TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
SENATE
824
S. No.
(mf.tp ot II' ■..-•‘•v.-p
25 AUG-4 PI :40
RECEIVED Wi. ........
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda
AN ACT
RECOGNIZING, PRESERVING, AND PROMOTING THE TRADITIONAL AND 
INDIGENOUS WRITING SYSTEMS OF THE PHILIPPINES AS NATIONAL 
CULTURAL HERITAGE, MANDATING THEIR INTEGRATION INTO 
EDUCATION, CULTURE, DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY, AND CREATIVE 
INDUSTRIES, AND DECLARING AUGUST 22 OF EVERY YEAR AS "NATIONAL 
INDIGENOUS SCRIPTS DAY," AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Philippines is home to its own indigenous writing traditions. Sophisticated 
scripts such as Baybayin, Hanunuo, Buhid, Tagbanwa, Kulitan, and others were 
developed by our ancestors long before colonization. These writing systems reflect a 
rich and distinct intellectual heritage. They are proof that our people had systems of 
communication, record-keeping, and expression well before the arrival of Western 
alphabets.
However, centuries of colonization led to the widespread disuse of these 
scripts. As colonial powers imposed their own languages and writing systems, many 
of our indigenous scripts were displaced or relegated to isolated cultural enclaves. 
Over time, Filipinos became disconnected from these traditions. Today, only a few 
communities continue to actively use their ancestral scripts.
This proposed measure seeks to change that. Instead of declaring a single 
script as the national writing system, the bill adopts a pluralistic and inclusive 
approach. It recognizes all indigenous Philippine scripts as part of our national cultural 
heritage. In doing so, it corrects the historical tendency of favoring one regional 
identity over others. This approach learns from past experiences, such as the


declaration of a single national language, which, while well-intentioned, left many 
communities feeling excluded. Today, we take a more culturally respectful path by 
embracing our diverse ethnolinguistic traditions.
By promoting, protecting, and revitalizing all Philippine indigenous writing 
systems, this measure enables their meaningful integration into education, creative 
industries, digital technologies, signage, and cultural programs. Children can once 
again encounter these scripts in school. Entrepreneurs can proudly incorporate them 
into branding, design, and packaging. Cultural workers can use them in public art, 
tourism trails, and digital tools. Government agencies and local governments may 
display their official names in the appropriate script, building national pride and 
cultural identity.
This proposal is practical and timely. It is a low-hanging fruit in cultural policy, 
requiring little public expenditure. Most of the recommended actions such as 
curriculum enrichment, font development, signage adaptation, and digital archiving 
can be implemented using existing platforms, resources, and partnerships. Many 
communities, creatives, and advocates are already leading grassroots revival efforts, 
and the State can provide enabling support.
Other neighboring countries have long embraced their indigenous writing 
systems as central to national identity. Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Lao use 
their native scripts in everyday life. Korea's celebration of Hangul has become a model 
of cultural pride and soft power. It is time for the Philippines to take a similar step, 
not to copy others, but to reclaim and celebrate what has always been our own.
Our scripts cannot remain as mere historical relics. They must be treated as 
our living links to who we are, and to the shared future we can proudly shape as a 
culturally rooted nation.
This bill proposes the following key interventions:
1. Integration of indigenous writing systems as special topics in relevant 
subjects in the basic education curriculum, particularly in regions where 
such scripts are historically or culturally relevant, and the development 
of corresponding teaching and learning resources;


