“YOU READ IT RIGHT: AN ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ACT PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT

Little did we know that there is a law that supports bookworms and reading enthusiasts, the RA 7743: “An Act Providing for the Establishment of Congressional, City, Municipal Libraries and Barangay Reading Centers.”

Yes, you read it right! Ultimately, there should have been a free reading center in your barangay. Is there, really?

I am on a quest to assess the status of the implementation of RA 7743 in Bantayan. I have a very strong feeling that the town of Bantayan, where my workplace is situated, has not been implementing this law. And if they are, do people know about it? If not, what hinders them from enforcing the law? I need to find out.

The Municipal Library of Bantayan with its Personnel

In order to accomplish the research, I inquired and reviewed related studies and credible testimonies from the selected local officials/personnel, random students and citizens about their awareness on the supposed implementation of the law. Here are some of my findings:

The municipal library of Bantayan was established before the passage of the RA 7743 in 1994. It was erected through the efforts of the Municipality of Bantayan and the NGOs. According to the employees of the said library, currently, they have books that came from the National Library and the timely minimal budget from the municipal legislative department that is based only from the inventory of necessaries that the employee shall submit mostly for maintenance of the library.

According to the law, the establishment of such libraries and reading centers shall be based on the development program of the National Library, in coordination with the development council of each city or municipality and in the case of the barangay reading centers in coordination with the respective barangay councils: Provided further, that where these public libraries and reading centers already exist, the National Library shall continue to upgrade the facilities thereof.[1]

There are two (2) employees employed through a job order, not aligned from the IRR of the said law in which a municipal librarian in all 1st class municipalities must have any degree that is major in Library Science with eligibility under RA 6966, otherwise known as “Philippine Librarianship Act.”[2] In the midst of interviews, the said employees and the people who visited the library and even citizens outside their schools and houses during the conduct were not aware of such law.[3]

The barangays are relying on their Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) in which 20% only of such budget is allocated for the development projects.

At the moment, a proposed learning center envisioned to have a technological facility initiated by an NGO and the Municipality of Bantayan as counterpart is under construction.

Based on the thorough interviews conducted, the study found out that RA 7743 was not implemented ever since in the venue of the study. The barangays are relying on their Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) in which 20% only of such budget is allocated for the development projects. The law states, the establishment of the public libraries and reading centers shall be an integral part of the development plan of each local government unit: Provided, that barangays shall provide the site for barangay reading centers.

Barangay Sulangan

Barangay Suba

Barangay Mojon

I go deeper to the barangays to assess RA 7743 and discovered that barangay officials and personnel, residents and students are not aware of such law. From the two (2) barangays in Bantayan, Suba and Sulangan, they do not have yet concrete existing project proposals but only desire to pursue for a “reading center” in which still not pursuant to the said law.[4] Both were mainly depending the success to come up with a concrete proposal on the upcoming donations from the NGOs and the supplemental 20% IRA budget for barangay development tentatively in CY 2019. Barangay Sulangan’s plan is a multi-purpose reading center. Aside from the lack of budget, the lot where building is situated is not government owned. Thus, it is obvious that building a reading center is not at all a priority.

Barangay Suba is eyeing more on building a “Child Center Space” for reading development of the children, rather than the desire to build a public reading center which is seems unnecessary for them due to the presence of the municipal library located inside the area of their jurisdiction.

One of the common problems of the barangay implementing this reading facility is their inability to compensate their employees. Aside from that, there are barangays that never really knew the existence of the law, like the barangay Mojon. After a frustrating quest, I was quite satisfied that I have raised the awareness of the people in my community about RA 7743’s existence and mandates.[5]

All students in each school should know the benefits of the full implementation of the law.[6] People in far-flung areas should experience the sense of ownership of the said supplemental public library or reading center equipped with upgraded technological facilities in each municipality or barangay. Hence, they will truly empower the poor and the underprivileged by the power of knowledge they effectively and efficiently bring.[7] Lastly, this will serve as guidance for the new amendments of the said law in the future.

PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION

Daycare Center with Parents & Pupils

Municipal Library with its Personnel

Thus, I have concluded that this law is faulty and not feasible for one it provided for "congressional", meaning district libraries to be established, did not fit in with the local government structure because congressional districts have never been part of the local administrative system. The key units are the provinces which the provincial governments, the city or towns which have city or town governments, and the barangays which have the barangay councils. And since the law was neither tenable nor profitable for the congressmen who were source of appropriation laws, no funding for local libraries came from national government. Local libraries are now supported by the local governments and the local communities.[8]

The foundation of RA 7743 is weak. Building an essential reading center is not a priority due to more important development projects to focus to. The 20% of IRA of each barangay for implementation of development projects is not enough to cover the need for the construction of each reading center. All the people I have encountered within the venue during the conduct of study are unaware of the said law. A reading center in all barangays in rural areas with technological facility is dreamy and beyond reach in the current situation.

Yes, you read it right! The law is a major FLOP.

FOOTNOTES

[1]Sec. 2,Republic Act No. 7743, 1994.

[2]No. 3, Sec.3, Art.2, IRR of Republic Act No. 7743, 1994.

[3]Sec. 6,Republic Act No. 7743, 1994.

[4]Mendoza, Adoracion, Bayani& Martinez, Manuel, Festin. Public Libraries in the Philippines Today and Tomorrow. National Library, 2000.

[5]Tulio, Doris. Foundations of Education 2. National Book Store, 2008.

[6]Shera, Jesse, Hauk. Information Systems in Documentation. Interscience Publ.,1957.

[7]Shahani, Leticia, Ramos ."E-Libraries: Agents of Change."February 10, 2017, https://www.facebook.com/globalibphbmp2017/photos/e-libraries-agents-of-changeby-leticia-ramos-shahani-phdas-a-senator-i-had-the-p/296763447444589/. September 02, 2018.

[8] Mendoza, Adoracion, Bayani& Martinez, Manuel, Festin. Public Libraries in the Philippines Today and Tomorrow. National Library, 2000.

ABOUT THE WRITER

Olgie Kevin D. Del Rosario is a first year law student of University of Southern Philippine Foundation. He is a graduate of Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Licensed Professional Teacher Major in Social Studies.

He is currently a firefighter and a bona fide member of the Bureau of Fire Protection.

He is an advocate and encourager of education.