THIRTEENTH C 
REPUBLIC OF - 
First Regular Sc 
,NGRESS OF THE 
1 
i E  PHILIPPINES 
1 
jsion 
7
-
 
) 
.,.I 
i&w+-' 
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada 
Explanatory Note 
One of the trends that go hand in hand with the phenomenon of globalization is 
the promotion of the use of information technology in various fields such as business, 
media, communication and education, With IT, learning is no longer restricted within the 
four walls of the elassroom, nor s it limited to the use of books and magazines. 
Republic Act No. 7743 was enacted specifically to put up libraries and/or reading 
centers in every city, municipality and barangay in order to boost the literacy rate of our 
citizenry. A number of years have passed already but the intent of the law has yet to be 
fully implemented. 
However, there is a need to upgrade our learning system such that every 
learning and reading center will employ the latest computer and electronic library 
technology in order to best serve our fellowmen. Hence, this bill. 
EJERCITO ESTRADA 
Senator 


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THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
, . .. 
S.B. No. C p f .  
t 
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada 
AN ACT 
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7743, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS "AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF CONGRESSIONAL, CITY, AND 
MUNICIPAL LIBRARIES AND BARANGAY READING CENTER THROUGHOUT THE 
PHILIPPINES", AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representative of the Philippines in 
Congressed assembled: 
SECTION 1. Section 2 of RA 7743 is hereby amended to read as follows: 
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 baiangays where there are existing public libraries or in barangays 
where there are existing reading centers: 
Provided, That the 
establishment program of the National Library BASED ON 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 AND OTHER MATERIALS AS 
PROVIDED UNDER SEC. 3 OF THIS ACT AS WELL AS THE LATEST 
ELECTRONIC 
LIBRARY 
SYSTEM 
USING 
COMPUTERS 
FOR 


c 
STORING, CATALOGING, AND FILING OF DATA AND MATERIALS: 
PROVIDED, FINALLY, THAT BY THE YEAR 2005, ALL THE CITIES AND 
MUNICIPALITIES OF THE PHILIPPINES WILL BE PROVIDED WITH 
ELECTRONICALLY-OPERATED LIBRARY SYSTEM. 
SECTION 2. Section 7 of RA 7748 is hereby amended to read as follows: 
Section 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 to 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 LlSRARY 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 FAC I LIT1 E S . 
SECTION 3. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and 
regulations, or portions thereof, inconsistent with this Act are herby repealed or modified 
accordingly. 
SECTION 4. This Act take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete publication in 
two (2) newspaper of general circulation. 
Approved,