continuously monitor safety,
18 
accessibility, and service delivery.
19 
Sec. 9. Support from National Agencies. - The Department of the Interior and
20 
Local Government (DILG), in coordination with the Department of Education (DepEd),
21 
the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), the
22 
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and the National Library
23 
of the Philippines (NLP), shall assist LGUs in the planning, technical implementation,
24 
staffing, and sustainability of these facilities.
25 
Sec. 10. Implementation Plan and Reporting. - Within six (6) months from the
26 
effectivity of this Act, covered LGUs shall submit to the DILG a library development
27 
and operations plan that includes site identification, facility design, sustainability
28 
components, budget allocation, and staffing arrangements for overnight operations.
29 
The DILG shall consolidate and submit an annual progress report to Congress
30 
on the status of implementation, challenges encountered, and best practices, for a
31 
period of five (5) years.


1 
Sec. 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days from
2 
the effectivity of this Act, the DILG, in coordination with DepEd, DICT, DENR, CCC,
3 
NLP, PCW, NCDA, and CHR, shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for
4 
the effective implementation of this Act.
5 
Sec. 12. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the initial implementation
6 
of this Act shall be charged against the current appropriations of the concerned local
7 
government units. Thereafter, such amounts necessary for the continued
8 
implementation shall be included in the annual budgets of the concerned LGUs.
9 
Sec. 13. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders,
10 
rules and regulations, or parts thereof that are inconsistent with the provisions of this
11 
Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
12 
Sec. 14. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or
13 
unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force
14 
and effect.
15 
Sec. 15. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
16 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,