National Writing System Act

: Senate Office of the derratary TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 26 FEB -9 P1:47 First Regular Session SENATE RECEIVED BY: S. No. 1802 Introduced by Senator MARK A. VILLAR AN ACT PROMOTING THE USE OF BAYBAYIN AS A TOOL FOR CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE PHILIPPINES, PROVIDING FOR ITS PROMOTION, PROTECTION, PRESERVATION, AND CONSERVATION EXPLANATORY NOTE "Baybayin" is a pre-colonial script primarily used by the Tagalog-speaking populations. For generations, "Baybayin" has been an important component of Philippine culture and tradition. Baybayin was used extensively in the daily lives of early Filipinos. It was primarily used for personal communication, government record- keeping purposes, and was also integral to the creation and preservation of poetry and oral traditions. It served as a means to document poems, songs, and stories that had been handed down through generations. "Baybayin" should be used, promoted, recognized and preserved as a symbolic and compelling proof of our already rich culture, tradition, and history even before the Spanish colonization and thus, ultimately strengthen the Filipino identity. Moreover, inspirations can be drawn from other Asian countries like Thailand, Japan, Korea, and China who are easily recognizable internationally through their tourism boost. The promotion and eventual use of "Baybayin" will not only honor the nation's pre-colonial roots and history, but more importantly revive collective cultural consciousness and showcase its unique identity to the world. Thus, this bill seeks to promote, protect, preserve, and conserve the "Baybayin" and to foster wider appreciation of its importance and beauty.

In this light, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought. MARK A. VILLAR ROC

Senale office of the sercetary TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) First Regular Session FEB -9 P1:47 SENATE RECEIVED BY: S. No. 1802 Introduced by Senator MARK A. VILLAR AN ACT PROMOTING THE USE OF BAYBAYIN AS A TOOL FOR CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE PHILIPPINES, PROVIDING FOR ITS PROMOTION, PROTECTION, PRESERVATION, AND CONSERVATION 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 "National Writing System

Act."

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the State's policy to inculcate, propagate,

4 and preserve the cultural heritage and treasures of the Philippines for the evolution 5 and development of patriotism among the citizenry by giving utmost priority to the conservation and promotion of arts, letters, and culture. Towards this end, there is a need to promote, protect, preserve, and conserve "Baybayin," using it as a tool for cultural and economic development to create a 9 consciousness, respect, and pride for the legacies of Filipino cultural history, heritage, and our authentic identity.

Sec. 3. Declaration of "Baybayin" as the National Writing System of the

Philippines. - To generate greater awareness of the plight of "Baybayin" and foster wider appreciation of its importance and beauty, "Baybayin" is hereby declared the National Writing System of the Philippines. As used in this Act, "Baybayin" shall refer to all existing and discovered ancient and traditional scripts of the Philippine indigenous peoples.

Sec. 4. Promotion of "Baybayin" as the National Writing System of the

2 Philippines, - "Baybayin," as the national writing system representing Philippine 3 traditions and national identity shall be promoted through the following: (a) by encouraging all manufacturers of locally produced and processed produced food products to inscribe "Baybayin" scripts and their translation on their containers or labels; (b) by mandating the local government units (LGUs) to include the appropriate "Baybayin" script in their signage for local tourist attractions; (c) by directing the appropriate government agency to disseminate knowledge and information about the "Baybayin" script by distributing reading materials in all levels of public and private educational institutions as well as in government and private agencies; and (d) by enjoining appropriate government and private agencies and offices to instill awareness of the declaration of "Baybayin" as the national writing system through the conduct of staff training for the proper handling of these important documents.

Sec. 5. Protection, Preservation, and Conservation of "Baybayin" Script. — The

National Commission for Culture and Arts (NCCA) is hereby mandated to protect, 19 preserve, and conserve "Baybayin" as a National Cultural Treasure.

Sec. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within sixty (60) days after the

approval of this Act, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), in coordination with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Education (DepEd) and Commission on Higher Education (CHED), shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this Act.

Sec. 7. Repealing Clause.- All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and

regulations, and other issuances or parts thereof that are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.

Sec. 8. Separability Clause. - If any part, section, or provision of this Act shall

be declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other part, section, or provision not otherwise affected shall remain in full force and effect.

Sec. 9. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen days (15) after its

2 publication in the Official Gazette or in a national newspaper of general circulation. Approved,