-A,
V
NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session 
)
of tijf Cl rtdi'jj
*22 JUL-7 P5 57
SENATE
S.B. No. P28
RECEIVL D BY:
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR ROBINHOOD PADILLA
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE EQUAL USE OF FILIPINO AND ENGLISH LANGUAGES 
IN ALL GOVERNMENT ISSUANCES AND DOCUMENTS
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Section 6, Article XIV of the 1987 Constitution provides that "[t]he national 
language of the Philippines is Filipino. As it evolves, it shall be further developed and 
enriched on the basis of existing Philippine and other languages." It further added 
that subject to provisions of law and as Congress may deem appropriate, the 
government shall take steps to initiate and sustain the use of Filipino as a medium of 
official communication.
While mechanisms are In place to further enrich Filipino as the national 
language of the Philippines, one of the sentiments of our ordinary people is rooted In 
the difficulty or lack of understanding of the entirety of the government's acts and 
operations since most documents, if not all, are published in the English language.
In this regard, this bill proposes the mandatory publication and accessibility of 
the general public to government documents, including but not limited to: executive 
issuances, legislative documents, judicial issuances, public advisories, and 
International treaties, in both English and Filipino language.
As this representation strives to promote the policy of inclusion and equal 
opportunities for all Filipinos, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
D PADILLA


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NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S.B. No. 22R
of tljf 0?crrtarjp
*22 JUL-7 P5 57
Ri-CEIMD BY:
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR ROBINHOOD PADILLA
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE EQUAL USE OF FILIPINO AND ENGLISH LANGUAGES 
IN ALL GOVERNMENT ISSUANCES AND DOCUMENTS
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 the "Equal Use of Official 
Languages Act".
Section 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the mandate of the 1987 
Constitution that the Filipino and English languages shall be used for purposes of 
communication and instruction. It is hereby declared as policy of the State to ensure 
equal status in the use of Filipino and English languages as the official languages In 
all government issuances and documents in order to provide the people access to a 
better and inclusive understanding of the acts, operations, and documents of the 
government.
Section 3. Official Languages. - The Filipino and English languages shall 
be the official languages of the Philippines for all government Issuances and 
documents as hereinafter provided.
Section 4. Executive Issuances. - All implementing rules and regulations 
of acts, executive orders, proclamations, administrative orders, memorandum 
circulars, and memorandum orders issued by the President shall be made, printed, 
and published in both official languages.
Section 5. Legislative Documents. - All acts, bills, rules of procedures, 
resolutions, journals, and committee reports shall be written, printed, and published 
in both official languages.
Section 6. Judicial Issuances and Proceedings. - All decisions, 
resolutions, rules and other issuances of the Supreme Court and lower courts shall be


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made, printed, and published in both official languages. In any judicial proceeding, a 
judge may use either or both of the official languages or a part of any proceeding.
Section 7. Internationa! Treaties. - All international treaties or International 
agreements shall be authenticated and interpreted in both official languages by the 
Commission on the Filipino Language before they are transmitted for concurrence by 
the Senate.
Section 8. Pubiic Advisories. - All notices intended to the public shall be 
Issued in both official languages and shall be given equal prominence.
Section 9. Pubiication of Acts. - All acts shall be published in both official 
languages in equal prominence in newspapers of general circulation and Official 
Gazette.
Section 10. Originai Version. - The issuances and documents as herein 
described shall indicate which official language Is used in its original version.
Section 11. Equai Status and Authority. - Both versions of the official 
languages shall be treated in equal status and authority for all intents and purposes.
Section 12. Governing Language in Case of Confiict. - In case any 
conflict, inconsistency, or discrepancy in the interpretation of the meaning of the 
official languages exists, the language used in the original version shall prevail over 
the translation.
Section 13. Impiementing Ruies and Reguiations. - The Office of the 
President, Senate of the Philippines, House of Representatives, and the Supreme Court 
shall, in consultation with other concerned agencies and entities, promulgate the 
necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.
Section 14. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the 
implementation of this Act shall be charged against the annual General Appropriations 
Act.
Section 15. Separabiiity Ciause. - In the event any provision of this Act or 
the application of such provision is declared invalid, the remainder of this Act or the 
application of the said provision shall not be affected thereby.
Section 16. Repeaiing Ciause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive 
orders, or parts thereof that are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
repealed or amended accordingly.
Section 17. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,