Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

8049
HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by HON. JOY MYRA S. TAMBUNTING

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This measure shall require all agencies and local government units to translate to Filipino and any
other appropriate regional languages or dialects all their announcements, advisories, press
releases, issuances and any other information relevant to a disaster or emergency which are (1)
national in scope, as declared through a State of Calamity or State of National Emergency by the
President of the Philippines, and (2) provincial, city or municipal in scope, as deciared through a
State of Calamity or Emergency by a local government unit.

Presently, information released by national agencies concerning calamities and/or disasters are
either in English and/or in the Filipino. Whilst there are clear efforts to translate public
communications, advisories, and the like to the Filipino language, it would be more helpful if such
information are also translated to regional languages and dialects to allow better understanding
of pertinent information, and consequently allowing people to prepare better for disasters and
emergencies. This measure is proposed to ensure that information is effectively disseminated to
people by ensuring that bulletins, advisories, guidelines and the like are translated to regional
languages and dialects that are typically used and spoken by our citizens.

On behalf of the people of Parafiaque City's Second District, and for the common good of the
Filipino people, the approval of the said measure is earnestly sought.

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REF, JOY MYRA S. TAMBUNTING
“] (3p District, Parafiaque City


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
‘Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No, 8049

Introduced by HON. JOY MYRA S. TAMBUNTING

‘AN ACT
MANDATING THE LANGUAGE ACCESSIBILITY OF DISASTER-RELATED
INFORMATION

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

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 using its own resources.
Disasters are often described as a result of the combination of: the exposure to a hazard;
the conditions of vulnerability that are present; and insufficient capacity or measures to
reduce or cope with the potential negative consequences, Disaster impacts may include
loss of life, injury, disease and other negative effects on human, physical, mental and
social well-being, together with damage to property, destruction of assets, loss of services,
Social and economic disruption and environmental degradation;

b. "Emergency" - unforeseen or sudden occurrence, especially danger, demanding
immediate action;

c. "State of Calamity"- a condition involving mass casualty and/or major damages to
property, disruption of means of livelihoods, roads and normal way of life of people in the
affected areas as a result of the occurrence of natural or human- induced hazard.


Section 4, Scope of Application. - This Act shall cover disasters and other kinds of
emergencies which are (1) national in scope, as declared through a State of Calamity or State of
National Emergency by the President of the Philippines, and (2) provincial, city or municipal in
scope, as declared through a State of Calamity or Emergency by the appropriate local government
unit.

Section 5, Language Accessibility of Disaster-Related Information. — In relation to
disasters and other emergencies covered by Section 4 of this Act, it shall be mandatory 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/s or dialect/s all their
announcements, advisories, press releases, issuances and any other information relevant to such
disaster or emergency, including but not limited to:

a) Typhoon warnings, signals and other advisories by the Philippine Atmospheric,
Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-ASA);

b) Volcano, earthquake, tsunami and landslide advisories and bulletins by the Philippine
Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS);

©) Announcements, bulletins and other advisories of the National Disaster Risk Reduction
and Management Council (NDRRMC) and the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Councils (LDRRMCs);

d) _ Information on epidemics, outbreaks and public health emergencies of the Department
of Health (DOH); and

) _ 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 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.

Section 7. Role of the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino. - The Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino
(KWF) shall render the necessary technical assistance and expertise to the government agencies.
and local government units and monitor their compliance 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 Filipino (KW) in consultation with other relevant
government agencies and stakeholders, shall issue the necessary rules and regulations to
implement the provisions of this Act.

Section 9. Repealing Clause. 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 10. Separabi 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 11. Effecti 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,