Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ______ 
Introduced by Representatives  Lord Allan Jay Q. Velasco and 
John Marvin “Yul Servo” C. Nieto 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
A strong national identity is the true mark of a nation that has established a connection to its heritage, its culture, 
and its history. First-world and advanced countries have successfully built their own national identities and these 
identities have influenced their social structures, such as the form of their governments, their culture, their heritage, 
their lifestyles and their values. Outstandingly, they have maintained their national identities in spite of rapid 
globalization and technological evolution.  
In the Philippine setting, many Filipinos appear to have forgotten and have lost the values and beliefs of our true 
national identity, which may be a possible aftermath of our colonial experience, the implication of capitalism and 
industrialization, and the advancement of information technology. It is time for our country to revisit our past 
through one of its cultural remnants, our traditional/indigenous writing systems, including the pre-colonial 
writing system called Baybayin. 
Baybayin is an ancient syllabary script of the early Filipinos, which means “to spell.” In the 17th century, Spanish 
priest Pedro Chirino and Antonio De Morga wrote literature about the widespread use of Baybayin as a mode of 
communication among Filipinos. Prof. F. Landa Jocano states that our Filipino ancestors have established socio-
cultural systems, even before colonizers from Spain anchored on our shores. In fact, Baybayin was used by our 
ancestors to build links of commerce and trade with Malaysia, Indonesia, and Middle Eastern countries. 
In Relacion De Las Islas Filipinas, Chirino stated: 
“So accustomed are all these islanders to writing and reading that there is scarcely a man, and 
much less a woman, who cannot read and write in letters proper to the island of Manila, very 
different from those of China, Japan, or India.”  
Contrary to the term “indios,” pre-colonial Filipinos had a well-defined identity and heritage, which allowed their 
society to function and grow. Lost, but not forgotten, Baybayin, together with other indigenous/traditional writing 
scripts, should be preserved and promoted as part of the country’s resurgence.  
In view of the foregoing, the urgent passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
LORD ALLAN JAY Q. VELASCO 
JOHN MARVIN “YUL SERVO” C. NIETO 
November 10, 2021
1:32 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ______ 
Introduced by Representative Lord Allan Jay Q. Velasco and 
John Marvin “Yul Servo” C. Nieto 
AN ACT PROMOTING PHILIPPINE INDIGENOUS AND  
TRADITIONAL WRITING SYSTEMS AND PROVIDING FOR THEIR 
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 the “Philippine Indigenous 
and Traditional Writing Systems Act.”    
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is the policy of the State to inculcate, propagate and 
preserve the cultural heritage and treasures of the Philippines, as a means to promote 
patriotism and social consciousness among the citizenry. Towards this end, there is a 
need to promote, protect, preserve and conserve Philippine indigenous and 
traditional writing systems,  as tools for cultural development, for instilling national 
pride, and for protecting Filipino cultural heritage and identity. 
SEC 3. Promotion of Philippine Indigenous and Traditional Writing Systems. In 
order to generate greater awareness of indigenous and traditional scripts and to foster 
wider appreciation for their significance and beauty, the promotion and preservation 
of these writing systems are hereby recognized, and these scripts shall form part of 
our cultural treasures.  
Indigenous and traditional writing systems, as representations of Filipino tradition 
and national identity, shall be promoted and preserved through the following: 
(a) Mandating the Department of Education (DepEd) and Commission on Higher
Education (CHED) to include these writing systems in relevant subjects of basic and
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higher education curricula and to create an elective or specialized course in higher 
education for the study of the same; 
(b) Creating and supporting activities that promote awareness of these writing 
systems, particularly during Buwan ng Wika and similar occasions and events;        
                                                                                                                                                                      
(c) Conducting seminars, conferences, conventions, symposia, and other relevant 
activities on the study of Philippine Indigenous and Traditional Writing Systems;  
                                                      
(d)  Ensuring good record-keeping of relevant documents and the preservation of oral 
evidence on these writing systems; and 
 
(e)  Other applicable measures, as may be adopted by concerned agencies. 
 
SEC. 4. Protection, Preservation and Conservation of Indigenous or Traditional 
Scripts of the Philippines. – The National Commission for Culture and the Arts 
(NCAA) shall be the lead policymaking unit for the promotion of Philippine 
Indigenous and Traditional Writing Systems.  
 
Accordingly, the NCAA is hereby mandated to protect, preserve, and conserve these 
writing systems as National Cultural Treasures, in accordance with Republic Act No. 
10066 or the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009. The NCAA shall coordinate with 
DepEd, CHED and other relevant agencies for the proper implementation of the same. 
 
SEC. 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within sixty (60) days after the 
approval of this Act, the NCAA, in coordination with DepEd and CHED, shall 
promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this Act.  
                                                              
SEC. 6. Separability Clause. – If any section, part or provision of this Act shall be 
declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other parts, sections and provisions not 
otherwise affected shall remain in full force and effect. 
 
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. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in 
the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of national circulation.      
 
Approved,