NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
of (he ^rnetii rj>
23 JAN 31 A9 -12
SENATE
S. No. 1SQ7
RECEIVED BY:,
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
PROMOTING PHILIPPINE INDIGENOUS AND TRADITIONAL 
WRITING SYSTEMS AND PROVIDING FOR THEIR PROTECTION, 
PRESERVATION, AND CONSERVATION
EXPLANATORY NOTE
In the pervading influence of Western societies and with the highly 
multicultural atmosphere of society it can get so easy to forget our heritage 
and our culture. But to forget our past, our heritage and our culture is to limit 
or corrupt our development. Former National Commission for Culture and the 
Arts Chairperson Felipe M. de Leon, Jr. once said, "Ignorance of our cultural 
strengths and positive qualities as a people results in lack of pride in being 
Filipino. Lack of pride in being Filipino causes lack of commitment to the 
nation, a low level of achievement or even mediocrity."
In Reiacion de las isias Fiiipinas, Pedro Chirino, S.J., a Spanish priest 
who served in the Philippines for 12 years during the early years of the 
Spanish conquest, wrote of the pre-Spanish writing: "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 letter proper to the island of 
Manila, very different from those of China, Japan, or India".
Chirino was referring to Baybayin, just one of at least 16 writing 
systems present in the Philippines prior to Spanish colonization. In recent
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years, there has been a resurgence in the appreciation and use of the 
Baybayin. But fervor to promote, protect, and conserve must be extended to 
other indigenous writing systems as well such as the Hanuno'o and Buhid of 
the Mangyans, the Tagbanua of the Taobanuas. the KuHtan the 
Kapampangan, the Basahan of the Bicolanos, BadHt of the Visayans, and the 
Jawi of fhe Tausugs.
The many indigenous writing systems in the country is a reflection of 
our participatory and highly warm society. This step to protect and preserve a 
part of our culture to pass on to younger generations will help instill a sense 
of pride in being Filipino, cognizant of their cultural development.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
INGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
23 JAN 31 A9-12
SENATE 
S. No.
received bv.
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
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:
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Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the ^'Philippine
2 
Indigenous and Traditional Writing Systems Act'.
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Sec. 2. Declaration ofPolicy. - It is hereby deciared policy of the State
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to foster the preservation, enrichment, and dynamic evolution of a Filipino
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national culture based on the principle of unity in diversity in a climate of free
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artistic and intellectual expression. Towards this end, the State shall promote,
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protect, preserve, and conserve the Philippine indigenous and traditional
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writing systems to incuicate patriotism and social consciousness among its
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citizens.
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Sec. 3. Promotion of Philippine Indigenous and Traditional Writing
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Systems. - To generate greater awareness of indigenous and traditional
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scripts of the Philippines and engender wider appreciation of their significance
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and beauty, the promotion of the writing systems is hereby recognized as
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part of our cultural treasures.
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As expressions of Philippine tradition and symbols of the national
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identity, the country's indigenous writing systems shall be promoted through
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the following:


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a) Inclusion of these writing systems in reievant subjects of basic and
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higher education such as eiective or speciaiized courses in higher
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education on the study of the same;
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b) Conduct of activities to be spearheaded by the Department of
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Education (DepEd), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED),
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and iocai governments that promote awareness of the writing
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systems, particulariy during Buwan ng Wika and simiiar occasions
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and events;
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c) Conduct of seminars, conferences, conventions, symposia, and
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other reievant activities on Phiiippine writing systems, taking into
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consideration the writing system that is indigenous to a particuiar
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region;
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d) Ensure proper record-keeping of reievant documents and
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preservation of orai evidence on the writing systems; and
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e) Other appiicabie measures, as may be adopted by the concerned
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government agencies.
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Sec. 4. Protection, Preservation, and Conservation of Indigenous
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Philippine Traditionai Scripts. - The Nationai Commission for Culture and the
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Arts (NCCA) shall be the lead agency in promulgating policy guidelines on the
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promotion of the writing systems.
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Accordingly, the NCCA is hereby mandated to protect, preserve, and
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conserve the writing systems as national cultural treasures in accordance with
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Republic Act No. 10066, otherwise known as the "National Cultural Heritage
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Act of 2009". The NCCA shall coordinate with the Komisyon sa Wikang Fiiipino
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(KWF) for technical assistance on the development of the Philippine
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languages and writing, and with the DepEd and CHED, and other relevant
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government agencies for the proper implementation of this provision.
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Sec. 5. Impiementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days
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from the effectivity of this Act, the NCCA shall, in coordination with the
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DepEd, CHED, and KWF, promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for
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the effective implementation of this Act.


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Sec. 6. Separability Clause. - If any provision, section, or part of this
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Act is declared unconstitutional or invalid, such judgement shall not affect,
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invalidate, or impair any other provisions, sections, or parts hereof.
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Sec. 7. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, issuances,
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circulars, rules and regulations or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with
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the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
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Sec. 8. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
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publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general
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circulation.
Approved,