Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representatives
DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL ARROYO and GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PUBLIC LIBRARY FOR
EVERY BARANGAY AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

EXPLANATORY NOTE

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 substantiate the ideals of these particular sections of the
Constitution, Congress passed 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.

While R.A. 7743, in particular Section 2, paved the way for quality
education to be accessible to cities and municipalities through public libraries;
and barangays through reading centers, new innovative breakthroughs in
knowledge and information must be fully utilized for constituents especially at the
most basic unit of Philippine society which is the barangay.

It is therefore necessary to pass this proposed measure that will require
the establishment of one (1) public library for every barangay to ensure that
ready access to a wide array of information necessary for quality education to
make its way to the people at the barangay level.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate enactment of this bill is most
earnestly requested

DIOSDADO ub AL ARROYO. cog MACAPAGAJ. ARROYO

Second District, Camarines Sur cond District, Pampanga


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No.__1

Introduced by Representatives
DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL ARROYO and GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PUBLIC LIBRARY FOR
EVERY BARANGAY AND APPROPRIATING 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 “Barangay
Public Library Act of 2010."

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 Every Barangay. — The
chairman of every barangay shall coordinate with the provincial or city officer of
the Department of Education (DepEd) 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.

SECTION 5. Role of Barangay Officials. - 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 Barangay 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 Barangay 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 center 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 Barangay Public Libraries. — The barangay
public libraries shall have the following functions:

(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.
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

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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. — \f 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,