Eighteenth Congress
Third Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. _____
Introduced by
REPRESENTATIVE LOREN LEGARDA
AN ACT
AMENDING 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
EXPLANATORY NOTE
This bill seeks to amend 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, Appropriating the Necessary
Funds Thereof and for Other Purposes" by ensuring that all public libraries adhere to
the demands of a globalized Filipino nation.
Republic Act No. 7743 was enacted to promote the moral and intellectual
well-being of the Filipinos by increasing the literacy rate and emphasizing the
significant role of education in nation-building through the establishment of public
libraries and/or reading centers in all local government units. Following the law, the
number of public libraries and/or reading centers should reflect the number of
barangays, municipalities, cities, provinces, or congressional districts in the country.
However, based on a 2018 report, there are only 1,455 public libraries and of which
only 40% are active.
The immense need to ensure that the country’s public libraries and reading
centers are sufficiently equipped to tackle the mounting concerns in the education
sector especially during this time of pandemic comes in the wake of reports by both
local and international individuals and organizations citing the declining access and
quality of education which negatively affects the learning outcomes and prospects of
the country’s youth.
This proposed measure ensures that funds necessary to implement the law
are provided for and increased annually until all cities and municipalities have access
to full electronic library facilities. Furthermore, the bill requires the development
council of each city or municipality to ensure that their library centers and/or reading
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centers have the latest technological equipment needed to provide electronic library
services.
The COVID-19 pandemic has amplified the need to provide accessible
learning materials to our educators and students alike. There is a need to equip
public libraries with the latest computer and electronic library facilities to make sure
that Filipino students have access to a wide variety of up-to-date learning materials.
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
LOREN LEGARDA
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Eighteenth Congress
Third Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. _____
Introduced by
REPRESENTATIVE LOREN LEGARDA
AN ACT
AMENDING 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 the 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. - 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 such libraries and reading centers shall be based on
the development program of the National Library BASED ON THE
LATEST COMPUTER AND ELECTRONIC LIBRARY TECHNOLOGY in
coordination with the development council of each city or municipality
under Sec. 106 of the Local Government Code 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
AND OTHER MATERIALS AS PROVIDED UNDER SEC. 3 OF THIS
ACT AS WELL AS THE LATEST ELECTRONIC LIBRARY SYSTEM
USING COMPUTERS FOR STORING, CATALOGING, AND FILING OF
DATA AND MATERIAL; PROVIDED, FINALLY, THAT BY THE YEAR
2024, ALL CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES OF THE PHILIPPINES BE
PROVIDED ELECTRONICALLY-OPERATED LIBRARY SYSTEM."
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SECTION 2. Sec. 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 [and for the next five (5) years
thereafter, the 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 said libraries and
reading centers]. IN ORDER 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 MILLION PESOS (P5,000,000.00) PER YEAR
UNTIL ALL CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES IN THE PHILIPPINES ARE
PROVIDED AND HAVE ACCESS TO FULL ELECTRONIC LIBRARY
FACILITIES."
SECTION 3. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, order, rules and regulations, or
portions thereof, inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete publication
in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,
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