NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
S. No.
SENATE
273
of tlje crelcU-p
*22 JULll P6 *19
RECEIVED EV.
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" 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
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:
ARTICLEII, SECTION 24. The State recognizes the vita! role of 
communication and information in nation-building.
ARTICLE III, SECTION 7. The right of the people to information 
on matters of public concern shall be recognized. Access to official 
records, and to documents, 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.
Sadyang napakahalaga po sa ating bansa na lubos na naiintindihan ng ating 
mga kababayan ang lahat ng mga dokumento at sulatin ng ating gobyerno. Kung 
madaH pong maintindihan ang ating mga batas ay mas ma-engganyo po ang ating 
mga kababayan na hindi iamang sumunod sa batas, kundi makiiahok po sa mga 
usapan patungkoi sa mga pambansang at pampubiikong mga isyu.
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 Filipino and other regional languages or dialects, the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino 
(KWF) shall be tapped to facilitate the necessary capacity-building activities.


In view of this, early passage of this bill is sought.
NUEL "LITO" M. LAPID
Senator


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
s. No. 273
Senate
of tl)f ,#?cv?tarp
•22 JULll P6 :19
Rl:CEiVt D BY
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid
1 
AN ACT
2 
REQUIRING THE USE OF PLAIN LANGUAGE IN ALL GOVERNMENT-ISSUED
3 
PUBLIC ADVISORIES, NOTICES, ANNOUNCEMENTS AND SIMILAR
4 
DOCUMENTS INTENDED FOR PUBLIC DISSEMINATION AND
5 
DISTRIBUTION
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
6 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as "Plain Language in
7 
Government Documents Act."
8 
Section 2. Declaration of Policy. - In recognition of the vital role of
9 
communication and information in nation-building, all documents and communications
10 
from the government intended for public dissemination and distribution shall be clear,
11 
comprehensible, concise, and language-accessible. The citizenry must be able to easily
12 
understand and use the information presented in such documents.
13 
Section 3. Plain Language in AH Government Documents. - To ensure the
14 
widest accessibility, clarity and easy understanding of public information, all national
15 
government agencies, offices, instrumentalities, including government-owned and -
16 
controlled corporations (GOCCS), are hereby mandated to adopt the use of plain
17 
language in English, Filipino and/or other regional languages or dialects, as may be
18 
deemed necessary, for all covered documents under this Act.
19 
For this purpose, the Civil Service Commission (CSC) is hereby tasked with the
20 
duty of monitoring and ensuring the implementation of this plain language
1


1 
requirement. For GOCCs, the Governance Commission for GOCCs (GCG) shall be the
2 
agency tasked to perform this duty.
3 
Section 4. Scope of Application. - The following are the documents issued by
4 
the government intended for public dissemination and distribution covered by this Act:
5 
a. Advisories;
6 
b. Notices;
7 
c. Announcements;
8 
d. Bulletins;
9 
e. Forms and other papers for the application, request or enjoyment of a
10 
public service, right, privilege, benefit, license, clearance, permit, etc.;
11 
f. The agency's citizens' charter;
12 
g. Documents detailing and explaining a government program, activity or
13 
project;
14 
h. Replies and responses to an inquiry or request for assistance or
15 
information; and
16 
i. Any other document that the CSC or GCG as the case may be, in
17 
consultation with the agency or office concerned, deems as important
18 
to be included in this Act's coverage.
19 
Section 5. Training and Capacity-Building. - The CSC and GCG shall regularly
20 
conduct trainings, seminars and other similar capacity-building activities for the offices
21 
and agencies covered by this Act. For plain language In Filipino and other regional
22 
languages or dialects, the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) shall be tapped to
23 
facilitate the necessary capacity-building activities.


1 
Section 6. Report to Congress. - Within one (1) year after the effectivity of this
2 
Act and every two (2) years thereafter, the CSC and GCG shall submit a report to
3 
Congress on the status of implementation and compliance with this Act.
4 
Section 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from
5 
the effectivity of this Act, the CSC and GCG, in coordination with the KWF, the
6 
Philippine Information Agency (PIA), and other relevant government agencies and
7 
stakeholders, shall issue the necessary rules and regulations to implement the
8 
provisions of this Act.
9 
Section 8. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders,
10 
proclamations, rules and regulations, or any part thereof, which are inconsistent with
11 
the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
12 
Section 9. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) day after its
13 
publication in at least two (2) newspaper of general circulation.
14
Approved,