The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a measure that would give students in public and private higher education institutions free access to digital textbooks and other academic resources, as well as free high-speed Wi-Fi on their campuses.
House Bill No. 9532, or the proposed “Universal Access to Digital Academic Learning Resources Act,” received 202 affirmative votes, with no negative votes and no abstentions.
House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” G. Dy III said the measure aims to address inequalities in access to learning materials and reliable internet connectivity that continue to put many Filipino students at a disadvantage.
“Today, a student who cannot afford textbooks or reliable internet access is already starting at a disadvantage. Isipin natin ang isang estudyante na kailangang mamili kung bibili ng libro at magpapaload para makapag-research, o gagamitin ang pera para sa pamasahe at pagkain. Through this bill, our youth do not need to make this painful choice,” Dy said.
Under HB 9532, a National Academic Content Repository (NACR) would be established under the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), in partnership with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and higher education institutions.
The repository would provide students and faculty nationwide with free online access to digital textbooks, lecture videos, syllabi, research papers and open educational resources across different disciplines.
The bill also mandates free, campus-wide high-speed Wi-Fi for enrolled students and faculty in public and private higher education institutions, with priority given to rural and under-resourced campuses during the initial implementation.
The internet service must be secure and designed to support access to the NACR and other academic services.
Dy said the House “recognizes that access to education today also means access to technology. Hindi na puwedeng ang kalidad ng pag-aaral ng isang estudyante ay nakadepende sa kung kaya niyang bumili ng mamahaling libro o kung may sapat siyang pera para sa internet.”
HB 9532 would also support the creation of Filipino academic content by providing grants for localized and open educational resources.
It also directs CHED to coordinate with local and international publishers to secure affordable or open-access arrangements. Faculty members would likewise be encouraged to develop and share materials, with recognition and incentives for content used nationwide.
Dy said the measure would not only benefit students but also strengthen resources available to teachers and schools.
“When a student in a rural campus can access the same quality academic materials available to a student in a major university, we begin to close the gap. When our teachers can create and share Filipino learning materials nationwide, we strengthen the entire higher education system,” he said.
The Speaker stressed that expanding digital access is becoming increasingly important as technology plays a larger role in education, research and employment.
“Young Filipinos are preparing for a world where digital skills are no longer optional. We have to make sure that lack of money, connectivity, or access to learning materials does not prevent a capable Filipino student from reaching his or her potential,” Dy added.