Senate of the Philippines Digital Archives (Legislative Records & Archives Service)

Overview

The Senate of the Philippines – Digital Archives is an online repository maintained by the Legislative Records and Archives Service (LRAS), a unit under the Senate Legislative Reference Bureau. It serves as the official digital gateway to the Philippine Senate's legislative records, enabling senators, researchers, and the public to access archival materials related to the Senate's legislative history.

History and Founding

The Legislative Records and Archives Service has long served as the central repository for all legislative records produced by the Philippine Senate. The digital archives represent the LRAS's effort to modernize access to these records, providing an online interface to holdings that previously required in-person access at the Senate in Pasay City, Metro Manila.

Collections and Holdings

The LRAS collections include legislative archival records from the 8th Congress onward, with selected records available from the 1st through 7th Congresses subject to availability. Audio-video records of Senate proceedings are also held, alongside Senate publications such as the Senate Gazette and other official issuances. The companion portal, Legislative Digital Resources (LEADER), provides full-text access to laws passed by Congress, including legislative histories, originating bills, transcripts of deliberations, news articles, research papers, and position papers.

Access and Usage

The digital archives are accessible online. For in-person access to archival records, researchers must coordinate with the LRAS. Services include making legislative archival records available for reference, assisting with reproduction of archival records, facilitating issuance of certified true copies, and providing research assistance. The LRAS operates as part of the Senate Legislative Reference Bureau, alongside the Legislative Library Service.