Pagtatatag ng electronic libraries and reading centers sa bansa

INIAATAS ng Republic Act 7743 ang pagtatatag ng libraries and reading centers sa bawat lungsod, munisipalidad at barangay upang mapataas ang literacy rate ng mga mamamayan.

Binigyang-diin naman ni Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada na sa buong mundo ay ginagamit na ngayon ang information technology sa edukasyon, kaya’t ang pag-aaral ay hindi na lang nananatili sa loob ng classroom o sa pamamagitan lang ng pagbabasa ng mga libro at magasin.

Aniya, kailangang ma-upgrade ang “learning system” sa bansa sa pamamagitan ng paggamit ng “latest computer and electronic technology.”

Kaugnay nito ay isinusulong niya ang Senate Bill 2574, o pagtatatag ng “electronic libraries and reading centers” sa lahat ng panig ng bansa.

Itinatakda ng panukala ang mga sumusunod:

• 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, with said establishment program to be based on the latest computer and electronic library technology;

• Where these public libraries and reading centers already exist, the National Library shall continue to upgrade the facilities thereof with complete standard sets of books and other materials as well as the latest electronic library system using computers for storing, cataloging, and filing of data and materials;

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 years thereafter, the local government units shall undertake the maintenance of public libraries and reading centers while the National Library shall continue to provide reading materials and supplies to the said libraries and reading centers;

To provide funds necessary for the electronic library system, the budget of the National Library shall be increased in the amount of 500 million pesos per year until all cities and municipalities in the Philippines are provided and have access to full electronic library facilities.