REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

8325

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. MANUEL DG. CABOCHAN III

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Philippines is frequently exposed to disaster risks such as earthquakes, floods,
and typhoons. According to the 2018 World Risk Report, the Philippines ranked third
among the countries with the highest risks with an index value of 25.14%.! Hence,
appropriate information dissemination related to disasters must be implemented to
help the public anticipate and prepare for them.

Unfortunately, most of the government’s disaster-related information including
announcements, advisories, press releases, and issuances are only limited to the
Filipino and English language format. This creates a literacy problem for many people
with regional language and dialect differences. The language barrier affects the
comprehension of such vital information, leaving them vulnerable to disasters.

This bill aims to mandate government agencies and local government units to convert
disaster-related information to an easily understandable Filipino format and other
appropriate regional dialects. The translated information shall be disseminated

" UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, Disaster Risk Reduction in the Philippines, Status Report 2019. Information retrieved
from hitps://www.unisdr.org/files/68265_682308philippinesdrmstatusreport.pdf


through all available media and communication channels. This measure hopes to
foster effective communication in times of disaster that would result in more saved
lives.

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

MANUEL DG,)CABOCHAN III
Representative
Magdalo Para Sa Pilipino Party-List


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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. CBS

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. MANUEL DG. CABOCHAN III

AN ACT
MANDATING THE LANGUAGE ACCESSIBILITY OF DISASTER-RELATED
INFORMATION

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title— This Act shall be known as “Language Accessibility of
Public Information on Disasters Act of 2020.”

Sec, 2. Declaration of Policy. It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
recognize the right of the people to information on matters of public concern and its
vital importance in nation-building. Towards this end, the State shall create and
convert disaster-related information to provide regional language and dialect
accessibility to the public to equip them the knowledge to anticipate and prepare for
disasters.

Sec. 3. Definition of Terms.— For the purpose of this Act, the following terms
shall be applied:


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(a) Disaster refers to any serious occurrence, whether natural or man-made
that disrupts 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 resources;

(b) Emergency refers to a sudden or unforeseen event or situation, requiring
immediate action, which threatens serious damage to human welfare and
property;

(0) State of Calamity refers to a condition involving mass casualty and/or major
damages to property, disruption of means of livelihoods, roads, and normal
way of life of people in the affected areas as a result of the occurrence of a
natural or human-induced hazard.

Sec. 4. Scope of Application. This Act shall cover disasters and other kinds of
‘emergencies which are (1) national in scope, as declared through a State of Calamity
or State of National Emergency by the President of the Philippines and (2) provincial,
city, or municipal in scope, as declared through a State of Calamity or Emergency by
‘the appropriate local government unit.

Sec, 5. Language Accessibility of Disaster-Related Information.— In relation to
disasters and other emergencies covered by Section 4 of this Act, it shall be mandatory
for all government agencies and local government units to convert in an easily
understandable form and translate to Filipino and any other appropriate regional
language/s or dialect/s all their announcements, advisories, press releases, issuances
and any other information relevant to such disaster or emergency, including but not
limited to:
(a)Typhoon warnings, signals, and other advisories by the Philippine
Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-
ASA);

(b) Volcano, earthquake, tsunami, and landslide advisories and bulletins by the
Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS);


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(c) Announcements, bulletins, and other advisories of the National Disaster Risk
Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and the Local Disaster Risk
Reduction and Management Councils (LDRRMCs);

(d) Information on epidemics, outbreaks, and public health emergencies of the
Department of Health (DOH); and

(e) Information on the Social Amelioration Program, emergency assistance, and
other social protection measures of the Department of Social Welfare and
Development (DSWD).

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
languages or dialects, 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
and communication channels.

Sec. 7. Role of the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino.- The Kornisyon sa Wikang
Filipino (KWF) shall render the necessary technical assistance and expertise to the
government agencies and local government units and monitor their compliance with
the duties mandated by this Act.

Sec. 8. 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 government agencies and stakeholders, shall issue the necessary rules
and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act.

Sec. 9. Repealing Clause All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders,
proclamations, rules, and regulations, or any part thereof, which are inconsistent with

the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.


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Sec. 10. Separability Clause. If any provision or part of this Act, or the
application thereof to any person or circumstance, is held unconstitutional or invalid,
the remainder of this Act shall not be affected thereby.

Sec, 11, Effectivity Clause.— This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from its
publication in the Official Gazette or any newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,