Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 6246

Introduced by Manila Teachers Representative
VIRGILIO S. LACSON

INTRODUCTORY NOTE

Article II, Section 17 of the 1987 Constitution states:
“The State shall give priority to education, science and technology, arts, culture, and
sports to foster patriotism and nationalism, accelerate social progress, and promote
total liberation and development.”

In the same tenor, Article XIV, Section 1 of the 1987 Constitution further provides:
“The State shall protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality education at
all levels and shall take appropriate steps 10 make such education accessible to all.”

From these State Principles enshrined in the Constitution, the State recognizes the vital role
of quality education in nation-building and development through the creation of a more
responsible and literate citizenry. To achieve such ends, the State must ensure and promote
quality education for all by providing modern digital libraries and making them accessible for
all public elementary and secondary students

E-libraries or digital libraries contribute to the improvement of skills and technological know-
how of our students. By enabling them to utilize the advancements in information and
communications technology in their studies, we are creating globally-competitive Filipinos
that are highly competent in the increasingly digitized world.

This bill aims to establish e-libraries in all public elementary and secondary schools in the
Philippines integrated by an online repository system that contains educational materials
suitable for Filipino students and researchers. To ensure access to the online repository
system, the Department of Information and Communications Technology shall provide fast
and reliable internet access to all e-libraries in all elementary and secondary public schools.

With the aim to continously develop the country’s human capital especially in the field of
education, the immediate approval of this measure is eamestly request
V, mm

VIRG! 'S. LACSON


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 6

Introduced by Manila Teachers Representative
VIRGILIO S. LACSON

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF E-LIBRARIES IN ALL
ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN THE PHILIPPINES AND
PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR

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 “E-Library Act of 2017.”
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy — It shall be the policy of the State to ensure that the citizens

are literate and are provided access to learning materials available and shared in various
digitized platforms.

The State shall provide its citizens the opportunity to enhance their individual capabilities and
learning experience through adapting the developments in information and communications
technology in the learning process by providing access to educational materials available
online.

SEC. 3. Philippine E-Library — The Department of Education in partnership with the
National Library of the Philippines shall develop an online repository system that contains
educational materials and digitized copies of books and publications suitable for Filipino
students and researchers that shall complement learning experience acquired through
textbooks and reference books given to the students.

SEC. 4, Internet Access ~ The Department of Education shall ensure access to the online
repository system by providing computers or electronic tablets/terminals to all primary and
secondary public schools nationwide.

In order to ensure access to the online repository system, the Department of Information and
Communications Technology shall provide fast and reliable internet access to all e-libraries
in all elementary and secondary public schools.

SEC. 5. Appropriations — The initial amount of Five Hundred Million (P500,000,000.00)
shall be appropriated for the implementation of this Act and shall be managed by the


Department of Education and the Department of Information and Communications
Technology.

An annual budget of One Hundred Million Pesos (P100,000,000.00) will be included in the
annual budget of the Department of Education to make sure that the technologies needed for
the implementation of this Act will be maintained.

SEC. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations - The Department of Education, the
Department of Information and Communications Technology and the National Library of the
Philippines shall issue the implementing rules and regulations to implement the provisions oif
this Act within one hundred and twenty (120) days from the effectivity of this Act.

SEC. 7. Separability Clause — If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or
unconstitutional, the provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 8. Repealing Clause — All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, proclamations,
rules and regulations or parts thereof contrary or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act
are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 9. Effectivity Clause ~ This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in the Official Gazette or at least two (2) national papers of general circulation.

Approved,