Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Philippines

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 2476

INTRODUCED BY REP. MARCELINO “MARCY” R. TEODORO

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 1984 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,

eg: Tw
ARCELINO “MARCY” R. TEODORO

Representative
1st District, City of Marikina


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Philippines

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO.__2476

INTRODUCED BY REP. MARCELINO “MARCY” R. TEODORO

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PUBLIC LIBRARY
FOR EVERY BARANGAY

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Barangay Public Library Act.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is a policy of the State to enhance and promote
education and improvement of literacy among its citizens; to promote the moral and
intellectual well-being of the people; and recognize the vital role of education and
information dissemination in nation-building by establishing a public library in every
barangay. Pursuant to this policy, the State shall provide for the establishment of one
public library for every barangay.

SEC. 3. Establishment of a Public Library in Every Barangay. - The chairman of
every barangay shall coordinate with the provincial or city officer of the Department of
Education (DepEd) to make a feasibility study for the establishment of one public library
for every barangay.

SEC. 4. Role of the Department of Education. - The local office of the DepEd shall be
responsible for providing the standard set of reference books and other materials such
as but not limited to encyclopedias, dictionaries, maps and globes to every barangay
public library. The DepEd shall supply the public libraries with the other books, non-book
materials, equipment supplies and other appropriate and relevant reference and reading
materials taking into consideration the needs of the community concerned.

SEC. 5. Role of Barangay Officials. - The barangay officials shall designate one (1)
librarian to be responsible for the management of the barangay public librarian. The local
barangay officials shall also coordinate yearly with the local office of the DepEd for
updating the materials provided in the barangay public libraries.

SEC. 6. Computers in Barangay Public Libraries. - Aside from books and other
materials, every barangay public library shall have at least two (2) units of computer.

SEC. 7. Site for Barangay Libraries. - The barangay chairman shall ensure the
presence of a suitable location to be the site of the public library. As much as possible
the public library shall be situated at the centre of the barangay which is the place most
accessible to the public, especially to students.

SEC. 8. Period of Implementation. - Within one hundred twenty (120) days from the
effectivity of this Act, the DepEd and the local barangay officials, in coordination with the
Department of Public Works and Highways, shall prepare the feasibility studies for the
establishment of barangay public libraries

SEC. 9. Functions of the Barangay Public Libraries. - The barangay public libraries
shall have the following functions:


a) To make available to the members of the community reading materials of wide
array including reading materials prescribed by the DepEd and national
newspapers of general circulation and others;

b) To make available to the members of the community copies of barangay
ordinances;

©) To be used as a venue for audio-visual presentations, seminars and lectures in
the community and other kinds of exhibitions and activities aimed at increasing
the literacy rate by government agencies, non-governmental organizations or
private entities in the dissemination of information of general interest; and

d) To offer such other related services in the furtherance of this Act.

SEC. 10. 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, the local government units shall undertake the maintenance of public libraries
while the DepEd shall continue to provide reading materials and supplies to the said
libraries and reading centers.

SEC. 11. Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from the approval of this Act,
the DepEd, in coordination with the DILG and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA),
shall promulgate the implementing rules and regulations.

SEC. 12. Separability Clause. — Should any provision of this Act be declared invalid or
unconstitutional, the validity or constitutionality of the other provisions shall not be
affected thereby.

SEC. 13. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and
regulations, and other issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SEC. 14, Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,