:>,,;,, 
., I, 
<, 
,,L1._ 
*&: 
., r 
FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
._ 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
iicr -2: 
!' :' 
First Regular Session 
) 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORYNOTE 
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.* 
* This bill was originally filed during the Thirteenth Congress, Second Regular Session. 


4 
5 
6 
I 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
/ 
ucr -2 
r7r:. 
, 
FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUSLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PUBLIC LIBRARY 
FOR EVERY BARANGAY 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Barangay Public Library Act 
of 2007.” 
SECTION 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. 
SECTION 3. Establishment of a Public Library in Evev Barangay. - The chairman of 
every barangay shall coordinate with the provincial or city officer of the Department of 
Education PepEd) to make a feasibility study for the establishment of one public library for 
every barangay. 
SECTION 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 to 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. 
1 


5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
I8 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
SECTION 5. Role of Burunguy Oficiuls. - 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. 
SECTION 6. Computers in Burunguy Public Libraries. - Aside from books and other 
materials, every barangay public library shall have at least two (2) units of computer. 
SECTION 7. Site for Barungay 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. 
SECTION 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. 
SECTION 9. Functions of the Burungay Public Libraries. - The barangay public 
libraries shall have the following fnnctions: 
(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; 
(C)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. 
2 


9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
1s 
16 
17 
SECTION 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. 
SECTION 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. 
SECTION 12. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part thereof, is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 13. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, or inconsistent 
with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
SECTION 14. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
RCC-4/18/06 
3