Senator Jinggoy Estrada is seeking for the creation of a Philippine Online Library, a platform where digitized copies of textbooks and reference books for public elementary and high school education can be accessed.

Under Senate Bill No. 2075 or “Philippine Library Act” filed on April 17, Estrada proposed that the Philippine Online Library will be managed by the Department of Education (DepEd), the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT), as well as the National Library of the Philippines.

“The Department of Education (DepEd) shall create a digitized copy of all textbooks and reference books it deems necessary for the public education of Philippine Elementary and secondary students,” he said.

To guarantee that all elementary and high school students in public schools can access the online platform, Estrada said DepEd shall provide them with computers, laptops, or appropriate wherewithal.

But to offset expenses, Estrada said national government agencies, government-owned and controlled corporations, and other financial institutions can endorse their old computers to the DICT for assessment and later be donated to public schools nationwide.

The Senator also proposed that DICT will “provide fast and reliable access to each primary and secondary public school” to ensure that students can access the digitized copies of textbooks.

According to Estrada, an initial amount of ₱500,000,000 shall be appropriated for the implementation of the proposed Act.

“The State shall provide its citizens with the opportunity to increase their adaptability with information and communications technology, and to enhance their learning experience by providing access to digitized copies of textbooks necessary for the provision of quality primary and secondary education,” he underscored.