Sciate Offre of tie Sicetar TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 25 NOV 18 P6:00 REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) First Regular Session RECEIVED BY: SENATE Senate Bill No. 1538 Introduced by Senator JOEL VILLANUEVA AN ACT REQUIRING THE USE OF PLAIN LANGUAGE IN ALL GOVERNMENT-ISSUED PUBLIC ADVISORIES, NOTICES, ANNOUNCEMENTS, AND SIMILAR DOCUMENTS INTENDED FOR PUBLIC DISSEMINATION AND DISTRIBUTION EXPLANATORY NOTE The State bears the responsibility of ensuring that it communicates clearly and effectively with its people. This is expressly recognized in Article II, Section 24 of the 1987 Constitution, which affirms the vital role of communication and information in nation-building. Furthermore, the State is duty-bound to uphold the people's right to information on matters of public concern, as enshrined in Article III, Section 7. This includes "access to official records, and to documents, and papers pertaining to official acts, transactions, or decisions, as well as to government research data used as a basis for policy development." It is therefore imperative that any information requested by the public is conveyed in a format that is clear and comprehensible to ordinary citizens. An informed citizenry is essential to national development, ensuring that Filipinos can actively participate in governance and fully enjoy the benefits of democracy. This means allowing citizens to respond appropriately to pressing issues and express their views on government actions, thus giving them the ability to influence government decisions or even propose solutions to the challenges of the country. Indeed, knowledge empowers individuals and enables meaningful participation in improving lives and communities. To cultivate an informed citizenry, the government must effectively disseminate information through appropriate channels and, more importantly, present it in a format that is clear, concise, and easily understood by its intended audience. Public communications should be delivered in plain language and, to the greatest extent
possible, avoid the use of highfalutin words, technical terminology, and jargon that may confuse the masses. This approach upholds three key principles of effective communication, namely clarity, conciseness, and consideration. In view of the foregoing, this measure seeks to mandate all national government agencies, offices, and instrumentalities, including government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs), to adopt and use plain language — whether in English, Filipino, and/or regional languages or dialects - in all their official communications and public documents. This ensures that government-issued documents and communications adhere to the principles of clarity, conciseness, and accessibility, making them more accessible and understandable to citizens. To support this initiative, the Civil Service Commission (CSC) and the Governance Commission for GOCCS (GCG) shall be tasked to conduct training, seminars, and other capacity-building activities to equip government entities with the necessary skills and knowledge to implement the provisions of this Act effectively. Thus, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. грими JOEL/VILLANUEVA @
sociate Offte of the Sco ctarp TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 25 NOV 18 P6:01 First Regular Session RECEIVED BY: SENATE Senate Bill No. 1538 Introduced by Senator JOEL VILLANUEVA AN ACT REQUIRING THE USE OF PLAIN LANGUAGE IN ALL GOVERNMENT-ISSUED PUBLIC ADVISORIES, NOTICES, ANNOUNCEMENTS, AND SIMILAR DOCUMENTS INTENDED FOR PUBLIC DISSEMINATION AND DISTRIBUTION Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Plain Language
2 in Government Documents Act. "
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - In recognition of the vital role of
4 communication and information in nation-building, all documents and 5 communications from the government intended for public dissemination and 6 distribution shall be clear, comprehensible, concise, and language-accessible. The 7 citizenry must be able to easily understand and use the information presented in 8 such documents.
SEC. 3. Plain Language in All Government Documents. - To ensure
the widest accessibility, clarity, and easy understanding of public information, all national government agencies, offices, instrumentalities, including government- 12 owned and controlled corporations (GOCCS), are hereby mandated to adopt the use of plain language in English, Filipino, and/or other regional languages or 14 dialects, as may be deemed necessary, for all covered documents under this Act.
For this purpose, the Civil Service Commission (CSC) is hereby tasked with the duty of monitoring and ensuring the implementation of this plain language requirement. For GOCCs, the Governance Commission for GOCCS (GG) shall be the agency tasked to perform this duty.
SEC. 4. Scope of Application. - The following are the documents issued
by the government intended for public dissemination and distribution covered by 7 this Act: 8 a) Advisories; 9 b) Notices; 10 c) Announcements; d) Bulletins; e) Forms and other papers for the application, request or enjoyment of a public service, right, privilege, benefit, license, clearance, permit, etc.; f) An agency's citizens' charter; g) Documents detailing and explaining a government program, activity or project; h) Replies and responses to an inquiry or request for assistance or information; and i) Any other document that the CSC or GCG as the case may be, in consultation with the agency or office concerned, deems as important to be included in this Act's coverage.
SEC. 5. Training and Capacity-Building. - The CSC and GCG shall
regularly conduct trainings, seminars, and other similar capacity-building activities for the offices and agencies covered by this Act. For plain language in Filipino and other regional languages or dialects, the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) shall be involved to facilitate the necessary capacity-building activities.
SEC. 6. Reports. - Within one (1) year after the effectivity of this Act and
every two (2) years thereafter, the CSC and GCG shall submit a report to both 29 Houses of Congress regarding the status of implementation and compliance with this Act.
SEC. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days
from the effectivity of this Act, the CSC and GCG, in coordination with the KWF, 3 the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), and other relevant government agencies 4 and stakeholders, shall promulgate the necessary implementing rules and 5 regulations (IRR) for the effective implementation of this Act.
SEC. 8. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is
declared unconstitutional, the remainder hereof or any provisions not affected 8 thereby shall remain in force and effect.
SEC. 9. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance,
executive order, letter of instruction, rule, or regulation inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
SEC. 10. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. Approved,