FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SEN~T~ 
S. No. 
~'194 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article XIV, Section 1, states that: 
Section 1. The State shall protect and promote the right of all citizens to 
quality education at all levels, and shall take appropriate steps to make such 
education accessible to all; 
The Constitution, Article XIV, Section 2, paragraph 4, further states that: 
Section 2. The State shall: 
(4) Encourage non-formal, informal, and indigenous learning systems, as 
well as self-learning, independent, and out-of-school study programs particularly 
those that respond to community needs; 
In order to promote information dissemination and the availability of educational 
materials throughout the country, Congress passed on 17 June 1994 Republic Act No. 7743, "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". 
R. A. No. 7743, Section 2, provides that: 
Section 2. Establishment of Public Libraries and Reading Centers. -
The 
National Library in coordination With the Department of the 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 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 further, That where these public 
libraries and reading centers already exist the National Library shall continue to 
upgrade the facilities thereof. 


Considering the need to educate citizens about new knowledge and information, it is 
necessary to enact a law that will require the establishment of one (1) public library for everY 
barangay. This will ensure that constituents from the most basic unit of society will have ready 
access to a wide array of information which is necessarY for their education. 
This Act aims to provide for the establishment of one public librarY for everY barangay, 
based on the number of its constituents.' . 
bw", 4~,v4~ ~,L.t0 
,p",MIRIAM DEF~SOR SA~TIA~ 
• This bill was originally filed during the Thirteenth Congress, Second Regular Session. 
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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SEN1.T~ 
S.No. 1494 
c • . 
;" 
'. 
' 
" 
10 JIllS .,3:28 
. 
()/~! 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago _W"lUII\';· \. ' 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PUBLIC LIBRARY 
FOREVERYBARANGAY 
,. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Barangay Public Library 
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Act." 
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SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. -It is a policy of the State to enhance and promote 
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education and improvement of literacy an;lOng its citizens; to promote the moral and intellectual 
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well-being of the people; and recognize the vital role of education and information dissemination 
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in nation-building by establishing a public library in every barangay. Pursuant to this policy, the 
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State shall provide for the establishment of one public library for every barangay. 
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SECTION 3. 
Establishment of a Public Library in Every Barangay. - The chairman of 
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every barangay shall coordinate with the provincial or city officer of the Department of 
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Education (DepEd) to make a feasibility study for the establishment of one public library for 
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every barangay. 
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SECTION 4. 
Role of the Depa~tment of Education. - The local office of the DepEd 
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shall be responsible for providing the standard set of reference books and other materials such as 
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but not limited to encyclopedias, dictionaries, maps and globes to every barangay public library. 
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The DepEd shall to supply the public libraries with the other books, non-book materials, 
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equipment supplies and other appropriate and relevant reference and reading materials taking 
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into consideration the needs of the community concerned. 


SECTION 5. Role of Barangay Officials. - The barangay officials shall designate one 
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(1) librarian to be responsible for the management of the barangay public librarian. The local 
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barangay officials shall also coordinate yearly with the local office of the DepEd for updating the 
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materials provided in the barangay public libraries. 
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SECTION 6. Computers in Barangay Public Libraries. - Aside from books and other 
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materials, every barangay public library shall have at least two (2) units of computer. 
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SECTION 7. 
Site for Barangay Libraries. - The barangay chairman shall ensure the 
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presence of a suitable location to be the site of the public library. As much as possible the public 
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library shall be situated at the centre of the barangay which is the place most accessible to the 
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public, especially to students. 
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SECTION 8. Period of Implementation. - Within one hundred twenty (120) days from 
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the effectivity of this Act, the DepEd and the local barangay officials, in coordination with the 
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Department of Public Works and Highways, shall prepare the feasibility studies for the 
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establishment ofbarangay public libraries. 
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SECTION 9. 
Functions of the Barangay Public Libraries. - The barangay public 
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libraries shall have the following functions: 
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(A) To make available to the members of the community reading materials of wide array 
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including reading materials prescribed by the DepEd and national newspapers of 
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general circulation and others; 
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(8) To make available to the members ofthe community copies ofbarangay ordinances; 
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(C) To be used as a venue for audio-visual presentations, seminars and lectures in the 
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community and other kinds ~f exhibitions and activities aimed at increasing the 
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literacy rate by government agencies, non-governmental organizations or private 
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entities in the dissemination of information of general interest; and 
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(D)TQ offer such other related services in the furtherance of this Act. 
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SECTION 10. Appropriations. -
The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of 
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this Act shall be included in the General Appropriations Act of the year following its enactment 
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into law, the local government units shall undertake the maintenance of public libraries while the 
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DepEd shall continue to provide reading materials and supplies to the said libraries and reading 
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centers. 
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SECTION 11. Rules and Regulations. -
Within sixty (60) days from the approval of 
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this Act, the DepEd, in coordination with the DILG and the Philippine Information Agency 
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(PIA), shall promulgate the implementing rules and regulations. 
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SECTION 12. 
Separability Clause. - If any provision or part thereof, is held invalid or 
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. unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
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valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 13. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
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order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, or inconsistent 
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with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 14. Effictivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved. 
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