Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 3624

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE ALFRED VARGAS

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Public service is among the primary mandates of the government. This is considered the
visible side of and the most common way to experience governance. As such, it is an
important responsibility of the State to ensure that public services are delivered efficiently
to those who need it. However, ordinary citizens are often faced with public notices or
instructions written in a confusing manner or in a language they are not fluent in. This
cause delay sand additional costs in transacting with the government. Worse, citizens may

not be able to fully understand and avail of the public services intended for them.

This bill thus seeks to address these problems in the public services of national agencies
and local government units. First, it would mandate the use of plain language in all their
communications and in the implementation of their basic functions, mandates, and
services. Second, it shall require the attachment of versions of its public notices,
instruction, and issuances in the language or dialect predominantly used in the locality or
specifically used by the intended community.

This measure would greatly improve the effective delivery of public services to those who
need it and aids the government in achieving its mandate. For example, the Department of
Revenue of Revenue in Washington D.C., U.S.A. launched in 2003 an initiative wherein

customer letters were rewritten into plain language. It resulted in an additional $5 million


dollar increase in taxes collected because of the use of clearer directions and more easily
understood forms.

The use of plain language and translations in public services ensures that instructions and
notices are communicated in the shortest time possible and most, if not all, of the intended
beneficiaries or clients are able to understand such. Moreover, this promotes transparency
and trust in the government by providing information of public interest which any citizen
can assess and evaluate.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

VARGAS


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

3624
HOUSE BILL NO.

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE ALFRED VARGAS

AN ACT
TO ENHANCE CITIZENS’ ACCESS TO GOVERNMENT INFORMATION AND
SERVICES BY ESTABLISJING A SYSTEM IN WHICH GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS
ISSUED TO THE PUBLIC MUST BE WRITTEN IN PLAIN LANGUAGE AND
TRANSLATED TO THE LOCAL LANGUAGE OR DIALECTS IF NECESSARY, AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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 Writing for Public
Service Act of 2019",

Section 2. Objectives. - The purpose of this Act is to improve the effectiveness and
accountability of government agencies to the public by promoting clear government
communication that citizens can understand and use.

Section 3. Definition of Terms. - For the purposes of this Act, these terms are
defined as follows:

(a) “Plain Writing” refers to writing and preparations thereof that are clear,
concise, well-organized, and follows other best practices appropriate to the
subject or field and intended audience or constituents;

(b)"Language” refers to the words, spelling, pronunciation, sentence
construction, and the methods of combing them as used and understood by a
community;

(c) “Dialect” refers to the form of a language that is used in a particular part or
region ofa country or a particular group of people;

(d) “Government agencies” refers to all government departments, bureaus,
divisions, attached agencies, and government owned-and controlled
corporations;


Section 4. Plain Writing in Public Service. - All government agencies and local
government units are hereby mandated to adopt Plain Writing in all their communications
and in the implementation of their basic functions, mandates, and services.

Section 5. Translation to Local Languages or Dialects. - All government agencies
and local government units are likewise mandated to translate to the predominant
language or dialect all communications and implementation of their basic functions,
mandates, and services. If a specific communication is made to a particular locality or
group of people with a different language of dialect than the predominant language or
dialect then the former should be used.

Section 6. Coverage. - The use of plain language and translation shall be made
including, but not limited to, the following documents:

(a) Information about any government benefit or service;

(b) Documents necessary for obtaining any government benefit or service of filing
taxes;

(c) Documents that explain to the public how to comply with a requirements which
government agencies administer, enforce, and provide;

(d) Other letters, forms, instructions, notices, and publications issued to the public.

Section 7. Civil Service Commission.- The Civil Service Commission (CSC) shall be
the main agency tasked to oversee the implementation of this Act. Within sixty (60) days of
the effectivity of this Act, the CSC shall formulate and issue the rules and regulations for its
effective implementation.

The CSC shall create a Section on Plain Writing which shall develop and issue
guidance or guidelines in implementing the requirements of this Act. The said Section shall
be allowed to consult and partner with a relevant academic institution and/or organization
in the development and issuance of relevant guidelines. The CSC shall in consultation with
other government offices and relevant organizations shall issue the implementing rules
and regulations to implement the provisions.

The guidelines must contain the following details:
{a) General Rules
(i) Each agency shall designate one (1) or more official within the agency to
be the point-person for the implementation of this Act.
(ii) Each agency shall communicate the requirements of this Act to the
employees of the agency.
(iii) Each agency shall train employees of government agencies in Plain
Writing;
{iv) Each agency shall establish a process for overseeing the compliance of
the agencies with the requirements of this Act.

(b) Websites
(i) All government agencies are mandated to adopt a system of Plain Writing
in their websites or relevant portals.


(ii) The plain writing section described under Section 3(a) shall inform the
public of agency compliance with the requirements of this Act; and

(iii) The plain writing section shall contain a mechanism for the agency to
receive and respond to public input on agency implementation of this Act.

Section 8. Compliance. - All government agencies are mandated to report and
publish in their respective websites or publications a report on their agency's compliance
with the requirements of this Act.

Section 9. Allocation. - The amount of then million pesos (10,000,000.00) is
hereby appropriated for the Plain Writing Section of the Civil Service Commission. The CSC
shall be allotted the needed appropriation to implement the provisions of this Act.

Section 10. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,