2. Inclusion of indigenous scripts, where appropriate, in signage for street 
names, public buildings, and service establishments by LGUs, taking into 
account the dominant script associated with the locality;
3. Development of fonts, digital keyboards, and software tools to support 
the use of indigenous scripts in websites, applications, and digital 
platforms;
4. Support for MSMEs, cooperatives, and creative professionals using 
indigenous scripts in fashion, branding, packaging, and design, including 
through technical assistance and the exploration of incentives;
5. Encouraging the use of indigenous scripts in public parks, monuments, 
and commemorative spaces, consistent with local culture;
6. Mandating the National Library of the Philippines and the NCCA to digitize 
and preserve materials written in these scripts, such as letters, 
manuscripts, signage, and poems, while respecting the consent of the 
originating communities;
7. Requiring government agencies, GOCCs, and LGUs to adopt translations 
of their official names into the appropriate indigenous script, which may 
be used in seals, signage, and other official visual materials; and
8. Encouraging schools, institutions, and cultural organizations to include 
script-based activities during Buwan ng Wika and other observances that 
promote Filipino language and heritage.
These efforts shall always be carried out with respect for the rights, traditions, 
and cultural integrity of Indigenous Cultural Communities and Indigenous Peoples, in 
accordance with the Indigenous Peoples' Rights Act and applicable laws. Proper 
attribution, community participation, and cultural sensitivity shall guide 
implementation.
In view of the foregoing, the early passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
LOREN LEGARDA


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
SENATE
s. No. 824
0fUtf of tilt .'v.’Mrj*
25 AUG-4 PI :40
RnCEiVtD BY;
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda
AN ACT
RECOGNIZING, PRESERVING, AND PROMOTING THE TRADITIONAL AND 
INDIGENOUS WRITING SYSTEMS OF THE PHILIPPINES AS NATIONAL 
CULTURAL HERITAGE, MANDATING THEIR INTEGRATION INTO 
EDUCATION, CULTURE, DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY, AND CREATIVE 
INDUSTRIES, AND DECLARING AUGUST 22 OF EVERY YEAR AS "NATIONAL 
INDIGENOUS SCRIPTS DAY," AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Republic of 
the Philippines in Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Philippine Indigenous
2 
Writing Systems Act."
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to preserve, promote,
4 
and revitalize the traditional and indigenous writing systems of the Philippines as vital
5 
expressions of Filipino identity, creativity, and cultural continuity. The State affirms
6 
the importance of these scripts not only as historical and linguistic treasures, but also
7 
as living elements of national development in education, heritage, tourism, creative
8 
enterprise, and digital innovation.
9 
Sec. 3. Recognition of Indigenous Writing Systems. -The following traditional
10 
writing systems are hereby recognized as part of the national cultural heritage:
11 
Baybayin, Hanunuo, Buhid, Tagbanwa, Kulitan, and such other scripts that may be
12 
discovered or affirmed by research and community practice. These shall collectively
13 
be known as "Philippine Indigenous Scripts," referring to precolonial or traditional
14 
writing systems developed and used by various ethnolinguistic groups in the
15 
Philippines. They shall be protected, promoted, and revitalized through inclusive,
16 
community-driven, and regionally contextualized programs.


1 
Sec. 4. Promotion and Integration of Indigenous Scripts. - The Philippine
2 
Indigenous Scripts shall be promoted through the following:
3 
(a) By integrating instruction on the scripts into the basic education
4 
curriculum, as special topics in relevant subjects, particularly in regions
5 
with historical or active use of such scripts, and by developing
6 
corresponding teacher training and learning resources through the
7 
Department of Education (DepEd), in coordination with the National
8 
Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the National Commission
9 
on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), and relevant communities;
10 
(b) By requiring local government units (LCDs) to incorporate, where
11 
appropriate, an indigenous script in signage for street names, public
12 
buildings, facilities, and other public service establishments such as
13 
hospitals, police and fire stations, community centers, and government
14 
halls, taking into consideration the script that is historically or culturally
15 
associated with the locality, and in coordination with the Department of
16 
Tourism (DOT), the National Commission for Culture and the Arts
17 
(NCCA), and relevant local cultural communities.
18 
(c) By mandating the Department of Information and Communications
19 
Technology (DICT) to support the development of digital fonts,
20 
keyboards, and software tools that enable the use of indigenous scripts
21 
in mobile applications, websites, and digital publishing;
22 
(d) By directing the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), in partnership
23 
with the NCCA and the Design Center of the Philippines, to support
24 
micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), cooperatives, and
25 
creative professionals that use indigenous scripts in design, fashion,
26 
branding, packaging, and crafts, by providing technical assistance,
27 
marketing support, and by exploring appropriate fiscal and non-fiscal
28 
incentives to encourage the ethical and culturally grounded use of such
29 
scripts in creative and commercial activities;
30 
(e) By encouraging the use of indigenous scripts in the design of public
31 
parks, monuments, government buildings, and commemorative
32 
structures, consistent with local culture and identity;


