Philippine Online Library Act

TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session AUG -5 P4:11 SENATE RACH S. No. 951 Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada AN ACT DIGITIZING ALL BOOKS NECESSARY FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION AND ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE ONLINE LIBRARY, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES EXPLANATORY NOTE E-government is defined by the United Nations as "the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) to more effectively and efficiently deliver government services to citizens and business. It is the application of ICT in government operations, achieving public ends by digital means". Consistent with this, Republic Act No. 10844 or the "Department of Information and Communications Technology Act of 2015" also defined e-government as "the use of ICT by the government and the public to enhance the access to and delivery of government services to bring about efficient, responsive, ethical, accountable and transparent government service." Cybersecurity firm Surfshark annually surveys the Digital Quality of Life Index of more than 120 countries in the world which "reveals insights into factors that impact a country's digital well-being and areas that should be prioritized for future improvement." It builds upon five pillars, namely: internet quality, internet affordability, e-infrastructure, e-government, and e-security. In the 2024 Index, the 1 Overview (un.org)

Philippines ranked 57th in the world an improvement of three (3) notches from its ranking in the previous year, and 15th out of 35 countries in Asia. The individual ranking of the country per pillar are as follows: 101st in internet affordability; 44th in internet quality; 73rd in electronic infrastructure; 45th in electronic security; and 61st in electronic government.2 One sector that will greatly benefit from e-government is the education sector. The delivery of education will have broader reach in a faster and more convenient manner with the use of ICT. Among others, the availability of various reference and reading materials will be more efficient and accessible with the use of modern technology that will allow the storage of bigger volumes of materials, digital and more secure storage, usage by multiple readers, interactive modalities and user-friendly interface. At present, the National Library of the Philippines (NLP), University of the Philippines (UP), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Agriculture (DA), and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) collaborated to launch the project, the Philippine eLib which "hopes to provide for the information needs of all sectors of society in a convenient, affordable, and efficient way of delivery". 3 The project is funded through the e-Government Fund. The "Philippine Online Library Act" seeks to replicate this project by catering especially to elementary and secondary students. It proposes to create a digitized copy of all textbooks and reference books in the said level and make them available online. Such online library will complement the existing physical libraries in schools and in local government units around the country. It will also aid both teachers and learners who continue to utilize various learning modalities, including online and hybrid classes, especially during weather disturbances including days when high heat indices are recorded. 2 DAL Index in Philippines - latest insights by Surfshark 3 Philippine eLibrary | National Library of the Philippines (nlp.gov.ph)

For School Year 2024-2025, the Department of Education (DepEd) recorded a total of 20,598,072 learners, wherein 11,301,108 learners are from Elementary Level; 6,204,006 learners are Junior High; 2,870,891 learners are Senior High School; and 222,067 learners are under the Alternative Learning System. The insufficient number of textbooks in public schools remain a serious concern and with this sheer number of students, making the achievement of the ideal textbook to student ratio far from realization. In this light, the Philippine Online Library can supplement the required books, especially to students who has internet connectivity. Apart from serving the needs of teachers and learners, the Philippine Online Library will be a central repository of all digitized textbooks and reference materials for the country's basic education. This reliable database will be useful to both the present and future generations. In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is highly recommended. sodet. 1 JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA * Angara observes smooth opening of SY 2024-2025 amid rain | Department of Education

Office of ina" itr. "y TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session 25 AUG -5 P4:11 SENATE RECETIED 3) S. No. 951 Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada 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 House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the " Philippine Online Library

2 Act.

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It shall be 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 6 adaptability with information and communications technology, and to enhance their 7 learning experience by providing access to digitized copies of textbooks necessary for 8 the provision of quality primary and secondary education.

Sec. 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 12 compiled in the Philippine Online Library which shall be jointly managed by the DepEd and the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT).

Sec. 4. Provision for Access to the Digitized Copies of Textbooks. -

15 The DepEd shall ensure access to the digitized copies of textbooks by providing 16 computers, laptops or appropriate wherewithal to all primary and secondary public

1 schools nationwide. Similarly, in order to ensure access to the digitized copies of 2 textbooks, the DICT shall provide fast and reliable internet access to each primary and 3 secondary public school.

Sec. 5. Recycling of Computers. - In order to offset expenses related to the

5 procurement of computers, laptops or appropriate wherewithal necessary for the 6 immediate execution of the provisions of this Act, national government agencies, 7 government-owned and controlled corporations, and other government financial institutions which shall procure new computers shall endorse their old units to the 9 DICT to check if the computers can still be used for the intent of this Act and 10 afterwards shall be given to DepEd for deployment to primary and secondary public 11 schools nationwide.

Sec. 6. Additional Online Educational Materials. - The DepEd may seek the

assistance and support of 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 16 other online materials that it deems necessary for expanding the learning opportunities 17 for students.

Sec. 7. Custody over Digitized Copies of Textbooks. - The DepEd and the

National Library of the Philippines shall have joint custody over the digitized copies of the textbooks. The DICT shall likewise ensure the technological management of the digital repository to ensure the integrity of the system.

Sec. 8. Appropriations. - The initial amount of Five hundred million

(P500,000,000.00) shall be appropriated for the immediate implementation of this Act and shall be jointly managed by the DepEd and DICT. The amount necessary for the continuous and effective implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

Sec. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days from

the approval of this Act, the DepEd, the DICT, and the National Library of the Philippines shall promulgate the necessary implementing rules and regulations for the effective execution and enforcement of this Act.

Sec. 10. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason, any part, section, or provisions

2 of this Act is held invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

Sec. 11. Repealing Clause. -All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders,

5 rules and regulations, and parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of 6 this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Sec. 12. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following

the completion of its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. Approved,