House Approves Bill for Free Digital Textbooks and Campus Wi-Fi in Colleges

by Miriam Desacada

Tacloban City– The House of Representatives on Wednesday approved on third and final reading *House Bill No. 9532, or the proposed _“Universal Access to Digital Academic Learning Resources Act.”_

The measure seeks to give all students in public and private higher education institutions free access to digital learning materials and high-speed campus Wi-Fi*.

Principally authored by TINGOG Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre, who also sponsored the bill on August 4, 2026, the measure aims to address a key barrier in higher education: unequal access to learning resources.

“Gaining admission to college does not necessarily mean that a student has equal access to the resources needed to learn and succeed” Acidre said.  

“Kung kulang ang mga libro, mahal ang mobile data, or mahina ang internet, that immediately puts a student at a disadvantage. We want to remove as many of those barriers as we can”

What the bill provides:

1. National Academic Content Repository*  

The bill creates a nationwide online platform under CHED, in partnership with DICT and schools. It will host free digital textbooks, lecture videos, syllabi, research papers, and open educational resources. All materials will be quality-assured, accessible, inclusive, and culturally relevant.

2. Free Campus-Wide High-Speed Wi-Fi*  

DICT, together with HEIs, will provide free and secure Wi-Fi in campuses for students and faculty. Priority will be given to rural and under-resourced schools during the first phase of implementation.

3. Support for Local Content

The bill also provides grants to schools and faculty to develop and digitize locally produced academic materials. CHED will work with publishers to secure affordable or open-access deals for educational resources.

Acidre said the goal is to make technology an “equalizer” in education, not another source of inequality.

“Getting a student into college is only the first step. We also have to make sure that once they are there, they have the books, materials, connectivity, and academic support they need to keep learning and to succeed_,” he added.  

“Access cannot depend on a student’s income, location, or ability to pay for data”

With House approval, HB 9532 will now be transmitted to the Senate for deliberation”