Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

“wi.no,__ 484

Introduced by HONORABLE JUAN EDGARDO “SONNY” M. ANGARA

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Belief in the potential of every child — this is the rationale of this proposal mandating the
establishment of municipal libraries.

This bill aims to give as many children as possible the chance to develop their potential. It would
be a pity ifthe talent in a child which would flower if tended should be left to wither because the child has
no access to informative reading materials. This bill hopes to see all children grow to the apex of their
capabilities.

One of the tenets of the establishment of municipal libraries is that students develop and maintain
steady and regular reading habits. ‘This system encourages parents to help their children establish a set
time period everyday for their reading.

The mission of the establishment of municipal libraries is to expand the potential of every child to
the limit and through this, dedication to education, contribute to national development and the progress of
mankind,

‘Thus, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

JUAN EDGARDO “S
Representative
Lone District, Province of Aurora


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

484

H.B.No.__

Introduced by Honorable JUAN EDGARDO “SONNY” M. ANGARA

AN ACT

STRENGTHENING THE PROGRAM FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF
LIBRARIES NATIONWIDE, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT
NUMBERED SEVEN THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED AND FORTY THREE,
ENTITLED “AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF
CONGRESSIONAL, CITY AND MUNICIPAL LIBRARIES AND BARANGAY
READING CENTERS THROUGHOUT THE PHILIPPINES, APPROPRIATING
THE NECESSARY FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES’.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the’ Philippines in Congress
assembled:

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

1
2
3
4 “SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. — It is hereby declared. the
3 national policy to promote the moral and intellectual well-being of the
6 people: elevate the literacy level of every Filipino to the end that illiteracy is
7 eradicated by the end of the century; and recognize the vital role of
3 knowledge and information in nation-building by establishing public

9 libraries in every congressional district, PROVINCIAL, city and
10 municipality, and reading centers in every barangay [throughout the
n Philippines] NATIONWIDE.”

2 :

3 SEC. 2. Section 2 of Republic Act No. 7743 is hereby amended to read as follows:
4

13 “Sec. 2. Establishment of Public Libraries and Reading Centers. —
16 The National Library in coordination with {the Department of the Interior
” and Local Government (DILG)] LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS
18 (LGUS) CONCERNED shall undertake the establishment of [additional]
19 public libraries to. serve all congressional districts, PROVINCIAL, cities

20 and municipalities in the [Philippines] COUNTRY and reading centers in
21 every barangay except in cities or municipalities where there are existing
n public libraries or in barangays where there are existing reading centers:
2B Provided, That the establishment of such PUBLIC libraries and reading
24 centers shall be [based] CONSISTENT AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH
2s [on] the MASTER development program of the National Library: {, in

26 coordination with the development council] PROVIDED FURTHER,


THAT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF PROVINCIAL, CITY AND
MUNICIPAL PUBLIC LIBRARIES AND/OR BARANGAY READING
CENTERS IN EVERY PROVINCE, CITY AND MUNICIPALITY IS
INCLUDED-IN THE DEVELOPMENT PLAN APPROVED BY THE.
RESPECTIVE LOCAL GOVERNMENT COUNCILS [of each city or
municipality and in the case of the barangay reading centers in coordination
with the respective barangay councils): Provided furtherMORE, That, where
these public libraries and reading centers already exist, the National Library,
TOGETHER WITH THE LGUS HOSTING THESE PUBLIC
10 LIBRARIES shall continue AND PURSUE PROGRAM to upgrade the
1 facilities thereof.

2

B “The National Library shall continue to coordinate and organize seminars,
4 workshops and other trainings for ‘the professional benefit of librarians
15 NATIONWIDE.”

16

” SEC. 3. Section 3 of Republic Act No. 7743 is hereby amended to read as follows:
18
19 “See. 3. Role of the National Library. — The National Library
20 shall HELP AND ASSIST CONGRESSIONAL. DISTRICT,
2 PROVINCIAL, CITY AND MUNICIPAL PUBLIC LIBRARIES: IN
2 THE ENHANCEMENT AND UPGRADING OF LIBRARY
23 MATERIALS AND: FACILITIES, TO INCLUDE BUT, NOT
24 LIMITED TO, THE PROVISION OF THE FOLLOWING: [provide
25 the standard set of] reference books and other materials, TO INCLUDE.
26 AMONG OTHERS, [such as but not limited to] encyclopedias,
7 dictionaries, maps and globes [upon the establishment of the libraries),
28 [The National Library} IT shall continue to supply the public libraries
29 with the other books, non-book materials, equipment supplies and other
30 appropriate and relevant reference and reading materials taking into «
31 consideration the needs of the community concerned.” i}
32
33 SEC. 4. There is hereby a new section to be inserted and labeled as Section 4 of
34 Republic Act No. 7743 to read as follows:
35
36 SEC. 4. ROLE OF THE LGUS. — TO EEFECTIVELY
37 ENSURE THE CONTINUITY OF THE OPERATION OF PUBLIC
38 LIBRARIES, THE LGUS CONCERNED SHALL APPROPRIATE.
30 AT LEAST TWNETY-FIVE PERCENT (25%) FROM THEIR
40 ANNUAL SPECIAL EDUCATION FUND (SEF) TAX
4 COLLECTIONS WHICH SHALL BE UTILIZED FOR THE
2 MAINTENANCE OF THE LIBRARY INFRASTRUCTURE AND
43 FACILTIES, THE PURCHASE OF LIBRARY MATERIALS AND
44 OTHER NECESSARY EXPENSES THAT MAY BE INCURRED IN
45 ‘THE COURSE OF OPERATION.
if LGUS SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SALARY AND *
48 OTHER EMOLUMENTS OF LIBRARY PERSONNEL EXCEPT
THE SALARY AND OTHER EMOLUMENTS OF RESIDENT
e PROFESSIONAL LIBARARIANS WHICH SHALL BE GOTTEN
i FROM THE ANNUAL BUDGET OF THE NATIONAL LIBRARY.
3 SEC. 5. There is hereby a new section to be inserted and labeled as Section 5 of

