REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

8329
House Bill No.

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. MANUEL DG. CABOCHAN IIT

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Public libraries play a vital role in providing access to information, knowledge, skills,
as well as recreation to the public, Public libraries aid the overall development of the
community. It is therefore imperative that they are supported with updated materials
and resources, and safe and accessible infrastructure. However, most of our public
libraries struggle due to lack of access to the latest book collections, obsolete
materials, insufficient facilities, and inadequate accession of records. These are
hindrances in making public libraries more responsive and accommodating to the
needs of the students and researchers.

This bill seeks to amend Republic Act No. 7743 to strengthen the public library system
by ensuring that public libraries and reading centers are equipped and are
continuously updated with the latest materials, computer facilities, and electronic
library technology. It shall also provide for the affordable and reliable rental services
of ICT equipment such as smartphones, tablets, laptops, desktop computers, and
mobile Wi-Fi hotspots that will be beneficial for everyone who wants to learn. As we
tread the path of distance learning in education, establishing public libraries is more
relevant and needed now.


We must recognize the importance of public libraries and centers even in the modern
age of information technology. They serve as a medium in spreading information,
promoting our national history, instilling socio-civic consciousness, and fostering
harmony through the local community.

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

MANUEL D&.)/CABOCHAN IIT
Representative
Magdalo Para Sa Pilipino Party-List


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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill No.

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. MANUEL DG. CABOCHAN III

AN ACT
STRENGTHENING THE PHILIPPINE PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM, AMENDING
FOR 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 the 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.— 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

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the—Nationat_Library] 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 SET OF BOOKS, E-BOOKS, ONLINE
RESEARCH RESOURCES, SUBSCRIPTIONS TO ONLINE ACADEMIC
JOURNALS, DATABSES AND PERIODICALS, AND OTHER MATERIALS
AS PROVIDED UNDER SECTION 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 the same Act 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 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;

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


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(c)

(D)

(e)

qd) INCREASING THE FUNCTIONAL LITERACY RATE;

(2) ENCOURAGING A CULTURE OF READING, SELF-
STUDY AND LIFELONG LEARNING;

(3) PRESERVING THE LOCAL HERITAGE AND HISTORY;
AND

(4) PROMOTING NATIONALISM, SOCIO-CIVIC
CONSCIOUSNESS AND HARMONY THROUGHOUT THE
LOCAL COMMUNITY;

TO SERVE AS ACCESS POINTS FOR FREE FAST INTERNET
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 DISABILITIES (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 WI-FI HOTSPOTS;

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

Sec, 3. Section 7 of the same Act 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 [and-for-the-next-five-(5}-years:thereafter thistecat

government_units-shall_undertaketh tenance-of public tibrariesand



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fraterials-and-supplies-te-the-saidtibraries-and-reading-centers]. 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 (Tech4ED)
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. Fffectivity- This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,