Camarines Sur 2nd district Rep. LRay Villafuerte (PPAB)

Camarines Sur 2nd district Rep. LRay Villafuerte is pushing for the passage of a measure that will establish libraries and reading centers in every city, municipality, and barangay in the country.

Authored by Villafuerte and his fellow Camarines Sur legislators, House Bill (HB) No. 1798 aims to put up public libraries all over the Philippines, as well as reading centers in barangays that still do not have such facilities.

The lawmaker said this bill actualizes the intent of Article XIV, Section 1 of the 1987 Constitution, which “mandates the State to protect and promote the right of all Filipino citizens to quality education at all levels and to take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all”.

HB No. 1798 seeks to amend and improve Republic Act (RA) No. 7743, otherwise known as "An Act Providing for the Establishment of Provincial, City, and Municipal Libraries and Barangay Reading Center throughout the Philippines", by introducing provisions on the latest computer and electronic library technology.

The measure will upgrade the reading center facilities with complete standard sets of books, e-books, online research resources, among other materials.

These libraries and reading centers are mandated to be anchored on the National Library’s development program, the latest library technology, and coordination with the development councils of various local government units (LGUs).

In areas where such facilities are already present, the National Library is tasked to complete their library resources, alongside the latest electronic library system using computers for storing, cataloging, and filing of data and materials.
 
The funding for this proposed legislation shall coincide with the increased budget of the National Library, amounting to P500 million yearly.

It further provides that in the seventh year after the bill’s passage, the LGUs will fund the maintenance of these public libraries and reading centers.

Villafuerte, president of the National Unity Party (NUP), is also urging the swift approval of another measure that would upgrade book rooms in elementaries, high schools, colleges, and universities nationwide.   
 
Under HB No. 3687, the Division of Library Media Services will be established in both the Bureaus of Elementary Education (BEE) and of Secondary Education (BSE) of the Department of Education (DepEd) and in the Bureau of Higher Education (BHE).
 
These bureaus are then tasked to partner with stakeholders to design curriculum-based instructional activities for students so they may access a broad diversity of information.

Ths bill aims to encourage students and their teachers to use and share information on advanced technology.