34 Republic Act No. 7743 to read as follows:


4 §
2 SEC. 5. APPOINTMENT OF PROFESSIONAL LIBRARIANS.
3 - THE SELECTION AND APPOINTMENT OF PUBLIC
4 LIBRARIANS SHALL BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MERIT
3 AND FITNESS PRINCIPLE. THE APPOINTMENT OF
6 PROFESSIONAL LIBRARIANS IN ALL PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN
7 THE PROVINCIAL, CITY AND MUNICIPAL LEVELS SHALL BE
8 MANDATORY AT LEAST ONE (1) YEAR AFTER THE

9 EFFECTIVITY OF THIS ACT. PURSUANT TO THIS, ALL
10 HEADS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS  (LGUS) .
W CONCERNED SHALL ENSURE THAT BUDGETARY
2 REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PURPOSE OF EFFECTIVELY
B IMPLEMENTING THE PROVISION OF THIS ACT SHALL BE
1 INCLUDED IN THEIR ANNUAL APPROPRIATIONS. IN THE.
15 CASE OF THE BARANGAY READING CENTERS, HOWEVER,
16 APPOINTMENTS TO: THE PUBLIC LIBRARIAN POSITION
7 SHALL BE SUBJECT TO THE AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS:
18 PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT APPOINTMENTS TO THE SAME
9 POSITION IN, PERMANENT CAPACITY SHALL BE SUBJECT
20 TO THE SET REQUIREMENTS OF THE CIVIL SERVICE
2 COMMISSION.

2

23 SEC. 6. Section 5 of Republic Act No. 7743 is hereby amended to read as follows:
24

2s “Sec. [5.] 7. Period of Implementation. — The overall national
26 plan of implementation shall cover initially a period of five (5) years:

27 Provided, That those congressional di

, cities and municipalities with

28 no existing public libraries as well as barangays situated in remote,
29 isolated and rural areas, shall have priority in the allocation of resources.

30

31 Within one hundred twenty (120) days from the effectivity of this Act, the
32 National Library in (consultation with the DILG] COORDINATION
3 WITH LGUS CONCERNED, the CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT,
4 PROVINCIAL, CITY AND MUNICIPAL ENGINEER [Department of
35 Public Works and Highways (DPWH)] and the DIVISION SCHOOLS
36 SUPERINTENDENT CONCERNED OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
37 EDUCATION (DEP-ED.) [different local government units], shall come
38 out with [the list of priority areas, taking into account the commitment of
39 the local government units in the establishment and maintenance of public
40 libraries and barangay reading centers) A PROGRAM FOR THE
a EFFECTIVE COMPLIANCE TO THE PROVISIONS OF THIS
2 ACT.

43

44 SEC. 7. Section 7 of Republic Act No. 7743 is hereby amended to read as follows:
a “See. [7.] 9. Appropriations. — The SEED amount OF FIVE
47 HUNDRED MILLION PESOS FOR EVERY YEAR FOR TWO (2)
48 YEARS SHALL BE APPROPRIATED FROM THE UNEXPENDED
49 INCOME OF THE PHILIPPINE CHARITY SWEEPSTAKES
50 (PCSO). ON THE THIRD YEAR OF. THE PROGRAM AND
31 THEREAFTER, THE AMOUNT OF ONE HUNDRED MILLION.
32 (PHP100,000,000.00) fallocated necessary to carry out the provisions of
3 this Act} shall be included in the ANNUAL BUDGET OF THE

st NATIONAL LIBRARY. [General Appropriations Act of the year


following its enactment into law and-for the next five (5) years:
thereafter,] Tir}he local government units shall 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. 8. Section 9 of Republic Act No. 7743 is hereby amended to read as follow:

“Sec. [9.] 10. Rules and Regulations. — Within sixty (60) days
from the approval of this Act, the National Library, in coordination with
the [DILG] REPRESENTATIVES FROM LEAGUES OF
PROVINCES, CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES and the Philippine
Information Agency (PIA), shall promulgate the implementing rules and
regulations.”

SEC, 9. All laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations, rules and regulations, and
other issuance, or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are
hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 10. This Act shall take effect upon its publication in at least two (2) national
newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,