SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF 
THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Third Regular Session 
SENATE 
S. B. NO. ~862 
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 
AN ACT 
'15 .ll 21 
All:57 
RECEIVED By;-rF 
PROVIDING FOR AN OFFICIAL FILIPINO VERSION OF THE PHILIPPINE 
CONSTITUTION 
AND 
ITS 
TRANSLATION 
INTO 
MAJOR 
REGIONAL 
LANGUAGES, ARABIC, AND SPANISH, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Article XIV, Section 8 of the 1987 Constitution states that the Constitution 
shall be promulgated in Filipino and English and shall be translated into major 
regional languages, Arabic, and Spanish. The foregoing constitutional mandate is 
in furtherance of the constitutional declaration under Section 7 of Article XIV that 
the official languages of the Philippines are Filipino and, until otherwise provided 
by law, English for purposes of communication and instruction. 
The Constitution, being the highest law of the Philippines where the 
fundamental rights of the people and the form and structure of government are 
basically contained, must be understood by the ordinary people in his own 
language and dialect. 
However, it has been observed that the Constitution is 
written in one official language only, English. Although it is known that some 
translations in regional languages were written in the fundamental law, these were 
never discussed in the 1986 Constitutional Convention. Moreover, although there 
was an ad hoc Filipino version, this was apparently appended to the English 
version much later than the ratification of the Constitution in its English form. In 
other words, twenty-seven (27) years have passed since the ratification of the 
Constitution, there is still no official version of the Constitution in Filipino or in 
other languages specified therein. 
This bill, therefore, seeks to provide for an official Filipino version of the 
Philippine Constitution and its translation into major regional languages, Arabic, 
and Spanish. Under the proposed measure, the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino 
(KWF) is designated as overseer and coordinator in the implementation. The KWF 
shall undertake the writing, pUblication, and dissemination of the official Filipino 
version of the Philippine Constitution and its translation into major regional 
languages, Arabic, and Spanish and shall exercise such other functions as may be 
necessary or incidental to the attainment of the purposes of the proposed bill. 
It is believed that the new official version of the 1987 Constitution in Filipino 
will not only equip the people with clear understanding of their 


fundamental rights and government but will also enable the national language, 
as a matter of policy, to truly modernize and develop with the participation of 
the various native Philippine languages. 
For these reasons, passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
~ 
--== ::::::::= 
LO~ARDA 
Senator 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Third Regular Session 
) 
'15 JtL 21 
All 57 
SENATE 
S. B. NO. --2862 
~tfX'£fV£r) 8\':-+' 
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR AN OFFICIAL FILIPINO VERSION OF THE PHILIPPINE 
CONSTITUTION 
AND 
ITS 
TRANSLATION 
INTO 
MAJOR 
REGIONAL 
LANGUAGES, ARABIC, AND SPANISH, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
1 
SECTION 1. It is hereby declared the policy of the State to educate the 
2 
people about the fundamental law of the land and its translation into major 
3 
regional languages, Arabic, and Spanish. Towards this end, there is a need to 
4 
provide for an official Filipino version of the Philippine Constitution and its 
5 
translation into major regional languages, Arabic, and Spanish so that the 
6 
people may easily understand its contents. 
7 
SEC. 2. 
It is hereby mandated that the Philippine Constitution shall 
8 
have an official version written in Filipino language and its translation into 
9 
major regional languages, Arabic, and Spanish. 
10 
SEC. 3. The Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) is hereby designated as 
11 
overseer and coordinator in the effective implementation of this Act. 
12 
In addition to its mandated functions as sole government language 
13 
agency engaged in research and pUblication and other programs towards the 
14 
development of the Filipino language, the KWF shall undertake the writing, 
15 
publication, and dissemination of the official Filipino version of the Philippine 
16 
Constitution and its translation into major regional languages, Arabic, and 
1 


1 
Spanish and shall exercise such other functions as may be necessary or 
2 
incidental to the attainment of the purposes of this Act. 
3 
SEC. 4. The KWF, in coordination with the Department of Education and 
4 
other concerned government agencies, shall promulgate the necessary rules 
5 
and regulations to effectively implement the provisions of this Act. 
6 
SEC. 5. To implement the provisions of this Act, the initial amount of 
7 
Two Million Pesos (P2,OOO,OOO.OO) shall be appropriated to be charged against 
8 
the savings of the Office of the President (OP) in its fiscal year budget. Such 
9 
other amount as may be subsequently necessary for its implementation shall 
10 
be included under the budget of the Office of the President in the General 
11 
Appropriations Act (GAA). 
12 
SEC. 6. If any part, section or provision of this Act shall be declared 
13 
unconstitutional or invalid, the other part, section or provision not otherwise 
14 
affected shall remain in full force and effect. 
15 
SEC. 7. All laws, rules and regulations, inconsistent with the provisions 
16 
of this Act, are hereby repealed or amended accordingly. 
17 
SEC. 8. This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following its 
18 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
19 
Approved. 
2