How accessible are public libraries in Metro Manila?

About one in every two public libraries in Metro Manila is closed or inactive.

A public library is a library open to people in a community that receives support from a public fund. Public libraries are local hubs for lifelong learning, access to information, fostering skills, and bridging the digital divide. They are also considered a third place, a place outside home and work or school that connects a person with a community through shared interests. What happens when public libraries are closed and no longer function?

Status of public libraries in Metro Manila

A total of 97 public libraries are located in the National Capital Region (NCR), the largest metropolitan area of the Philippines. However, out of these 97, only 50 public libraries are active and functioning.  This means these 50 are those that submit a monthly report to the Public Libraries Division (PLD) of the National Libraries of the Philippines (NLP).

Meanwhile, 45 public libraries are considered closed or no longer existing during PLD validation visits. On the other hand, two public libraries are tagged as inactive, which means they are non-compliant with PLD for a certain number of times.

NCR comprises 16 cities and a lone municipality. Looking at the library breakdown, Pateros, Pasay, and Taguig do not have functioning, active libraries. Pasay and Taguig are the most surprising because they are included in the top 10 cities with the highest local source revenue in 2024. With such resources, they could have reopened the existing public libraries and even established new ones.

Meanwhile, the cities of Las Piñas, Pasig, Marikina, Parañaque, Caloocan, Malabon, Makati, Muntinlupa, Navotas, and San Juan each have one active public library.  Although these libraries are city-wide, it may not be enough to cater to the growing population in Metro Manila.

On the other hand, Mandaluyong City has two (one Congressional and one Barangay Reading Center), and Valenzuela City has three (one city-wide and two Barangay Reading Centers) public libraries. The two cities may be one library ahead of others, but it would be much better if they expand more Barangay Reading Centers.

Furthermore, Manila City has 12 while Quezon City has 23 active public libraries. The huge gap between these figures illustrates the need for further expansion of public libraries, especially in Manila, the Philippines’ educational centre, where there is a high concentration of universities. If students and ordinary citizens are provided with sufficient space, there will be more room for learning.

Considering that Quezon City is the largest city and has the highest population in NCR, it is expected that it will have the highest number of public libraries. However, these figures reveal the insufficient support from the Local Government Units (LGUs). The fact that two cities and a municipality do not have an active public library is concerning because people, especially students from these places, lack spaces to study and learn beyond school. 

The current status and quantity of public libraries in Metro Manila also show that more efforts should be made, and more initiatives can be done. Looking at the cities with only one active public library, all are identified as city public libraries, meaning they serve residents of a specific city. However, the accessibility of these types of libraries still varies due to proximity. Hence, some cities like Quezon City have grassroots libraries in the form of Barangay Reading Centers. This ensures the accessibility of libraries for everyone, and it encourages people to visit libraries more.

There is a national policy that promotes and recognizes the need for public libraries. The Republic Act 7743 encourages the establishment of public libraries in every congressional district, city, and municipality, and reading centers in every barangay throughout the Philippines. Data show that 44 of the inactive public libraries are  Barangay Reading Centers. Therefore, LGUs must not only establish but also sustain and maintain the conditions and functionalities of every public library in their area.

State of education in the Philippines

In 2024, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reported that the Philippines is experiencing a ‘learning crisis’ that hinders children from achieving their full potential. This crisis is evident in recent data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), which show that nearly 18.96 million Filipino junior and senior high school completers are unable to read and comprehend a simple story. In addition to this, the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) revealed that 87% of Grade 11 students have poor reading comprehension. With the Philippines facing such a crisis, public libraries could have helped students by providing a space where they could learn and develop.

Standing of public libraries

Studies have found that libraries play a crucial role in creating literate environments for lifelong learning. Educational reform begins with investing in books and libraries because it allows the sustainability of literacy skills. When people have equitable access to information, citizens are cultivated with the right foundation. Therefore, every citizen can think critically and make informed decisions.

The current status of public libraries in Metro Manila reveals a bigger question. If the capital region of the Philippines has barely any active libraries, what more for other regions? 

As much as the government focuses on foreign investors, it should also prioritize investing in fostering the literacy of the youth through establishing and maintaining public libraries. Public libraries are not only keepers and preservers of books but also facilitators of information and lifelong learning opportunities.