Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 9947
___________________________________________________________________
Introduced by Representative Brian Raymund S. Yamsuan
___________________________________________________________________
EXPLANATORY NOTE
With over 175 living languages1, the Philippines faces a peculiar challenge
when
it
comes
to
disseminating
critical
information
during
disasters
and
emergencies. While Filipino and English are recognized as our official languages, we
cannot
overlook
the
practical
fact
that
many
Filipino
households
primarily
communicate through regional languages and dialects.
Bicol is a prime example. The region is frequently visited by strong typhoons
and remains vulnerable to catastrophic volcanic activities, placing it among the
disaster-prone areas in the country. At the same time, it is home to different
languages
and
dialects,
compounding
the
challenges
faced
in
information
dissemination during disasters and emergencies.
Therefore, this bill mandates national government agencies, as well as local
government units (LGUs), to convert their announcements, advisories, news
releases, issuances, and any other relevant disaster or emergency information into
easily understandable formats. Furthermore, it requires the translation of these
information into Filipino and appropriate regional languages or dialects. Disasters
demand immediate action. When information is available and conveyed in a
language that people comprehend, they can respond more quickly, potentially saving
lives and properties, thereby mitigating overall damage.
In a country ranked as the number one most disaster-prone in the world2, it
becomes a moral imperative to ensure accessible and localized disaster and
emergency-related information. Thus, this legislation is a necessary step toward a
2 World Risk Report (2023). Bündnis Entwicklung Hilft, Ruhr University Bochum – Institute for
International Law of Peace and Conflict 2023. https://weltrisikobericht.de/en. Accessed January 31,
2024.
https://globalnation.inquirer.net/52858/philippines-is-3rd-most-disaster-prone-country-new-study-show
s. Accessed September 19, 2023
1 Philippines: Ethnologue. Ethnologue (Free All). (n.d.). https://www.ethnologue.com/country/PH/
February 19, 2024
3:43 pm


more proactive disaster response, taking into utmost consideration regions like Bicol,
where the need for multilingual disaster information is most pronounced.
In view of the foregoing, the approval of this measure is earnestly sought.
BRIAN RAYMUND S. YAMSUAN
Representative
Bicol Saro Party-list


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 9947
___________________________________________________________________
Introduced by Representative Brian Raymund S. Yamsuan
___________________________________________________________________
AN ACT REQUIRING DISASTER-RELATED INFORMATION TO BE STATED IN
ACCESSIBLE LANGUAGE TO ENSURE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING THEREOF
TO PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY
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 "Disaster Information
Accessibility and Inclusivity Act"
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. — The right of the people to information on matters of
public concern is recognized in our Constitution. Indeed, communication and
information occupy a vital role in nation-building. In times of disaster and other
emergencies, and to render meaningful and effective the right of the people to
information, it shall be ensured that announcements, advisories and similar public
communications are accessible in terms of the language or dialect used.
Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. — As used in this Act:
a. Disaster — a serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society
involving widespread human, material, economic or environmental losses and
impacts, which exceeds the ability of the affected community or society to
cope using its own resources. Disasters are often described as a result of the
combination of the exposure to a hazard, the conditions of vulnerability that
are present, and insufficient capacity or measured to reduce or cope with the
potential negative consequences. Disaster impacts may include loss of life,
injury, disease and other negative effects on human, physical, mental and
social well-being, together with damage to property, destruction of assets, loss
of services, social and economic disruption and environmental degradation.


b. Emergency
—
unforeseen
or
sudden
occurrence,
especially
danger,
demanding immediate action;
c. State of Calamity — a condition involving mass casualty and/or major
damages to property, and roads, disruption of means of livelihoods and
normal way of life in the affected areas as a result of the occurrence of natural
or human-induced hazard.
Sec. 4. Language Accessibility of Disaster-Related Information. — It shall be
mandatory for all government agencies and local government units to convert in an
easily understandable format, such as but not limited to virtual and print out posters,
infographics,
and
videos, and translate to Filipino and Bicolano, and other
appropriate regional language/s or dialect/s, all announcements, advisories, press
releases, issuances and any other information relevant to a disaster or emergency,
including:
a. Tropical Cyclones, signals, flood warning, storm surge, dry spell/drought, and
other advisories by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical
Services Administration (PAGASA);
b. Volcanic activity and eruption, earthquake, tsunami and landslide advisories
and bulletins by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology
(PHIVOLCS);
c. Disaster
preparedness
materials,
announcements,
bulletins
and
other
advisories of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council
(NDRRMC), Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils
(LDRRMC) and network of Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
Councils composed of national, regional, provincial, city, municipal DRRM
councils and barangay committees;
d. Information on epidemics, disease outbreaks, infestation, and other public
health emergencies of the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of
Agriculture (DA);
e. Advisories and warnings released by the Department of Environment and
Natural Resources (DENR) — Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) and the
Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), human-induced hazards, and human security
concerns of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine
National Police (PNP); and
f.
Information on the Social Amelioration Program, emergency assistance and
other social protection measures of the Department of Social Welfare and
Development (DSWD).


As much as practicable, such disaster-related information shall be issued and
is disseminated using plain language and devoid of scientific jargon or
technical terminologies. It shall also contain specific information on the extent
and scale of impending impact and damage down to barangay level.
Sec. 6. Translation to Filipino and Other Regional Language or Dialect, — The
translation of the information covered by this Act shall be to Filipino and other
regional language/s or dialect/s, as deemed necessary by the government agency
and local government unit concerned considering the geographical location of the
affected communities and the intended recipients of the information. The translated
information shall be disseminated as widely as possible through all available media.
Sec. 7. Role of the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino. — The Komisyon sa Wikang
Filipino (KWF) shall render the necessary technical assistance and expertise to the
government
agencies and local government units including the Bangsamoro
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and monitor their compliance
with the duties mandated by this Act.
Sec. 8. Role of State Universities and Colleges (SUCs). — SUCs shall render the
necessary technical assistance and expertise to local government units including the
Bangsamoro
Autonomous
Region
in
Muslim
Mindanao
(BARMM)
in
the
implementation of this Act.
Sec. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within sixty (60) days from the
effectivity of this Act, the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF), in consultation with
other relevant agencies and stakeholders, shall promulgate the necessary rules
and
regulations to implement the provisions of this Act.
Sec. 10. Separability Clause. — If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision or part not otherwise
affected shall remain valid and subsisting.
Sec. 11. Repealing Clause. — Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation contrary to or
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified, or
amended accordingly.
Sec. 12. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,