‘Books for the Barrios’ plan backed

To uplift the quality of education in the country and provide Filipinos with quality learning materials, Las Piñas Rep. Cynthia Villar is pushing a bill dubbed "Books for the Barrios Program" that will give young people in far-flung barangays access to textbooks and various literature.

In a press statement, Villar stressed that despite the proliferation of computers and modern modes of acquiring information in cities, students in the countryside "seriously lack" basic learning materials like books.

In some far-flung regions, Villar laments that some public schools do not even have libraries or reading areas that can be used by students.

"It is sad that in some places there is a shortage or even absence of books and learning materials for students," said Villar.

Under House Bill 788, graduating elementary, high school and college students will be urged by the government to donate their old books to the Books for the Barrios Program.