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

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

“a7 5" 7021

House Bill No.

INTRODUCED BY REP. JOSE “BONG” J. TEVES, JR.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

A shift into the digital platform is an inevitable occurrence in the present educational
landscape in the Philippines. Affirmed by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic where a number
‘of educational institutions still conform to online learning or at least hybrid setup, the
digitalization of our educational materials is needed. It also carries many benefits to our
students such as easy and mobile access to these materials whenever or wherever they need
such.

This proposed amendment affirms and further strengthen the goal of Republic Act No.
7743 or “An Act Providing for the Establishment of Congressional, City, and Municipal
Libraries and Reading Centers Throughout the Philippines” by enabling the digitalization of

our educational materials in our libraries.

Likewise, this is in consonance with Section 17, Article II of the 1987 Constitution
which provides that the State shall give priority to education, science and technology, arts,
culture, and sports to foster patriotism and nationalism, accelerate social progress, and promote
total human liberation and development.


In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sowght.

Representative, TGP Party-List


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

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No.__7021

INTRODUCED BY REP. JOSE “BONG” J. TEVES, JR.

AN ACT STRENGTHENING THE PHILIPPINE PUBLIC LIBRARY
SYSTEM, AMENDING THE 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. — National Library
Establishment in coordination of Public with Libraries the and Department 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 [establishm

on-_the—development_program_of the National ibrary] 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


Sec. 2.

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, ONL
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 2023, ALL THE CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES OF THE
PHILIPPINES WILL BE PROVIDED WITH AN ELECTRONICALLY-
OPERATED LIBRARY SYSTEM."

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 [in-the-eommunity] and
other kinds of exhibitions, SEMINARS, TRAINING MODULES,
WEBINARS, and a ies 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.
See. 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 of the year following its
enactment into law (endfor she-not fv (5) yers-theenir his oon goverment

National_Library-shell-continue-provide ding-materils-and-suppliesto-the-seid

jibraries-and-reading-centers]. INORDER 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 (P5S00,000,000.00) 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.


See. 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,