Republic of the Philippines

House of Representatives
Constitution Hills, Batasan Complex, Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No._3012

Introduced by Representative ADOLPH EDWARD G. PLAZA
2” District, Agusan del Sur

“AN ACT
ESTABLISHING LOCAL LANGUAGE AS THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE IN LOCAL
GOVERNMENT TOWARDS PEOPLE’S GREATER PARTICIPATION IN
GOVERNANCE”

Explanatory Note

At the root of a strong nation are an empowered people. Language is the
most basic instrument with which people and society express and exercise power.
Our own history taught us how language was used as an instrument of domination
and liberation. For more than 300 years Spanish language reduced us into salvajes
(savages) providing the rationale for Spain's civilizing and Christianizing missions.
Bonifacio's Tagalog liberated our land from the yoke of Spanish colonialism but was
short lived. The coming of the Americans at the turn of the 20" century introduced
English as the new language of power that defined Filipinos as barbarians and
illiterates needing civilization and education. American English shaped our minds,
created America's “Little Brown Brothers” ---Filipinos who think, speak and act like
Americans while despising their native self.

Beginning with the Commonwealth Constitution, Filipino was made a national
language based on Tagalog but never made it as the official language of
Government. The present Constitution upholds Filipino as the national language but
the absence of enabling law had English continue to be the language of government,
thus the language of power. With majority of our people naturally speak and think in
their local languages, the hegemonic presence of English greatly reduces people's
participation in government.


The bill seeks to preserve and promote the people's everyday language by
‘making it the official language of local governance in both oral and written form.

This bill will also contribute and help facilitate the enrichment process of
Filipino language in Section 6, Article XIV of the 1987 Constitution which provides:

“The national language of the Philippines is Filipino. As it evolves,
it shall be further developed and enriched on the basis of existing
Philippine and other languages. xxx”

Facilitate and make communications efficient and effective between people
and government minimizing, if not completely avoiding miscommunications, lost in
translation and misunderstandings; and,

By making the people's language as the language of power, at least in their
respective localities, the bill aims to encourage more people to participate in
governance and towards contributing to people’s empowerment nationwide.

In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this bill is eamestly sought.

ADOLPH EDWARD G. PLAZA
2” District, Agusan del Sur


Republic of the Philippines

House of Representatives
Constitution Hills, Batasan Complex, Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No, 3012 __

Introduced by Representative ADOLPH EDWARD G. PLAZA
2N° District, Agusan del Sur

“AN ACT
ESTABLISHING LOCAL LANGUAGE AS THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE IN LOCAL
GOVERNMENT TOWARDS PEOPLE'S GREATER PARTICIPATION IN
GOVERNANCE”

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

SECTION 1. Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Local Governance
Language Act’.

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. Section 6, Article XIV of the 1987
Constitution states that the national language of the Philippines is Filipino, and its
development and enrichment shall be made based on existing Philippine and other
languages. The Constitution further mandates the Goverment to take steps to
initiate and sustain the use of Filipino as a medium of official communication.

It is vital that these existing regional languages be preserved and promoted
as it a means of enriching and shaping the “Filipino” language. The preservation and
promotion of these languages are accomplished through its usage such as creating
recorded and printed resources and in speaking the same.

The usage of these regional languages in official communication molds
individuals into becoming well-informed citizens strengthening the people's
participation in local governance and, hence, empowers the people as intended by
the framers of the 1987 Constitution. These objectives are also enunciated in the
provision relating to the State policy which recognizes the vital role of communication

E)


and information in nation-building.

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. The following terms as used in this Act shall
be defined as follows:

a.) Aliens- refers to natural and juridical persons who are not citizens of the
Philippines.

b.) Communication- refers to the transmission, conveyance, sharing,
exchanging of verbal and written messages within, among and between local
government units. It includes, but not limited to letters of correspondence,
letters of instructions, circulars, memorandums, orders, resolutions,
ordinances, veto messages of the local chief executives, and other similar
documents. It also refers to transactions made between natural and/or
juridical persons and the concemed local government units.

¢.) Local Governance- refers to the organizations, duties and responsibilities,
functions of public authorities who participate in the administration of local
government units. It covers the relations between the local government units
and its constituents, between the local government units and the non-
governmental entities.

d.) Local Language- refers to the language dominant and commonly spoken in
barangays.

e.) Non-residents- refers to natural and juridical persons residing outside the
territory of the local government unit.

f.) Non-speakers — refers to natural persons who are not speakers of the
language dominant in the territory of the local government unit.

g.) Regional Language- refers to the language dominant and commonly spoken
in the province and recognized as such by pertinent departments,
commissions, agencies of the government.

SECTION 4. Usage of the Regional Language. This Act declares the usage of
the regional language in all official communications within, among and between the
municipal governments and provincial governments; to wit: between municipal
governments, between provincial governments and between municipal governments
and provincial governments.

Official communications within, between and among barangay units shall be
made in the local language known to the parties; otherwise, the regional language
shall be utilized if the former is unknown.

Natural and juridical persons shall communicate with the concerned local
government units using regional or local language, as the case maybe.

SECTION 5. Scope. This Act shall apply to all forms of communications,
verbal and written within, among and between the local governments; to wit,
communications between barangays, between municipalities, between provincial
governments, exchanges between barangays and municipalities; municipalities to
their respective provincial governments and vice-versa.


SECTION 6. Exceptions. The following entities and persons are excepted to
the application of this Act:

a.) The National Government. Communications between the National
Government and the local government units shall be made in the official
language of the Philippines which are Filipino and English.

Standard Government Forms and the like documents shall not be
affected by this Act and shall remain as it is, unless otherwise provided by law.

b.) Non-residents, Non-speakers and Aliens. Communications between
the local government units and the non-residents of the place where the
LGU is located, non-speakers of the regional language and aliens may be
made in the official language of the Philippines which are Filipino and
English.

Notwithstanding the abovementioned exceptions, there is nothing in this
provision which prohibits the usage of the regional and local language by the
foregoing, and hereby, recommends the usage of these languages, if known.

SECTION 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department of
Interior and Local Government, together with the National Language Commission in
Partnership with pertinent academic institutions, shall craft the necessary
implementing rules and regulations for the effective implementation of the provisions
of this Act.

Within six (6) months following the approval of this Act, the Secretary of the
Department of Interior of Local Government (DILG) shall issue the implementing
rules and regulations and circulars necessary to effectively implement the provisions
hereof.

SECTION 8. Separability Clause. - if any provision of this Act or the
application of such provision to any person or circumstance is declared
unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or the application of such provision to
other person or circumstance shall not be affected by such declaration.

SECTION 9. Repealing Clause. -All laws, decrees, letters of instructions,
executive orders and rules and regulations and other issuances or parts thereof in
consistent or in conflict with any provision of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or
amended accordingly.

SECTION 10. Effectivity Clause. -This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,