Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
AN ACT  
STRENGTHENING THE PHILIPPINE PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM, AMENDING THE 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 
With recent advancements in technology comes the need for updating of institutions. As we enter the 
digital age, schools, offices and other institutions are adopting new technologies to make learning, work 
and other processes more efficient.  
Republic Act No. 7743 “An Act Providing for the Establishment of Congressional, City, and Municipal 
Libraries and Barangay Reading Centers Throughout the Philippines” was enacted with the goal of 
increasing the literacy rate of our citizens. Libraries are important community hubs that serves as centers 
of learning and professional development. Presently, learning institutions are moving towards incorporating 
newer (digital) forms of educational materials to their databases. Considering this, libraries (as centers for 
learning) should not lag behind and ensure that they are equipped with the latest technologies that will 
provide communities better access to information.  
This measure reaffirms the essential role of public libraries as knowledge hubs by providing for the 
upgrading and strengthening of the public library system. As provided in this measure, libraries shall offer 
more services that would benefit the community such as free access to WIFI; affordable rentals of ICT 
equipment such as smartphones, tablets, laptops, desktops and mobile hotspots; and the provision of 
webinars and online training modules for personal and professional development. 
On behalf of the people of Parañaque City’s Second District, and for the common good of the Filipino 
people, the approval of the said measure is earnestly sought. 
REP. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
2nd District, Parañaque City 
September 21, 2022
1:48 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. GUSTAVO S. TAMBUNTING 
AN ACT  
STRENGTHENING THE PHILIPPINE PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM, AMENDING THE 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 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. – National Library 
Establishment in coordination of Public with Libraries the and Department 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] PROGRAM OF THE NATIONAL LIBRARY FOR 
ESTABLISHING SUCH PUBLIC LIBRARIES AND READING CENTERS SHALL BE 
CONTINUOUSLY UPDATED TO INCLUDE THE LATEST COMPUTER AND 
ELECTRONIC LIBRARY TECHNOLOGY, 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 WITH COMPLETE STANDARD SETS OF BOOKS, E-BOOKS, ONLINE 
RESEARCH RESOURCES, SUBSCRIPTIONS TO ONLINE ACADEMIC JOURNALS, 
DATABASES AND PERIODICALS, AND OTHER MATERIALS AS PROVIDED UNDER 
SEC. 3 OF THIS ACT AS WELL AS THE LATEST ELECTRONIC LIBRARY SYSTEM 
FOR STORING, CATALOGING, AND FILING OF DATA AND MATERIALS: 
PROVIDED, FINALLY, THAT BY THE YEAR 2022, ALL THE CITIES AND 
MUNICIPALITIES OF THE PHILIPPINES WILL BE PROVIDED WITH AN 
ELECTRONICALLY-OPERATED LIBRARY SYSTEM."  
Sec. 2. Section 6 of Republic Act No. 7743 is hereby amended to read as follows: 
"Sec. 6. Functions of the Public Libraries and Barangay Reading Centers. – The public 
libraries and barangay reading centers shall have the following functions:  
(a)
to make available to the members of the community reading materials of wide
array, CONTENT AND FORMAT, WHETHER PHYSICAL OR DIGITAL,
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including BUT NOT LIMITED TO reading materials prescribed by the 
Department of Education, Culture, and Sports and national newspapers of 
general circulation and others; 
 
(b) 
to be used as a venue for audio-visual presentations [in the community] and 
other kinds of exhibitions, SEMINARS, TRAINING MODULES, WEBINARS, 
and activities WITH OBJECTIVES THAT INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED 
TO THE FOLLOWING: 
 
1. 
INCREASING THE FUNCTIONAL LITERACY RATE; 
2. 
ENCOURAGING A CULTURE OF READING, SELF-STUDY AND 
LIFELONG LEARNING; 
3. 
PRESERVING THE LOCAL HERITAGE AND HISTORY; AND, 
4. 
PROMOTING NATIONALISM, SOCIO-CIVIC CONSCIOUSNESS, 
AND HARMONY THROUGHOUT THE LOCAL COMMUNITY; 
 
(c) 
TO 
SERVE 
AS 
ACCESS 
POINTS 
FOR 
FREE 
FAST 
INTERNET 
CONNECTIVITY, IN LINE WITH THE POLICIES, PROGRAMS AND 
PROJECTS 
OF 
THE 
DEPARTMENT 
OF 
INFORMATION 
AND 
COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY (DICT); 
 
(d) 
TO PROVIDE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY STUDENTS, 
TEACHERS, PERSONS WITH DISABILMES (PWDS), AND SENIOR 
CITIZENS, AFFORDABLE AND RELIABLE RENTAL SERVICES FOR 
INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY (ICT) AND 
EQUIPMENT SUCH AS BUT NOT LIMITED TO SMARTPHONES, TABLETS, 
LAPTOPS, DESKTOP COMPUTERS, AND MOBILE WIFI HOTSPOTS; 
 
(e) 
to offer such other related services in the furtherance of this Act. 
Sec. 3. Section 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 this local government units shall undertake 
the maintenance of public libraries and reading centers while the National Library shall 
continue provide reading materials and supplies to the 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 HUNDRED MILLION PESOS 
(P500,000,000.00) PER YEAR UNTIL ALL CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES IN THE 
PHILIPPINES ARE PROVIDED AND HAVE ACCESS TO FULL ELECTRONIC 
LIBRARY FACILITIES."  
Sec. 4. Role of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT). – The 
Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) shall assist in the provision of the 
cutting-edge computer and electronic library technology, as well as a fast and reliable Internet connection, 
through the Department's flagship programs, including but not limited to the Technology for Education, 
Employment, Entrepreneurs, and Economic Development (Tech4ED) Project. 
Sec. 5. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is subsequently declared Invalid or 
unconstitutional, other provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect. 


Sec. 6. Repealing Clause. – All other laws, acts, presidential decrees, executive orders, presidential 
proclamations, Issuances, rules and regulations, or parts thereof which are contrary to or Inconsistent with 
any of the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly. 
Sec. 7. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication In the Official Gazette 
or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
Approved,