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Republic of the Philippines > RECEIVED i
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES m
Batasan Hills, Quezon City DATE July? 2022 w
* TIME 2:24pm *
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 9 BY i
First Regular Session <<

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House Bill No.__ 1582

Introduced by
HON. YEDDA MARIE K. ROMUALDEZ
and
HON. JUDE A. ACIDRE

AN ACT
DIGITIZING ALL BOOKS NECESSARY FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION AND
ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE ONLINE LIBRARY, PROVIDING FUNDS
THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to establish the Philippine Online Library and mandate
the digitizing of all textbooks necessary for the public education of elementary
and secondary students to ensure access to and availability of leaming
materials and references.

The COVID-19 pandemic has manifested the significance of digital
technology, especially in the lives of children, serving as an important tool for
their education, socialization, expression, and inclusion. Schools shifted to
online learning and offices and workplaces moved to remote work.

Thus, digitizing textbooks and references and the creation of this online
library will match the pace of the emerging technologies. This will enable the
‘students to have an enhanced learning experience, ensure that they are skilled


in using computers, and have an equal access to the increasingly digitized

world.

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

Rep. YEDDA MARIE K. ROMUALDEZ
Representative/Tingog Sinirangan

Rep. JUDEA. ACIDRE
Representative, Tingog Sinirangan


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Batasan Hills, Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. __1582

Introduced by
HON. YEDDA MARIE K. ROMUALDEZ
and
HON. JUDE A. ACIDRE

AN ACT
DIGITIZING ALL BOOKS NECESSARY FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION AND
ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE ONLINE LIBRARY, PROVIDING FUNDS
THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Philippine
Online Library Act of 2022.”

Section 2. Declaration of Policy. — tis the policy of the State to ensure
that its citizens are computer literate and are provided access to an increasingly
digitized world. 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.

Section 3. Philippine Online Library.— The. Department of Education
(DepEd) 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

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which shall be jointly managed by the Department of Education (DepEd) and
the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT).

Section 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, laptops, or appropriate
wherewithal to all primary and secondary public schools nationwide. Similarly,
to ensure access to the digitized copies of textbooks, the Department of
Information and Communications Technology shall provide fast and reliable
internet access to each primary and secondary public school.

Section 5. Recycling of Computers. - \n order to offset expenses
related to the procurement of computers, laptops, or appropriate wherewithal
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 computers shall
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 schools nationwide.

Section 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 that it deems
necessary for expanding the learning opportunities of students.

Section 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 textbooks. The Department of
Information and Communications Technology shall likewise ensure the
technological management of the digital repository to ensure the integrity of the
system.


Section 8. Appropriations. — The initial amount of Five Hundred Million
(Php500,000,000.00) shall be appropriated for the immediate implementation
of this Act and shall be jointly managed by the Department of Education and
Department of Information and Communications Technology. An annual budget
of One Hundred Million (Php100,000,000.00) will be included in the annual
budget of the Department of Education to make sure that the equipment and
internet connection of public schools for the purpose of this Act will be
maintained.

Section 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department
of Education (DepEd), the Department of Information and Communications
Technology (DICT), and the National Library of the Philippines shall have joint
responsibility over the formulation of the Implementing Rules and Regulations
necessary for the effective execution and enforcement of this Act. They shall
do so in close coordination with the Department of Science and Technology
(DOST) and other stakeholders. The Implementing Rules and Regulations shall
be released within ninety (90) days from the approval of this Act.

Section 10. Separability Clause. — \f any provision of this Act is
declared invalid or unconstitutional, the provisions not affected thereby shall
remain in full force and effect.

Section 11. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees,
executive orders, presidential proclamations, rules and regulations or parts
thereof contrary to or inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly.

Section 12. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general

circulation.

Approved,