Manila: The House of Representatives on Wednesday 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.
According to Philippines News Agency, House Bill 9532, or the proposed 'Universal Access to Digital Academic Learning Resources Act,' was passed with 202 affirmative votes, zero negative votes, and zero abstentions. It seeks to address inequalities in access to learning materials and reliable internet connectivity that continue to put many Filipino students at a disadvantage. Under the measure, 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 NACR would provide students and faculty nationwide free online access to digital textbooks, lecture videos, syllabi, research papers and open educational resources across different disciplines. The measure also mandates free, campus-wide high-speed Wi-Fi for enrolled students and faculty in public and private HEIs, with priority given to rural and under-resourced campuses during its initial implementation. The internet service must be secure and designed to support access to the NACR and other academic services.
HB 9532 would also support the creation of Filipino academic content by providing grants for localized and open educational resources, while directing CHED to work with local and international publishers to secure affordable or open-access arrangements. Faculty members would be encouraged to develop and share materials, with recognition and incentives for content used nationally.
In a statement Thursday, House Speaker Faustino 'Bojie' Dy III expressed that the passage of the measure means a student who cannot afford textbooks or reliable internet access would no longer be at a disadvantage. He emphasized that the measure would help students while also strengthening the resources available to teachers and schools. Dy highlighted the importance of expanding digital access as technology becomes increasingly integral to learning, research, and employment.
In a separate statement, House Committee on Higher and Technical Education chairperson and Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre noted that the measure responds to a growing reality in higher education: gaining admission to college does not necessarily mean that a student has equal access to the resources needed to learn and succeed. He emphasized the need for digital learning to expand opportunity without relying on a student's income or location.
Additionally, the House approved on third and final reading House Bill No. 9812, which aims to establish clearer and more uniform standards for the creation, operation, governance, and development of local universities and colleges (LUCs) across the country. HB 9812, or the proposed 'Local Universities and Colleges Governance Act,' requires local government units (LGUs) to meet mandatory standards before establishing and operating a local college.
The bill strengthens oversight of existing and future LUCs, with the Commission on Higher Education supervising degree programs and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority overseeing associate degrees, diploma programs, technical-vocational courses, and non-degree programs. The measure provides support to help qualified LUCs meet higher standards, ensuring that institutions created to widen opportunity are capable of preparing students well for work and further learning.
