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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Batasan Hills, Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL No. _____ 
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Introduced by  
ACT Teachers Party-List Rep. FRANCE L. CASTRO,  
GABRIELA Women’s Party Rep. ARLENE D. BROSAS,  
and KABATAAN Party-List Rep. RAOUL DANNIEL A. MANUEL 
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THE OFFICIAL COMMUNICATION ACT (OCA) 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Despite the very clear constitutional provision that requires the government to 
ensure that Filipino becomes the main language of official communication, no law has 
been passed to translate it to an actual policy.  In fact, all branches of government still 
use English as the main language of official communication, with very little effort to 
use Filipino and other Philippine languages more. 
As result, Filipinos, whose first language is not English, 99% of the population 
are technically disenfranchised by the government.  Most of what they read, from 
documents to street signs, are in English.  Under this dispensation, something often gets 
lost in translation—and most of the time, it’s the Filipino himself or herself. 
It is high time that we pass a law to implement the spirit and intent of the 
Constitution’s language provisions to finally empower our people in all levels of 
government, beginning with day-to-day transactions and eventually, in the actual halls 
of power.  
July 11, 2022
2:43 pm
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For the foregoing reasons, urgent approval of this bill is sought. 
________________________________ 
Rep. FRANCE L. CASTRO 
ACT Teachers Party-List 
________________________________ 
Rep. ARLENE D. BROSAS 
GABRIELA Women’s Party 
________________________________ 
Rep. RAOUL DANNIEL A. MANUEL 
KABATAAN Party-List 


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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Batasan Hills, Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL No. _____ 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Introduced by  
ACT Teachers Party-List Rep. FRANCE L. CASTRO,  
GABRIELA Women’s Party Rep. ARLENE D. BROSAS,  
and KABATAAN Party-List Rep. RAOUL DANNIEL A. MANUEL 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
THE OFFICIAL COMMUNICATION ACT (OCA) 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
assembled. 
SECTION 1. Short Title.  This Act shall be known as “The Official Communication 
Act (OCA).” 
SEC. 2. Declaration of State Policy. The policy of the State to uphold the importance 
of Filipino as the main medium of official communication – enshrined in Article XIV, 
Section 6 to 7 of the Constitution – is hereby recognized and implemented. 
SEC. 3. Coverage. This Act shall cover all branches and levels of government. 
SEC. 4. Use of Filipino in Official Communication. All official documents (including 
those posted in websites), discussions, deliberations, fora, conferences assemblies and 
the like should be written and/or conducted in Filipino by national agencies, the 
Supreme Court, the Office of the President, executive departments, Congress, and the 
Senate, with translations in English and other major Philippine languages, as needed. 
SEC. 5. Use of Regional and other Philippine Languages in Official Communication. 
Local government units shall be encouraged to use the regional languages along with 
Filipino as medium of official communication. 
SEC. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. The Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino, in 
consultation with representatives of teachers’ organizations, and public sector unions 
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will draft and release the implementing rules and regulations of this Act, not later than 
three (3) months from its effectivity. 
 
SEC. 7. Separability Clause.  If any part or provision of this Act is held  
unconstitutional or invalid, the other parts or provision hereof which are not affected  
thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
 
SEC. 8. Repealing Clause.  All laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations, rules 
and regulations, and other issuances, or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the 
provisions of this Act, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
 
SEC. 9. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect upon its publication in at least two 
(2) national newspapers of general circulation. 
 
Approved,