Republic of the Philippines

DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (0

SOCOTIC
110,0011

MEMORANDUM

For: DR. RENATO U. SOLIDUM, JR.

Undersecretary for S&T Services

DR. VICENTE B. MALANO

Administrator, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical
ervic s drpini ratio (PAGASA)

From: F LIPE
Director III, Department Legislative Liaison Office

Cc: FORTUNATO T. DE LA PENA

Secretary

Subject: Request for comments on SB 1539 / HB 8943— Language Accessibility of

Disaster-Related Information

Date: November 10, 2021

The Office of the Secretary (OSEC) endorsed the attached letter from the Senate Committee on
Public Information and Mass Media soliciting comments for the abovementioned bills.

In this regard may we request for your written comments on these bills.

Engr. Cristopher Agbulig will coordinate with your office regarding this matter.

Thank you.

eltrtertrin
aErivi .61

ln-

Postal Address: DOST Complex. General Santos Avenue Tel. Nos.: Trunkline (+632) 8837-2071 to 82; 8837-3171 to 89
Bicutan, Taguig City 1631 Fax No. : OSEC (+632) 8837-2937; Records (+632) 8837-7493
P.O. Box 3596 Manila
VVebsite : www.dost.gov.ph

Ma -1A. °mg
 SENATE
COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC INFORMATION AND MASS MEDIA

November 10, 2021

Sec. Fortunato T. De La Perla

Department of Science and Technology (DOST)

Dear Sec. De La Pella,

This is to request from your good office your comments and

recommendations on the following Senate and House bills as we anticipate a public
hearing on these measures by the end of the month.

SB 1539 - An Act Mandating the Language Accessibility of Disaster-Related

Information by Sen. Lapid; and

HB 8943 - An Act requiring Disaster-Related Information to be stated in accessible

language to ensure public understanding thereof" by Reps. Luis Raymund F.
Villafuerte Jr., Joy Myra S. Tambunting, Manuel DG Cabochan III, Lucy Torres-
Comes, Juliet Marie D. Ferrer et. al.

The DOST's comments on the measures will greatly help the Committee in
the consideration of the bills and the preparation of its committee reports. May we
also request that your position paper be submitted by Monday, Nov. 15, 2021.

For further assistance, you may contact our technical staff, Ms. Jenny Quero
at 0927-955-3234 and email add at committeeonpublicinfo(thgmail.com . We are also
attaching copies of the bills for your easy reference.

Once again, we thank you for your valued assistance and views.

SEN. RAMON BONG REVILLA 3R.

Chair
Committee on Public Information & Mass Media

For the Chair:

Bernadine B. 7 may
Committee Secretary
 SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. —As used In this Act:
CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES
EIGHTEENTH CONORESS 2 a. Disaster — a serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society.— -- --
Second Regular Session
3 Involving widespread human, material, economic or environmental losses and
HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES 4 Impacts, which exceeds the ability of the affected community or society to cope using

H.140.8943 5 Its own resources.

6 Disasters are often described as a result of the combination ot the exposure to

BY REPRESENTATIVES YILIAITUERTE, TAMBUNTINO. GABOCHAN, TORRES-430303Z, FERRER NM.), 7 a hazard; the conditions of vulnerability that are present; and Insufficient capacity or
Daum)) (M.S.), BAUM., DEPENSOR (L). REVILLA, SAWS' 440, SANOCOPAN,
PACQUIA0 DELOSO-MONTALLA, GUREZ-MALANYAON, VILLARICA, DEL MAR, GUYA.
AUMENTADO, BARAS-MOORALES AND LEOARDA, PER COMMITTEE Report No.827 a measures to reduce or cope with the potential negative consequences, Disaster

9 impacts may Include loss of life, Injury, disease and other negative effects on human,

AN ACT 10 physical, mental and social well-being, together with damage to property, destruction
REQUIRING DISASTER-RELATED INFORMATION TO BE STATED IN
11 of assets, loss of services, social and economic disruption and environmental
ACCESSIBLE LANGUAGE TO ENSURE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING THEREOF
12 Cle91003001Y,
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the
Philippines in Congress assembled: 13

14 , b. Emergency - unforeseen or sudden occurrence, especially danger,

1 SEC. 1. Short Tide. — This Act shall be known as 'Language Accessibility of
is demanding immediate action;
2 , Pubfic Information on Disasters Act.' 18

3 17 c. State of Calamity - a condition Involving mass casualty and/or major

4 SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — The right of the people to information on Is damages to property and roads, disruption of means of livelihoods, and normal way of

matters of public concern Is recognized in our Constitution. Indeed, communication 19 life of people in the affected areas as a result of the occurrence of a natural or human-

