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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 7941

Introduced by HON. JOY MYRA S. TAMBUNTING

EXPLANATORY NOTE

With recent advancements in technology comes the need for updating of institutions, As we enter
the digital age, schools, offices and other institutions are adopting new technologies to make
learning, work and other processes more efficient.

Republic Act No. 7743 “An Act Providing for the Establishment of Congressional, City, and
Municipal Libraries and Barangay Reading Centers Throughout the Philippines” was enacted with
the goal of increasing the literacy rate of our citizens. Libraries are important community hubs
that serves as centers of learning and professional development. Presently, learning institutions
are moving towards incorporating newer (digital) forms of educational materials to their
databases. Considering this, libraries (as centers for learning) should not lag behind and ensure
that they are equipped with the latest technologies that will provide communities better access
to information.

This measure reaffirms the essential role of public libraries as knowledge hubs by providing for
the upgrading and strengthening of the public library system. As provided in this measure,
libraries shall offer more services that would benefit the community such as free access to WIFI:
affordable rentals of ICT equipment such as smartphones, tablets, laptops, desktops and mobile
hotspots; and the provision of webinars and online training modules for personal and professional
development.

On behalf of the people of Parafiaque City’s Second District, and for the common good of the
Filipino people, the approval of the said measure is earnestly sought.

AR | (i
RI YRA S. TAMBUNTII
‘2yd District, Parafiaque Ci

hov 16 228


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House BILL No, 7941

Introduced by HON. JOY MYRA S. TAMBUNTING
eS

AN ACT
STRENGTHENING THE PHILIPPINE PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM, AMENDING THE
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7743, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS "AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF CONGRESSIONAL, CITY, AND MUNICIPAL LIBRARIES AND
BARANGAY READING CENTERS THROUGHOUT THE PHILIPPINES," AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:
SECTION 1. Section 2 of Republic Act No. 7743 Is hereby amended to read as follows:

Sec. 2. Establishment of Public Libraries and Reading Centers. - National Library
Establishment in coordination of Public with Libraries the and Department 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 [ F
ter5_shall_be-based-on-the-development_programm_of the National brary]
PROGRAM OF THE NATIONAL LIBRARY FOR ESTABLISHING SUCH
PUBLIC LIBRARIES AND READING CENTERS SHALL BE CONTINUOUSLY
UPDATED TO INCLUDE 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,
E-BOOKS, ONLINE RESEARCH RESOURCES, SUBSCRIPTIONS TO ONLINE
ACADEMIC JOURNALS, DATABASES AND PERIODICALS, AND OTHER
MATERIALS AS PROVIDED UNDER SEC. 3 OF THIS ACT AS WELL AS THE
LATEST ELECTRONIC LIBRARY SYSTEM FOR STORING, CATALOGING,
AND FILING OF DATA AND MATERIALS: PROVIDED, FINALLY, THAT BY
THE YEAR 2022, ALL THE CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES OF THE



PHILIPPINES WILL BE PROVIDED WITH AN ELECTRONICALLY-
OPERATED LIBRARY SYSTEM."

Sec. 2. Section 6 of Republic Act No. 7743 is hereby amended to read as follows:

"Sec. 6, Functions of the Public Libraries and Barangay Reading Centers. - The
public libraries and barangay reading centers shall have the following functions:

(a) to make available to the members of the community reading materials of

(b)

1.
2.

3.
4

wide array, CONTENT AND FORMAT, WHETHER PHYSICAL OR
DIGITAL, including BUT NOT LIMITED TO reading materials
prescribed by the Department of Education, Culture, and Sports and
national newspapers of general circulation and others;

to be used as a venue for audio-visual presentations [ia the- community]
and other kinds of exhibitions, SEMINARS, TRAINING MODULES,
WEBINARS, and activities WITH OBJECTIVES THAT INCLUDE BUT
ARE NOT LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING:

» INCREASING THE FUNCTIONAL LITERACY RATE;

» ENCOURAGING A CULTURE OF READING, SELF-STUDY AND
LIFELONG LEARNING;

5 PRESERVING THE LOCAL HERITAGE AND HISTORY; AND,

PROMOTING NATIONALISM, SOCIO-CIVIC

CONSCIOUSNESS, AND HARMONY THROUGHOUT THE

LOCAL COMMUNITY;

(c) TO SERVE AS ACCESS POINTS FOR FREE FAST INTERNET

(a)

CONNECTIVITY, IN LINE WITH THE POLICIES, PROGRAMS AND
PROJECTS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION AND
COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY (DICT);

TO PROVIDE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY
STUDENTS, TEACHERS, PERSONS WITH DISABILMES (PWDS),
AND SENIOR CITIZENS, AFFORDABLE AND RELIABLE RENTAL
SERVICES FOR INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS
TECHNOLOGY (ICT) AND EQUIPMENT SUCH AS BUT NOT
LIMITED TO SMARTPHONES, TABLETS, LAPTOPS, DESKTOP
COMPUTERS, AND MOBILE WIFI HOTSPOTS;

(e) to offer such other related services in the furtherance of this Act.

‘Sec, 3. Section 7 of Republic Act No. 7743 Is hereby amended to read as follows:

"Sec. 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 [i

§

ndertake the maint public Hibraries and reading

centers-while-the-National-Library-shall-continue-provide-reading-materials-and


Ht Ht : it ]. IN ORDER TO PROVIDE
FUNDS NECESSARY FOR THE ELECTRONIC LIBRARY SYSTEM TO BE
IMPLEMENTED, THE BUDGET OF THE NATIONAL LIBRARY 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 FACILITIES."

Sec. 4, Role of the Department of Information and Communications Technology
(DICT). ~ The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) shall assist
In the provision of the cutting-edge computer and electronic library technology, as well as a fast
and reliable Internet connection, through the Department's flagship programs, Including but not
limited to the Technology for Education, Employment, Entrepreneurs, and Economic Development
(Tech4€D) Project.

Sec. 5. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is subsequently declared
Invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall remain in
full force and effect.

Sec. 6. Repealing Clause. ~ All other laws, acts, presidential decrees, executive orders,
Presidential proclamations, Issuances, rules and regulations, or parts thereof which are contrary
to or Inconsistent with any of the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified
accordingly.

Sec. 7. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication In the
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,