Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE 0F REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session
HouseBillNo.      8643
Introduced by Representative Jaime R. Fresnedi
EXPLANATORY NOTE
This bill seeks to digitize all books necessary for public educational consumption by
establishing the Philippine Virtual Library.
In a world largely run by technology where most of our needs can be conveniently
accessed through digital means, it is high time to provide our educational system with sufficient
online or digital access to their textbook materials. Not only does this make our young learners
more computer literate, which in turn better prepares them for the future, but it also provides
them with the convenience  of leaming through their own  space,  time and comfort.  Highly
evidenced by the recent COVID-19 pandemic, the entire educational system was forced to shut
down and transition to  remote  leaming  wherein  students  attended  classes  online  and were
provided with materials through digital and remote access. In a haste, this pushed public school
teachers to innovate their classes by providing their students with multiple leaming materials
through their our means. [2
According to the data provided by the Department of Education (DepEd), for school
year 2022-2023 over 28 million students were eurolled in our public schools.3 With this sheer
number of students, the lack of sufficient textbook materials has been a growing concern for
us over the years. It is reported that, on average, around six (6) children share a single textbook
for a particular class in elementary school and shared by eight (8) in high school, making the
standard textbook to student ratio far from actual realization.4
This  bill  is  envisioned  to  provide  access  for  all  learners  to  digitized  copies  of all
textbooks and reading materials through the DepEd. These shall be compiled in the Philippine
Virtual Library that will be managed and maintained by the Department of Information and
1 Aineena  Hani,  Yen  Ocampo, and Azizah  Saffa,  `'Digital  Libraries to  Ease  Learning in the  Philippines -Opengov Asia,"  OpenGov Asia  -, August 20,  2021,
https://opengovasia.com/digital-libraries-to-ease-learning-in-the-philippines/.
2 Esposo-Betan, Sharon  Maria, and  Ana Maria  Fresnido. 2022.  "COVID-19  and  Philippine Academic Libraries".  /rltemat/.ona` /oumal of i/.brar/.anshJ.p 7 (1):3-
20.https://doi.org/10.23974/ij.oL2022.vol7.1.215.
3  Merlina  Malipot,  "Over 28  Million  Learners  Enrolled for SY 2022-2023:  DepEd ,"  Manila  Bulletin Online, August 22,  2022,  https://mb-com-ph.webpkgcache.com/doc/-
/s/mb.com.ph/2022/08/22/over-28-milli.on-learners-enrolled-for-sy-2022-2023-deped/.
4 "Delivering Educational Textbooks to Schools in the Philippines: Textbook Count 1-2-3," G, May 17,  2017, https://www.g-watch.org/news-release/delivering-educational-
textbooks-schools-phHippines-textbook-count-1-2-3.


Communication Technology (DICT).  The DepEd shall also ensure access to these materials
through the provision of computers and other devices. In line with this, the DICT shall ensure
that a reliable internet connection is readily available in each primary and secondary public
school so as not to hinder the leaming process we envision for the future of our public school
system.
This proposed legislation also tries to address the expenses to be incurred througfi the
procurement of the necessary devices through the recycling of old but still usable computers
from government agencies and private entities who will donate. Aside from this, this bill also
provides that should the DepEd need assistance, they may seek the support of the National
Library of the Philippines to further increase the abundance of resources within the Philippine
Virtual Library through additional reading materials and textbooks representative of Philippine
culture and literature.
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
Lone District, Muntinlupa City


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session
HousEBILLNo.8643
Introduced by Representative Jaime R. Fresnedi
ANACT
ESTABLISHING  THE  PHILIPPINE  VIRTUAL  LIBRARY,  PROVIDING  FUNDS
THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it  enacted by the  Senate  and the  House  Of Representatives  Of the  Philippines  in
Congress assembled:
SECTION  ONE.   Sfeor/  rz.//c.  - This Act  shall  be  known as the  "Pfoz./z¢pz.77e  I?z.r/#cr/
Library Act " .
See.  2.   Dec/c7rc7/7.o# a/Po/z.cj/.  - It shall be the policy of the  State to ensure that its
citizens  have  the  knowledge,  skills,  competency  and  necessary  resources  to  access  and
navigate an increasingly digitized world. Towards  this end, the State shall provide its citizens
with  the  opportunity  to  increase  their  adaptability  to  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.
See.  3.   PfeJ./zzapz.J?e  7?r/zj¢/ £z.bJ'ary.  -The  Department  of Education  (DepEd)  shall
create a digitized copy of all textbooks and reference books it deems necessary for the public
education of Philippine elementary and secondary students. These shall be compiled in the
Philippine Virtual Library which shall be jointly managed by the DepEd and the Department
of Information and Communication Technology (DICT).
Sec. 4.  4cccfs /a Dz.gztz.zed Capz.es a/rex/boots. -The DepEd shall ensure access to
the digitized copies of textbooks by providing computers or appropriate wherewithal to all
primary and secondary public schools nationwide. The DICT shall provide fast and reliable
internet access to each primary and secondary public school to ensure access to the digitized
copies of textbooks.
See. 5.  jiec};c/z.72g o/Compwfers. -National government agencies, government-owned
and controlled corporations, and other government financial institutions which shall procure
new computers shall endorse their old units to the DICT to check if the computers can still be
used for the intent of this Act. All computer units that are still usable shall then be donated to
the DepEd for deployment to primary and secondary public schools nationwide.
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See.  6.    Additional  Online  Educational  Materials.  -The DepEd  rrray  sect the
assistance and support of the National Library of the Philippines to complement the Philippine
Online Library's digital repository of textbooks with additional materials that is 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.  7.   Cwffoc7ry over Dz.grtz.zec7 Coj7z.es a/rexfboods.  -The DepEd and the National
Library of the Philippines shall have joint custody over the digitized copies of the textbooks.
The DICT shall  likewise  ensure the technological management of the digital repository to
ensure the integrity of the system.
Sec.  8. Prz.vcr/e Secfor Pczr/z.czPcz/z.o#.  -The DepEd is hereby mandated to formulate a
program  that  shall  encourage  the  participation  of private  corporations  and  civil  society
organizations in the  implementation of this Act.  The program  shall include among others,
proposals to encourage their participation in the digitization of books and in the provision of
computers.
Sec.   9.     4ppraprz.cz/J.o#J.   -  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 DepEd and DICT. The amount necessary for the continuous and
effective implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations
Act.
See. 10.   Implementing Rules and Regulations. -WThin ninety  (90) days from the
approval of this Act, the DepEd, the DICT, and the National Library of the Philippines shall
promulgate the necessary implementing rules and regulations for the effective implementation
of this Act.
Sec.  11. Seporcrbj./z.ty C/czcAse.  - If, for any reason,  any part,  section, or provisions of
this Act is held invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining provisions not affected thereby shall
continue to be in full force and effect.
Sec.12. Jtepcc7/z.ng C/cz#fe. -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.13.   EJ7j7Tecfz.vz.fy.  -This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following the
completion of its  publication  in the  Official  Gazette  or  in  at  least  two  (2)  newspapers  of
general circulation.
Approved,
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