EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S. No. 1911
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid
November
DATC
TDME¥NDEX
BILLS
AN ACT
REQUIRING THE USE OF PLAIN LANGUAGE IN ALL GOVERNMENT-ISSUED 
PUBLIC ADVISORIES, NOTICES, ANNOUNCEMENTS AND SIMILAR 
DOCUMENTS INTENDED FOR PUBLIC DISSEMINATION AND 
DISTRIBUTION
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Section 24, Article II and Section 7, Article III of the 1987 Constitution are the 
two provisions in the fundamental law of the land that highlight the important role of 
public information and communication In our democratic governance:
ARTICLE II, SECTION 24. The State recognizes the vital role of 
communication and Information in nation-building.
ARTICLE III, SECTION 7. The n'ght of the people to information 
on matters of public concern shall be recognized. Access to official 
records, and to document, and papers pertaining to official acts, 
transactions, or decisions, as well as to government research data 
used as basis for policy development, shall be afforded the citizen, 
subject to such limitations as may be provided by law.
An informed citizenry consists of active participants and partners in the 
programs, activities and projects of the government towards national development. 
An informed citizenry knows and understands the laws, rules and regulations of the


country and is therefore fully equipped to comply with them. An Informed citizenry 
can properly provide responses and feedback to the effectivity and efficiency of 
government actions. An informed citizenry is an empowered citizenry.
To ensure this, the government must use the right and appropriate 
communication tools, such as documents, advisories, notices and announcements, 
that the people can easily understand and comprehend. Public communications must 
be characterized by the use of plain language in a clear, concise and well-organized 
manner, which must, as much as possible, be free from technical words and jargon.
As a step towards this direction, this bill seeks to require all national 
government agencies, offices, instrumentalities, including government-owned and - 
controlled corporations (GOCCS), to adopt the use of plain language in English, Filipino 
and/or other regional languages or dialects in all government-issued public advisories, 
notices, announcements and similar documents intended for public dissemination and 
distribution. Among the kinds of documents envisioned to be covered by this proposed 
measure are: advisories; notices; announcements; bulletins; forms and other papers 
for the application, request or enjoyment of a public service, right, privilege, benefit, 
license, clearance, permit, etc.; the agency's citizens' charter; documents detailing 
and explaining a government program, activity or project; and replies and responses 
to an inquiry or request for assistance or Information. The government bodies that will 
be tasked to ensure and monitor compliance of this plain language requirement are 
the Civil Service Commission (for national government agencies and offices) and the 
Governance Commission for GOCCs (for GOCCs). The CSC and GCG are likewise 
required to regularly conduct trainings, seminars and other similar capacity-building 
activities for the offices and agencies covered by the requirement. For plain language 
in Rlipino and other regional languages or dialects, the Komisyon sa Wikang Rlipino 
(KWF) shall be tapped to facilitate the necessary capacity-building activities.
Thus, this bill In essence envisions to add an equally important principle to an 
oft-quoted definition of a democracy: a government of the people, by the people and


for the people,1 AND A GOVERNMENT THAT THE PEOPLE WILL KNOW AND 
UNDERSTAND.
In View of this, early passage of this bill is sought.
(EL "LITO" M. LAPI^
Senator [y
1 Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address (1863) 
http://www.abrahamlincolnonline.org/lincoln/speeches/gettysburg.htm


I
EIGHTEEINTTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S. No. 1911
Q
DATE
¥NDBX
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lite" M. Lapid
AN ACT
REQUIRING THE USE OF PLAIN LANGUAGE IN ALL GOVERNMENT-ISSUED 
PUBLIC ADVISORIES, NOTICES, ANNOUNCEMENTS AND SIMILAR 
DOCUMENTS INTENDED FOR PUBLIC DISSEMINATION AND 
DISTRIBUTION
Beit enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Phiiippines 
in Congress assembled:
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SECTION 1. Short Tide, — This Act shall be known as "Plain Language in 
Government Documents Act."
Section 2. Declaration of Policy. - In recognition of the vital role of 
communication and information in nation-building. It is imperative that all documents 
and communications from the government intended for public dissemination and 
distribution shall be clear, comprehensible, concise, and language-accessible. The 
citizenry must be able to easily understand and use the information presented in such 
documents.
Section 3. Plain Language in AH Government Documents. - To ensure the 
widest accessibility, clarity and easy understanding of public information, all national 
government agencies, offices. Instrumentalities, Including government-owned and - 
controlled corporations (GOCCS), are hereby mandated to adopt the use of plain


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language in English, Fiiipino and/or other regional languages or dialec±s/ as may be 
deemed necessary, for all covered documents under this Act.
For this purpose, the Civil Service Commission (CSC) is hereby tasked with the 
duty of monitoring and ensuring the implementation of this plain language 
requirement. For GOCCs, the Governance Commission for GOCCs (GCG) shall be the 
agency tasked to perform this duty.
Section 4. Scope of Application. - The following are the documents issued by 
the government intended for public dissemination and distribution covered by this Act:
a. Advisories;
b. Notices;
c. Announcements;
d. Bulletins;
e. Forms and other papers for the application, request or enjoyment of a 
public service, right, privilege, benefit, license, clearance, permit, etc.;
f. The agency's citizens' charter;
g. Documents detailing and explaining a government program, activity or 
project;
h. Replies and responses to an inquiry or request for assistance or 
information; and
i. Any other document that the PIA or GCG as the case may be, in 
consultation with the agency or office concerned, deems as Important 
to be included in this Act's coverage.
Section 5. Training and Capacity-Building. - The CSC and GCG shall regularly 
conduct trainings, seminars and other similar capacity-building activities for the offices 
and agencies covered by this Act. For plain language in Rlipino and other regional 
languages or dialects, the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) shall be tapped to 
facilitate the necessary capacity-building activities.
Section 6. Report to Congress. - Within one (1) year after the effectivity of this


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Act and every two (2) years thereafter, the CSC and GCG shall submit a report to 
Congress on the status of implementation and compliance with this Act.
Section 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from 
the effectivity of this Act, the CSC and GCG, in coordination with the KWF, the 
Philippine Information Agency (PIA), and other reievant government agencies and 
stakehoiders, shali issue the necessary rules and regulations to implement the 
provisions of this Act.
Section 8. Repealing Cause.—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.
Section 9. 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.
Section 10. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
from its publication in the Official Gazette or In at least two (2) newspapers of general 
circulation.
Approved,