SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian is batting for a bill that aims to establish libraries that will give elementary and secondary learners free and undisrupted access to digitized copies of textbooks and learning materials.

The chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education cited the role of digital education tools to ensure learning continuity and help bridge learning gaps created by school disruptions.

“While we return to face-to-face classes, our public libraries, one of the country’s pathways to educational resources, should remain pandemic-proof – ubiquitous and accessible – regardless of the geographical location and type of device used by the learners,” Gatchalian said.

“Bahagi ng pagsulong natin sa digital transformation sa sektor ng edukasyon ang ating mga aklatan. Sa pamamagitan ng panukala nating Philippine Online Library, hindi lamang natin matitiyak ang pagpapatuloy ng edukasyon, matitiyak din natin na ang ating mga mag-aaral ay magkakaroon ng access sa mga dekalidad na aklat at mga learning materials,” he added.

Under Senate Bill 477 or the Philippine Online Library Act, the Department of Education is mandated to create digitized copies of all textbooks and reference books it deems necessary for the public education of elementary and secondary learners.

These will be compiled in the proposed Philippine Online Library, which shall be jointly managed by the DepEd and the Department of Information and Communications Technology.

The DepEd and the National Library of the Philippines shall have joint custodies over the digitized copies of textbooks.

To ensure access to digitized copies of textbooks, the DepEd shall provide computers, laptops and other appropriate devices to all public elementary and secondary schools nationwide.

On the other hand, the DICT shall provide free, reliable and secure internet access to all public elementary and secondary schools pursuant to Republic Act 10929 or the Free Internet Access in Public Places Act.