6 10 induced hazard.
and information occupy a vital role in nalion-bullding. In times of disaster and other
21
emergencies, and to render meaningful and effective the right of the people to
22 SEC. 4. Scope of Application.— This Act shall cover disasters and other kinds
Information, it shall be ensured that announcements advisories and similar public
23 of emergencies which are (1) national in scope, as declared through a State of _
9 communications are accessible In terms of the language or dialect used.
24 Calamity or State of National Emergency by the President of the Philippines end (2)

25 provincial, city, or municipal in scope, as declared through a State of Calamity or

26 Emergency by the appropriate local government unit.

 1 SEC. 6. TIIMISIBIlon 40 Filipino and Other Regional Language or Dialect. —
2 SEC. 5. Language Accessibility of Disaster-Related Information In
The translation of the information covered by this Act shall be to Filipino and other
3 relation to disasters and other emergencies covered by Section 4 of this Act, it shall
3 regional languagets or dialectis, as deemed necessary by the government agency and
4 be mandatory for all government agencies and local government units to convert in an local government unit concerned considering the geographical location of the affected
4
5 easily understandable form and translate to Filipino and any other appropriate regional communities and the intended recipients of the information. The translated Information
5
6 language/s or dialect/a all their announcements, advisories, press releases, 6 shall be disseminated as widely as possible through all available media and
7 issuances. and any other Information relevant to such disaster or emergency.
7 communication channels.
including:
a
9 a) Tropical Cyclones, signals, and other advisories by the Philippine SEC. I. Role of the Komlsyon sa Mang Filipino. — The Komisyon sa
9
10 Atmosphedc, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-ASA); I.Mkang Filipino (KWF) shall render the necessary technical assistance and expertise
to
ii b) Volcano, Earthquake, tsunami, and landslide advisories and bulletins by the to the government agencies and local government units including the Bangsamoro
11
12 Philippine institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS); Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and monitor their complianceWM
12
13 c) Announcements, bulletins, and other advisories of the National Disaster Risk
13 the duties mandated by this Act.
14 Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), Local Disaster Risk Reduction and
14
as Management Councils (LDRRMCs) and network of Disaster Risk Reduction SEC. 8. implementing Rules and Regulations. —Within sixty (80) days from
15
as Management Councils composed of national, regional, provincial. city. municipal the Effectivity of this Act, the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF), In consultation with
16
17 DRRM councils and barangay DRRM committees. other relevant agencies and stakeholders, shall issue the necessary rules and
17
is d) Information on epidemics, outbreaks, and public health emergencies of the
is mutations to Implement the provisions of this Act.
19 Department of Health (DOH);
19
zo e) Advisories and warnings released by DENR-MGB, humaMnduced hazards,
20 SEC. 9. Repealing Clause.— PH laws, presidential decrees, executive orders.
21 BFP advisories, AFP and PNP human security concerns; and proclamations, rules and regulations, or parts thereof which are Inconsistent with the
21
zz 0 Information on the Social Amelioration Program, emergency assistance, art
22 provisions of this Act is hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
23 other social protection measures of the Department of Social Welfare and
23
24 Development (DSWD).
24 SEC. 10. Separability Clause. — if any provision or part of this Act, or the
25 application thereof to any person or circumstance, Is held unconstitutional or invalid,
25

26 the remainder of this Act shall not be affected thereby.

4
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) na " Through this proposed measure, all disaster-related information shall be
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) language-accessible and readily-comprehensible especially to speakers of our regional
fist Regular Session
20 MY 20 P258 languages and dialects.
SENATE
In view of this, early passage of this bill Is sought.
S No 1539 RECi ' rr.

Introduced by Senator Manuel "Llto" M. Lank!

UEL ITO" M. LA7
Senator
AN ACT
MANDATING THE LANGUAGE ACCESSIBILITY OF DISASTER-RELATED
INFORMATION

EXPLANATORY NOTE

During disasters and other emergency situations, an Informed public Is a

prepared and ready public. Giving our constituents with easily-understandable, up-to-
date and reliable Information is a crucial aspect of any disaster preparedness and
response plan. Unfortunately, some of the government's announcements, bulletins
and advisories regarding Impending disasters or calamities fall short of this objective.
Most, if not all, are confined only to the use of the English language; or, if ever they
are translated, it is only to the Filipino language and not to the many other regional
languages and dialects that our citizens speak, write and converse with.

