Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No, 4343

Introduced by Representatives
DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL ARROYO and GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO

AN ACT
PROMOTING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF MOBILE LIBRARIES, PROVIDING
TACTICAL, AND INGENIOUS INITIATIVES FOR ITS IMPLEMENTATION AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

For the longest time, libraries have been and shall always be the engines
of civilization’s progress. It is the repository of civilization’s great traditions: the
gathering and dissemination of hard-won human wisdom.

It is one institution that serves as the gateway to the past, the present and
the future. in the library, one can find the resources to examine and confront our
most difficult problems. Libraries provide individuals the weapon to hurdle
obstacles and the remarkable power to change.

But recent years would prave, however, of the serious concern about the
apparent decline in the utilization of libraries which is tantamount to a
corresponding decline in reading.

in a nationwide survey on Filipino youth by McCann Erickson (Philippine
Business Magazine, 2001) a couple of years ago reported that during free time,
88% watch TV, 73% listen to the radio, 50% read books, 37% use the intemet
and 12% use cell phones. According to educator Patricia Licuanan in her paper
“Books an¢ Schools” delivered in 2007, the above mentioned figures may have
dramatically changed since this particular survey reveals the introduction of cell


phone and intemet usage. She observed that, “in contrast to subways in Tokyo
and New York, hardly anyone reads in our MRT and LRT lines. Thase who do,
most of the time, read the tabloids offered free by major broadsheets. In public
schools, teachers lament how students no longer read, the same case once they
reach their homes. Moreover, their parents no longer buy/read newspapers
preferring to spend their 20 pesos on food or transportation.”

Dr. Licuanan further stated, “the decline in reading is generally attributed
to a number of factors. Poverty has been identified as one major culprit. Poor
children have little access to reading materials in school and at home considering
them a luxury more than a necessity. To further compound things, libraries in
poor communities are often inferior and are open less. But then again, we have
also counter examples to show how the deciine in the reading culture may not be
completely attributed to poverty as homes of well-off families often have toys and
gadgets more visible than books. Increased participation in a variety of
electronic media, including the intemet, video games, and portable digital
services has been found to correlate with the decline in reading. Spending for
electronics has surpassed spending for books.”

This legislation is being proposed with the humble objectives of: (1)
promoting the establishment of mobile libraries; and (2) bringing these libraries
closer to the users and encouraging citizens to, once again, read books and
other useful and informational materials.

Due to the reasons stated above, the expeditious approval of this bil is
eamestly sought.

DIOSDADO L ARROYO GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO
Second District, Cantarines Sur nd District, Pampanga


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

4343

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representatives
DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL ARROYO and GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO

AN ACT
PROMOTING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF MOBILE LIBRARIES, PROVIDING
TACTICAL, AND INGENIOUS INITIATIVES FOR ITS IMPLEMENTATION AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES,

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be cited as the "Mobile Libraries
Act of 2011,"

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is declared a policy of the State to
protect and promote the right of citizens to quality education and to take
appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all. Towards this end,
the Stale shall provide the necessary framework and resources for the
implementation of educational programs, projects and services; encouraging
local initiatives for the improvement of the citizens.

Toward this end, it is the objective of this Act to give meaning and accord
full significance to the said constitutional provision by promoting one of the most
significant aspects of education: reading. And the same can be achieved
through the creation of mobile libraries.

The mobile library is a service or an activity of many types of libraries. It is
settled to facilitate users who find it inconvenient to go to the fibrary because of


the distance, time, expense, lack of knowledge on library, and the lack of reading
habit.

SECTION 3. Government Initiative in the Creation of Mobile Libraries. —
Beginning the year this Act is approved, the amount of One Hundred Million
pesos (Php 100,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated from the combined earnings
of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and Philippine
Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO). The budgetary support must be continued
for seven (7) years or longer, upon reasonable determination of the usefulness,
felevance and effectiveness of mobile libraries as tools for education and
empowerment of citizens.

The National Library of the Philippines shall be the main govemment
agency to implement the provisions of this Act. The National Library shalt consult
relevant and concemed private and public offices, non-govemment
organizations, members of the academe and local government leaders on
matters that will best promote and implement the establishments of mobile
libraries and its effective utilization.

SECTION 4. Incentives for Private Corporations that will Adopt, Donate or
Establish Mobile Libraries. — The Department of Finance shall issue the relevant
guidelines that will provide fiscal and tax incentives to private companies,
organizations and foreign donors that will adopt, donate or establish mobile
libraries in the country.

SECTION 5. Other Activities That Can Be Sponsored by Mobile Libraries.
~ To implement the objectives and aims of this Act, mobile libraries can be used
to sponsor and conduct book weeks, book fairs, book clubs, recognition rites for
frequent borrowers, displaying new books and featured selections/collections,
exposition of library instruction programs, among others.

Mobile libraries can also engage in sponsoring livelihood programs,
walking tours of historic and cultural heritage areas, socio-economic workshops
and trainings and others.

SECTION 6. implementing Rules end Regulations. — The National Library
of the Philippines in consultation with relevant offices shall issue the necessary
rules and regulations sixty (60) days after the approval of this Act.

SECTION 7. Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act is declared
invalid of unconstitutional, the other provisions not so declared shall remain in
force and effect.

SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and
regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or
modified accordingly.


SECTION 9. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
its complete publication in the Official Gazette or any newspaper of general
circulation.

Approved,