Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

7568

House Bill No.,

Introduced by HON. ALETA C. SUAREZ

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Libraries have been the primary source of information by students back in the day.
However, as we immerse in the digital era, finding and disseminating information have
become easier with just a click of a button. The world wide web serves as a means to
obtain information instantly. Latest technological developments in the internet and
telecommunications have undoubtedly been a greatly help to learning within and
outside schools.

In spite of this, the value of libraries as the heart of reliable information remains
the same. Having an organized repository of books, full text references, and other
research materials is important and beneficial to facilitate learning. Hence, establishing
online libraries prove to be as valuable as having physical libraries today. Online
libraries ensure accessible and available information, even in remote areas, as long as
there is internet access. However, there is a dearth of available and accessible learning,
materials, particularly books, for students in the primary, secondary, and tertiary levels.
Our online databases do not contain as much materials as that of our physical libraries.
Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic has shown us that shifting to digital platforms
allows us to adapt to emergency and crisis situations, especially where mobility of
people are limited.


This bill is filed to help transition to the digital age by digitizing books and other
reference materials relevant to the education of our youth. The establishment of the
Philippine Online Library and access to electronic copies of books, students and
educators alike will be able to continue learning activities even in the safety of their
homes. This will help alleviate the fears of the parents and teachers regarding the lack
of materials for the students even in the midst of a pandemic, wherever they may be in
the country. In the long run, as technology further advances, learning will not be as
difficult in any given time as long as there is access to the internet.

In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

Serge

HON. ALETA C. SUAREZ
Representative
Third District, Quezon Province


Rene

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Quezon City
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill No. 7568

Introduced by HON. ALETA C. SUAREZ

AN ACT
DIGITALIZING ALL BOOKS NECESSARY FOR 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 in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title - This Act shall be known as the “Philippine Online
Library Act.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy - It shall be the policy of the State to promote the
moral and intellectual well-being of the people, and ensure that its citizens are
computer literate and are provided access to an increasingly digitized world. The State
shall provide its citizens with the opportunity to increase their adaptability with
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.


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SEC. 3. Philippine Online Library - The Department of Education shall create a
digitized copy of all existing 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
Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Information and
Communications Technology (DICT).

SEC. 4. Mandatory Digitization of Textbooks. - The DepEd, in coordination with
the National Book Development Board and the National Library of the Philippines,
shall require persons or enterprises involved in book development and publishing to
submit a digitized copy of books intended for educational purposes for primary and
secondary levels. Individuals and/or enterprises engaged in book publishing registered
with the National Book Development Board shall submit digitized copies of such books
within one (1) year after the effectivity of this Act. Entities applying for International

Standard Book Number Registration on such books with the National Library of the

Philippines shall likewise submit a digitized copy of the book during registration.
SEC. 5. Provision for Access to the Digitized Copies of Textbooks. - The

Department of Education shall ensure access to the digitized copies of textbooks by

providing computers to all primary and secondary public schools nationwide.

Similarly, in order to ensure access to the digitized copies of textbooks, DICT
shall provide fast and reliable internet access to each primary and secondary public
school.

SEC. 6. Recycling of Computers - In order to offset expenses related to the
procurement of computers 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 DICT to check if the computers can still be


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used for the intent of this Act and afterwards shall be given to DepEd for deployment to
primary and secondary public schools nationwide.

SEC. 7. Additional Online Educational Materials - The Department of
Education can tap the National Library of the Philippines to complement the Philippine
Online Library’s digital repository of textbooks with additional materials that are
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.

SEC. 8. Custody over Digitized Copies of Textbooks - DepEd and the National
Library of the Philippines shall have joint custody over the digitized copies of the
textbooks. DICT shall likewise ensure the technological management of the digital
repository to ensure the integrity of the system.

SEC. 9. 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 Department of Education and by the Department of
Information and Communications Technology. An annual budget of One Hundred
Million (Php 100,000,00.00) will be included in the annual budget of the Department of
Education to make sure that the computers and internet connection of public schools for
the purpose of this Act will be maintained.

SEC. 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations - The Department of Education, the
Department of Information and Communications Technology, National Library of the
Philippines, and the National Book Development Board shall have joint responsibility
over the formulation of the Implementing Rules and Regulations necessary for the
effective execution and enforcement of this Act. They shall do so in close coordination
with the Department of Science and Technology, and other stakeholders. The
Implementing Rules and Regulations shall be released within ninety (90) days from the

approval of this Act.


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SEC. 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.

SEC. 12. Separability Clause - If, for any reason, any section or provision of this
Act, or any portion thereof, or the application of such section, provision, or portion to
any person, group, or circumstance is declared invalid or unconstitutional , the
remainder of this Act or the application of such section, provision, or portion thereof to
other persons, groups, or circumstances shall not be affected by such declaration.

SEC. 13. Effectivity - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its
publication in three (3) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved.