, . 
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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
), 
First Regular Session 
) 
'13 
NOV 11 
,~9 :42 
SENAI!)09 
S. No. __ 
-'-'=--= 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Sal]tiago 
EXPLANA TORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article XIV, Section I, states that: 
Section I. 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 promote information dissemination and the availability of educational 
materials throughout the country, Congress passed, on 17 June 1994, Republic Act No. 7743, 
entitled "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 Publk 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 establishIDent 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. 
• 


" , 
Considering the need to educate citizens about new knowledge and information, it is 
necessary to enact a law that will require the establishment of one (I) pu,blic library for every 
barangay, This will ensure that constituents from the most basic unit of society will have ready 
access to a wide array of information which is necessary for their education. 
This Act aims to provide for the establishment of one public library for every barangay, 
based on the number of its constituents.' 
• This bill was originally filed during the Thirteenth Congress, Second Regular Session. 
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" , 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
'13 
NOV 11 
,~9:4 2 
SEN'Y'§09 
S,No, ___ _ 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PUBLIC LIBRARY 
FOREVERYBARANGAY 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION L Short Title, - This Act shall be known as the "Barangay Public Library-
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Act" 
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SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is a policy of the State to enhance and promote 
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education and improvement of literacy among its citizens; to promote the moral and intellectual 
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well-being of the people; and to recognize -the vital role of education and information 
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dissemination in nation-building, Pursuant to this policy, the State shall provide for the 
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establishment of a public library for every barangay, 
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SECTION 3. 
Establishment of a Public Library in Every Barangay. - The barangay 
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officials of every barangay shall coordinate with the provincial or city officer of the Department 
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of Education (DepEd) for the establishment of one (I) public library, for every barangay. 
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SECTION 4, 
Role of the Department of Education, - The local office of the DepEd 
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shall be responsible for providing the standard set of reference books and other materials, such as 
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but not limited to encyclopedias, dictionaries, maps, and globes to every barangay public library. 
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The DepEd shall supply the public libraries with the 'other books, non-book materials, equipment 
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supplies, and other appropriate and relevant reference and reading materials, taking into 
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consideration the needs of the community concerned. 


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SECTION 5, Role of Barangay Officials. - The barangay officials shall designate one 
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(\) librarian to be responsible for the management of the barangay public library. The barangay 
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officials shall also coordinate yearly with the local office of the DepEd for updating the materials 
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provided in the barangay public libraries. 
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SECTION 6, Computers in Barangay Public Libraries. - Aside from books and other 
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materials, every barangay public library shall haV\) at least two (2) computers. 
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SECTION 7, 
Site for Barangay Libraries. - The barangay officials shall ensure the 
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presence ofa suitable location to be the site of the public library in their respective barangay. As 
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much as possible, the public library shall be situated at the center of the barangay, at a location 
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most accessible to the public, especially to students. 
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SECTION 8. Functions of the Barangay Public Libraries. - The barangay public 
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libraries shall have the following functions: 
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(A) 
To make available to the members of the community reading materials of wide 
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array including reading materials prescribed by the DepEd and national newspapers of general 
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circulation and others; 
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(B) 
To make available to the members of the community' copies of barangay' 
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ordinances; 
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(C) 
To be used as a venue for audio-visual presentations, seminars and lectures in the 
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community and other kinds of exhibitions and activities aimed at increasing the literacy rate by 
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government agencies, non-governmental organizations or private entities in the dissemination of 
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information of general interest; and 
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(D) 
To offer such other related services in the furtherance of this Act. 
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SECTION 9, 
Appropriations. -
The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of 
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this Act shall be included in the General Appropriations Act of the year following its enactment 
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into law, 
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SECTION 10. Rules and Regulations. -
Within sixty (60) days from the approval of 
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this Act, the Secretary of Education, in coordination with the Secretary of the Interior and Local 
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Government, shall promUlgate the rules and regulations to implement this Act. 
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SECTION 11. 
Separability Clause. - If any provision or part thereof is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
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valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 12. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
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order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
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with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 13. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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