‘"iV
NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
S. No.
SENATE
275
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‘22 JUL11 P6:20
WliCEiVED BV.
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid
AN ACT
MANDATING THE LANGUAGE ACCESSIBILITY OF DISASTER-RELATED
INFORMATION
EXPLANATORY NOTE
During disasters and other emergency situations, an informed public is a 
prepared and ready public. Giving our constituents with easily-understandable, up-to- 
date and reliable information is a crucial aspect of any disaster preparedness and 
response plan. Unfortunately, some of the government's announcements, bulletins 
and advisories regarding impending disasters or calamities fall short of this objective. 
Most, if not all, are confined only to the use of the English language; or, if ever they 
are translated, it is only to the Filipino language and not to the many other regional 
languages and dialects that our citizens speak, write and converse with.
This bill aims to put an end to this practice. Under this bill, it shall be required 
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 or dialect all their announcements, advisories, press releases, issuances and 
any other information relevant to a local or national disaster or emergency. The 
translation of the information shall be to (1) Filipino and (2) other regional language/s 
or dialect/s, 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.


Through this proposed measure, all disaster-related information shall be 
language-accessible and readily-comprehensible especially to speakers of our regional 
languages and dialects.
In view of this, early passage of this bill is sought.
M?tmjEL"LITO" M. LAPID
Senator 
0


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
S. No.
SENATE
275
\W.t£
'!!£*'■ of t!)C'
'22 JUL11 P6 *21
RlTE.VhD [f
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid
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:
1 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as "Language Accessibility
2 
of Public Information on Disasters Act."
3 
Section 2. Declaration of Policy. - The right of the people to Information on
4 
matters of public concern is recognized In our Constitution. Indeed, communication
5 
and information occupies a vital role in nation-building. In times of disaster and other
6 
emergencies, and to render meaningful and effective the right of the people to
7 
information. It shall be ensured that announcements, advisories and similar public
8 
communications are accessible In terms of the language or dialect used.
9 
Section 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, these terms are
10 
defined as follows:
11 
a. "Disaster"- a serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society
12 
involving widespread human, material, economic or environmental losses and
13 
impacts, which exceeds the ability of the affected community or society to cope
14 
using its own resources. Disasters are often described as a result of the
15 
combination of: the exposure to a hazard; the conditions of vulnerability that


1 
are present; and insufficient capacity or measures to reduce or cope with the
2 
potential negative consequences, Disaster impacts may include loss of life,
3 
injury, disease and other negative effects on human, physical, mental and social
4 
well-being, together with damage to property, destruction of assets, loss of
5 
services. Social and economic disruption and environmental degradation;
6 
b. "Emergenq^"- unforeseen or sudden occurrence, especially danger, demanding
7 
immediate action;
8 
c. "State of Calamity"- a condition Involving mass casualty and/or major damages
9 
to property, disruption of means of livelihoods, roads and normal way of life of
10 
people In the affected areas as a result of the occurrence of natural or human-
11 
induced hazard.
12 
Section 4. Scope of Application. - This Act shall cover disasters and other kinds
13 
of emergencies which are (1) national in scope, as declared through a State of
14 
Calamity or State of National Emergency by the President of the Philippines, and (2)
15 
provincial, city or municipal in scope, as declared through a State of Calamity or
16 
Emergency by the appropriate local government unit.
17 
Section 5. Language Accessibility of Disaster-Related Information. - In relation
18 
to disasters and other emergencies covered by Section 4 of this Act, it shall be
19 
mandatory for all government agencies and local government units to convert in an
20 
easily understandable form and translate to Filipino and any other appropriate regional
21 
language/s or dialect/s all their announcements, advisories, press releases, issuances
22 
and any other information relevant to such disaster or emergency, including but not
23 
limited to:
24 
a) Typhoon warnings, signals and other advisories by the Philippine
25 
Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration
26 
(PAG-ASA);
27 
b) Volcano, earthquake, tsunami and landslide advisories and bulletins
28 
by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology
29 
(PHIVOLCS);
30 
c) Announcements, bulletins and other advisories of the National
31 
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and
2


1 
the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils
2 
(LDRRMCs);
3 
d) Information on epidemics, outbreaks and public health emergencies
4 
of the Department of Health (DOH); and
5 
e) Information on the Social Amelioration Program, emergency
6 
assistance and other social protection measures of the Department
7 
of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
8 
Section 6. Translation to Filipino and Other Regional Language or Dialect. - The
9 
translation of the information covered by this Act shall be to (1) Filipino and (2) other
10 
regional language/s or dialect/s, as deemed necessary by the government agency and
11 
local government unit concerned considering the geographical location of the affected
12 
communities and the Intended recipients of the information. The translated
13 
Information shall be disseminated as widely as possible through all available media
14 
and communication channels.
15 
Section 7. Roie of the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino. - The Komisyon sa Wikang
16 
Filipino (KWF) shall render the necessary technical assistance and expertise to the
17 
government agencies and local government units and monitor their compliance to the
18 
duties mandated by this Act.
19 
Section 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from
20 
the effectivity of this Act, the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) in consultation with
21 
other relevant government agencies and stakeholders, shall Issue the necessary rules
22 
and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act.
23 
Section 9. Repealing Clause.—All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders,
24 
proclamations, rules and regulations, or any part thereof, which are inconsistent with
25 
the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
26 
Section 10. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part of this Act, or the
27 
application thereof to any person or circumstance, is held unconstitutional or Invalid,
28 
the remainder of this Act shall not be affected thereby.


1 
Section 11. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
2 
from its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general
3 
circulation.
4 
Approved,