EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session 
)
20
SENATE
s. No. 1539
RECc ' :
20 MAY 20 P2S8
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.
UEL^ITO" M. LAP!
Senator /W


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S. No. 1539
20
RcC.:! ;'C l'v
20 P2 58
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:
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as "Language Accessibility 
of Public Information on Disasters Act."
Section 2. Declaration of Policy. - The right of the people to information on 
matters of public concern is recognized in our Constitution. Indeed, communication 
and information occupies a vital role in nation-building. In times of disaster and other 
emergencies, and to render meaningful and effective the right of the people to 
information, it shall be ensured that announcements, advisories and similar public 
communications are accessible in terms of the language or dialect used.
Section 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, these terms are 
defined as follows:
a. "Disaster"- a serious disruption of 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


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using its own resources. Disasters are often described as a result of the
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combination of: the exposure to a hazard; the conditions of vulnerability that
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are present; and insufficient capacity or measures to reduce or cope with the
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potential negative consequences, Disaster impacts may include loss of life,
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injury, disease and other negative effects on human, physical, mental and social
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well-being, together with damage to property, destruction of assets, loss of
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services. Social and economic disruption and environmental degradation;
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b. "Emergency"- unforeseen or sudden occurrence, especially danger, demanding
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immediate action;
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c. "State of Calamity"- a condition involving mass casualty and/or major damages
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to property, disruption of means of livelihoods, roads and normal way of life of
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people in the affected areas as a result of the occurrence of natural or human-
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induced hazard.
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Section 4. Scope of Application. - This Act shall cover disasters and other kinds
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of emergencies which are (1) national in scope, as declared through a State of
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Calamity or State of National Emergency by the President of the Philippines, and (2)
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provincial, city or municipal in scope, as deciared through a State of Caiamity or
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Emergency by the appropriate local government unit.
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Section 5. Language Accessibility of Disaster-Related Information. - In relation
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to disasters and other emergencies covered by Section 4 of this Act, it shall be
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mandatory for all government agencies and local government units to convert in an
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easily understandable form and translate to Filipino and any other appropriate regional
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language/s or dialect/s all their announcements, advisories, press releases, issuances
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and any other information relevant to such disaster or emergency, including but not
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limited to:
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a) Typhoon warnings, signals and other advisories by the Philippine
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Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration
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(PAG-ASA);
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b) Volcano, earthquake, tsunami and iandsiide advisories and builetins by


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the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS);
c) Announcements, bulletins and other advisories of the National Disaster 
Risk Reduction and Management Councii (NDRRMC) and the Locai 
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Counciis (LDRRMCs);
d) Information on epidemics, outbreaks and public heaith emergencies of 
the Department of Heaith (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);
Section 6. Translation to Filipino and Other Regional Language or Dialect. - The 
translation of the information covered by this Act shail be to (1) Filipino and (2) other 
regionai ianguage/s or dialect/s, as deemed necessary by the government agency and 
locai government unit concerned considering the geographicai location of the affected 
communities and the intended recipients of the information. The transiated 
information shall be disseminated as widely as possible through all available media 
and communication channeis.
Section 7. Roie of the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino. - The Komisyon sa Wikang 
Filipino (KWF) shali render the necessary technical assistance and expertise to the 
government agencies and iocal government units and monitor their compiiance to the 
duties mandated by this Act.
Section 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from 
the effectivity of this Act, the Komisyon sa Wikang Fiiipino (KWF) in consuitation with 
other relevant government agencies and stakehoiders, shall issue the necessary rules 
and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act.
Section 9. Repealing Clause. — Aii iaws, presidential decrees, executive orders, 
prociamations, ruies 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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Section 10. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part of this Act, or the 
appiication thereof to any person or circumstance, is held unconstitutionai or invalid, 
the remainder of this Act shali not be affected thereby.
Section 11. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shali take effect fifteen (15) days 
from its pubiication in the Officiai Gazette or in at ieast two (2) newspapers of general 
circulation.
Approved,