1 
(f) By mandating the National Library of the Philippines (NLP), in
2 
coordination with the NCCA, to digitize, preserve, and archive materials
3 
in indigenous scripts, including letters, manuscripts, poems, signage,
4 
and artworks, while respecting the rights and consent of the originating
5 
communities;
6 
(g) By requiring all government agencies, departments, bureaus, offices,
7 
and instrumentalities, including government-owned and -controlled
8 
corporations (GOCCs) and LGUs, to adopt translations of their official
9 
names into the appropriate Philippine indigenous script, which may be
10 
used in seals, signage, letterheads, websites, and other official visual
11 
materials, as may be contextually and culturally appropriate; and
12 
(h) By encouraging the integration of Philippine indigenous writing systems,
13 
where appropriate, in relevant school-based and community-wide
14 
activities, as well as in awareness campaigns and cultural observances
15 
organized by public and private agencies, schools, and cultural
16 
institutions such as during Buwan ng Wika and other events that
17 
celebrate Filipino language, culture, and heritage.
18 
The promotion and use of indigenous writing systems shall be undertaken with
19 
due regard for the rights, traditions, and cultural integrity of the Indigenous Cultural
20 
Communities and Indigenous Peoples (ICCs/IPs) to whom such scripts are historically
21 
or presently connected. These efforts shall respect the principles of cultural sensitivity,
22 
proper attribution, and community participation, consistent with the Indigenous
23 
Peoples' Rights Act and other applicable laws and customary practices.
24 
Sec. 5. National Indigenous Scripts Day. - August 22 of every year is hereby
25 
declared as "National Indigenous Scripts Day," to commemorate the recognition of
26 
Baybayin and other traditional writing systems as part of the national cultural treasure.
27 
The day shall be celebrated with educational and cultural activities that showcase the
28 
diversity and richness of Philippine scripts.
29 
Sec. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days after
30 
the approval of this Act, the NCCA, in coordination with the DepEd, CHED, DTI, DICT,
31 
NCIP, DOT, DPWH, NLP, KWF, and other relevant agencies, shall promulgate the
32 
necessary rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this Act.


1 
The implementation of this Act shall be included in the regular cultural
2 
development programs of the concerned agencies, and the necessary funding shall be
3 
integrated in their respective annual budgets, subject to the usual budgeting process.
4 
The NCCA shall monitor and evaluate the implementation of this Act, and shall
5 
include a section in its annual agency report summarizing related initiatives,
6 
achievements, and implementation challenges. This report may, from time to time, be
7 
submitted to the appropriate committees of Congress for reference and oversight.
8 
Not later than five (5) years after the effectivity of this Act, the NCCA shall
9 
submit to Congress a comprehensive report evaluating the extent of implementation,
10 
changes and improvements observed, and recommendations for further legislative,
11 
institutional, or programmatic action. The Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) may
12 
submit supplementary assessments, particularly on matters relating to language,
13 
orthography, or script-based education and communication.
14 
Sec. 7. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and
15 
regulations, and other issuances or parts thereof that are inconsistent with the
16 
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.
17 
Sec. 8. Separability Clause. - If any part, section, or provision of this Act shall
18 
be declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other parts, sections, or provisions not
19 
otherwise affected shall remain in full force and effect.
20 
Sec. 9. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
21 
publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,