Cong. Edgar Chatto authored House Bill 08384 which established the Bohol First Congressional District Library in Balilihan and this was enacted into law through Republic Act 11636.
It was signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte on Dec. 10, 2021, its promulgation comes 60 days after the signing.
The Balilihan Congressional Library is the second Congressional Library that was institutionalized through a law in the country.
It is located right beside Bohol Island State University (BISU) Balilihan Campus, another brainchild of Chatto.
It is the fifth local library created by law. The other local libraries created by law are: the Crispina Marcos Memorial Library and Museum in Batac, Ilocos Norte; Sentro ng Karunungan Library in Tondo, Manila; Kaban ng Hiyas Congressional Library in Mandaluyong City; and the Batanes Provincial Library in Basco, Batanes.
Back in 2008, the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Balilihan helped establish the Balilihan Congressional Library by providing the site, infrastructure. The LGU also shared in the costs of the library’s operations, including the provision of personnel.
With the law, the library in Balilihan is now under the direct control and supervision of the National Library of the Philippines (NLP).
The said Congressional Library will be included in programs for funding in the annual budget of the NLP.
The law also provides for the appointment of library personnel in accordance with Civil Service rules and regulations, which will be done by the NLP director.
“The appreciation of literature has to be nurtured early in the young child and given expression through a stimulating environment and a cultural setting that highly values the written word,” Chatto quoted Nina Lim-Yuson in his explanatory note for the measure.
Chatto’s own dedication to education is due to his love for books, which dates back to his elementary years.
Chatto first shared this love of books with others as an act of public service when he initiated the building of the Balilihan Municipal Library back in the ‘80s when he was the town’s Kabataang Barangay chairperson.
He was also instrumental in the expansion of the Bohol Provincial Library when he was vice-governor, and then the Balilihan Congressional Library.
Today, the Congressional Library boasts of extensive services and is distinguished as top performing library in the country.