This bill aims to put an end to this practice. Under this bill, It shall be required
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 or dialect all their announcements, advisories, press releases, Issuances and
any other information relevant to a local or national disaster or emergency. The
translation of the information shall be to (1) Filipino and (2) other regional language/s
or dialect/5, as deemed necessary by the government agency and local government
unit concerned considering the geographical location of the affected communities and
the intended redpients of the information. The translated information shall be
disseminated as widely as possible through all available media and communication
channels.
 EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) using Its own resources. Disasters are on described as a result of the
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 2 combination of: the exposure to a hazard; the conditions of vulnerability that
fist Regular Session
20 MAY 20 P258 3 are present; and insuffident capacity or measures to reduce or cope with the
SENATE 4 potential negative consequences, Disaster impacts may include loss of life,

5 injury, disease and other negative effects on human, physical, mental and social
s. No. 1539
6 well-belng, together with damage to property, destruction of assets, loss of
services, Social and economic disruption and environmental degradation;
I b. "ErnerwriLy"- unforeseen or sudden °eminence, especially danger, demanding
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Llto" M. tepid
9 immediate action;
10 ' c. 'State of Calamity'. a condition involving mass casualty and/or major damages
II to property, disruption of means of livelihoods, roads and normal way of life of
AN ACT
12 people In the affected areas as a result of the occurrence of natural or human-
MANDATING THE LANGUAGE ACCESSIBILITY OF DISASTER-RELATED
INFORMATION 13 induced hazard.
14
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines
15 Section 4. Scope ol ApplIcaffon. - This Act shall cover disasters and other kinds
In Congress assembled:
16 of emergencies which are (1) national in scope, as declared through a State of

17 Calamity or State of National Emergency by the President of the Philippines, and (2)
SECTION 1. Short 77tle. - This Act shall be known as "Language Accessibility
111 provindal, city or munidpal in scope, as declared through a State of Calamity or
2 of Public Information on Disasters Act."
19 Emergency by the appropriate local government unit.
3
4 Section 2. Declaration of Policy. - The right of the people to information on 20
matters of public concern is recognized in our Constitution. Indeed, communication Section 5. Language Acressibillty of Disaster-Related Information. - In relation
21
6 and information occupies a vital role in nation-building. In times of disaster and other to disasters and other emergencies covered by Section 4 of thls Act, It shall be
22
emergencies, and to render meaningful and effective the right of the people to mandatory for all government agencies and local govemment units to convert in an
23
information, it shall be ensured that announcements, advisories and similar public easily understandable form and translate to Filipino and any other appropriate regional
24
9 communications are accessible in terms of the language or dialect used. 25 language/s or dIalect/s all their announcements, advisories, press releases, Issuances
10 26 and any other information relevant to such disaster or emergency, including but not
ii Section 3. Definibbn of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, these terms are 27 limited to:
12 defined as follows:
28 a) Typhoon warnings, signals and other advisories by the Philippine
13
29 Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration
14 a. "Disaster"- a serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society
30 (PAG-ASA);
15 Involving widespread human, material, economic or environmental losses and
31 b) volcano, earthquake, tsunami and landslide advisories and bulletins by
16 Impacts, which exceeds the ability of the affected community or society to cope

2
1
1 the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS); Section 10. Separability Cause. — If any provision or part of this Act, or the
2 c) Announcements, bulletins and other advisories of the National Disaster 2 application thereof to any person or drcumstance, Is held unconstitutional or Invalid,

3 Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and the Local 3 the remainder of this Act shall not be affected thereby.

4 Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Coundis (LDRRMCs); 4

5 d) Information on epidemics, outbreaks and public health emergencies of 5 Section 11. Effedfvfly Cause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
6 the Department of Health (DOH); and 6 from Its publication In the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general

7 e) Information on the Social Amelioration Program, emergency assistance 7 drculation.

8 and other social protection measures of the Department of Social

9 Welfare and Development (DSWD); 9 Appnwed,
10
11 Section 6. Translation to f711p/no and Other Regional language or Dialect —The
12 translation of the Information covered by this Act shall be to (1) Rlipino and (2) other
13 regional language/s or dialect/s, as deemed necessary by the government agency and
14 local government unit concerned considering the geographical location of the affected
15 communities and the intended recipients of the information. The translated
16 information shall be disseminated as widely as possible through all available media
17 and communication channels.
18
19 Section 7. Rae of the Komlsyon sa 14alfang Filipino. —The Komlsyon sa Mang
20 Filipino (KWF) shall render the necessary technical assistance and expertise to the
21 government agencies and local government units and monitor their compliance to the
22 duties mandated by this Act.
23

24 Section 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within sixty (60) days from
25 the effectivity of this Act, the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) in consultation with
26 other relevant government agencies and stakeholders, shall issue the necessary rules
27 and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act.
28
29 Section 9. Repealing Cause.— All laws presidential decrees, executive orders,
30 proclamations, rules and regulations, or any part thereof, which are Inconsistent with
31 the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
32