SENATOR Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. filed a measure that will establish the Books for the Barrios Program.

Under Senate Bill 511 or the proposed Books for the Barrios Act, books and other educational materials will be distributed to primary and secondary public schools and public libraries in remote villages.

“One basic component of education is reading, which is a fundamental skill that will determine the literacy of an individual,” the senator said in his explanatory note.

“The importance of developing the youth’s reading ability must be emphasized in our goal of improving their functional literacy skills,” he added.

The senator cited the Department of Education’s statement that some schools do not have enough books for students.

“There are various organizations that have already dedicated efforts and resources to address this issue but there is more to be done. The government has to step in and proactive measures have to be implemented,” Revilla said.