Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
Hou;`e -Bi`||rNo.   512 0
Introduced by Rep\resentative Gabriel H. Bordado, Jr.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
[n  order to  provide  the  Filipino  youth  with  the  best  quality  of education,  it  is
important that we adapt to the modernization  and  quickly changing technology.  We
need to give both our students and teachers with the best tools and equipment that
would maximi`ze learning.
In today's modern world, education does not only take place in the classroom
with the aid of textbooks. A lot of students now rely on  gadgets and the internet to
accomplish class requirements, store notes and lessons, and  learn more about their
lessons outside the materials provided to them. LikewiseL teachers need to find new
ways to keep lessons engaging.
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need to digitalize and modernize the
modes of education. Internet access, computers, and gadgets have shifted from being
supplementa] materials to essential requirements. But most Filipino families don't have
the resources to spend on gadgets. Having libraries is one way we could address this.
Digitalizing   educational  materials  like  modules  and  textbooks  and   making  them
available  through  the  Philippine  Online  Library  would  ensure  that  the  avenues  to
pursue education would be open to all, even those in remote areas or those with limited
resources to do so.
This  Act seeks  to  digitalize  all  books  necessary for public education  and  to
establish the Philippine Online Library.
'
GABRIEL H
3rd District,
¢RIryRInNkyom
AMARINES SUR


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
-  -duez~on City, Metro Manila
NmlETEENTH cONGREss
First Regular Session
HOus;isifirio.    5120
Introduced by Representative Gabriel H. Bordado, Jr.
AN ACT DIGITlzING ALL Boors NECEssAR¥ FOR puBLlc EI]ucATloN AND
HSTABLISHING THE pHILlppnun ONLINE LIBRARY, PROIVIDING FUNDS.
THEREFOR, AND FOR OTIIHR PURPOSHS
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House Of Representatives of the
Philippines in Congress a[ssetnLrfed:
SECTION  1. Short Title. -This Act shall be known as the "Philippine Online  Library
Act of 2022"
SEC. 2. Declaration of State Policy. - lt shall be the policy of the State to ensure that
its citizens are computer literate and are provided access to an increasingly digitized
worid. Thus, the State shall provide its citizens with the opportunity to increase their
adaptability with  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
SEC.  3.  Philippine  Online  Library -  The  Department of  Education  shall  create  a
digitized copy of all textbooks and reference books it deems necessary for the public
education of Philippine elementary and secondary students. This shall be compiled in
the  Philippine  Online  Library which  shall  be jointly  managed  by the  Department  of
Education and the Department of Information and Communications Technology
SEC.  4.  Provision  for  Access  to  the  Digitized  Copies  Of  Textbooks  -  The
Department of Education shall ensure access to the digitized copies of textbooks by
providing computers to all primary and secondary public schools nationwide. Similarly,
in  order to  ensure  access  to  the  digitized  copies  of textbooks,  the  Department  of
Lnformatie.n and CQmmunieatiens TechnQIQgy shall provide fast and reliable internet
access to each primary and secondary public school.
SEC.  5.  Recycling  of  Computers  -  ln  order  to  offset  expenses  related  to  the
procurement of computers necessary for the immediate execution of the provisions of
this    act,    national    government    agencies,    government-owned    and    controlled
corporations,  and  other  government  financial  institutions  which  shall  procure  new
endorse  their  old   units  to  the   Department  of  Information   and   Communications
Technology to check if the computers can still be used for the intent of this Act and


afterwards shall be given to the Department of Education for deployment to primary
and secondary public sch,QQls nationwide,
SEC. 6. Additional Online Educational Materials-The Department of Education can
tap  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
students.
that   it  deems   necessary  for  expanding  the   learning   opportunities  for
SEC.  7.  Custody  over  Digitized  Copies  of  Textbooks  -  The  Department  of
Education and the National Library Of the Philippines shall have joint custody over the
digitized copies Of the textbeQks. The Department Of Information and CQmmunicatiQns
Technology   shall   likewise   ensure   the   technological   management   of  the   digital
repository to ensure the integrity of the system
SEC.   8.   Appropriations   -   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 Department of Education and by the of Information
and  Communications  Technology.  An  annual  budget  of  One  Hundred  Million  (Php
100,000,000.00) will be included in the annual budget of the Department of Education
to  make sure that the  computers  and  internet connection  of public schools  for the
purpose of this Act will be maintained.
SEC. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations -The Department of Education, the
Department of Information and Communications Technology, and the National Library
of   the   Philippines   shall   have   joint   responsibility   over   the   formulation   of   the
lmplementing  Rules  and   Regulations  necessary  for  the  effective  execution  and
enforcement Of this Act. They shat[ dQ sQ in GIQse cQQrdinatien with the Department Qf
Science  and  Technology,  and  other  stakeholders.  The   lmplementing  Rules  and
Regulations shall be released within ninety (90) days from the approval of this Act
SEC.  10. Repealing Clause -AII 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. 11. Separability clause -lf, for any reason, any section or provision of this Act,
or any portion thereof, or the application of such section, provision,  or portion to any
person, group, or circumstance is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder
a.f this Act or the applieation Of such  section,  prQvisiQn,  Qr pcution thereof to  Other
persons, groups, or circumstances shall not be affected by such declaration
SEC.  12.  Effectivity  -This  Act  shall  take  effect  fifteen  (15)  days  from  complete
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,