Sen. Manuel “Lito” Lapid has filed a bill which seeks to require the use of plain language in government-issued public advisories, notices, announcements and similar documents intended for public dissemination and distribution.

Lapid’s measure, Senate Bill 1911, mandates that all national government agencies, offices, and instrumentalities, including government-owned-and-controlled corporations, should adopt the use of plain language in English, Filipino, and or other regional languages or dialects.

Lapid said that in recognition of the vital role of communication and information in nation-building, it is imperative that all documents and communications from the government intended for public dissemination should be clear, comprehensible, concise, and language-accessible.

“Karapatan ng ating mga mamamayan na makatanggap ng kumpleto at malinaw na impormasyon at anunsyo mula sa ating gobyerno sa lahat ng pagkakataon. Higit ding mahalaga na sa lahat ng advisories at pahayag mula sa gobyerno, dapat nakasulat ito sa salitang madaling maiintindihan ng ating mga kababayan. Sa ganitong paraan lamang natin masisiguro na magiging maalam ang bawat Pilipino at may sapat silang pag-intindi sa mga mensahe ng pamahalaan para sa kanila.” Lapid explained.

(It is the right of a citizen to receive complete and clear information and announcements from the government. If is important that all advisories and announcements from the government must be written in plain language so that it could be easily understood. It is in this manner that every Filipino is well informed and has a clear understanding of messages to them from the government)

The bill states that the following documents issued by the government for public distribution should adopt the use of plain language in English, Filipino, or regional dialects as deemed necessary:

-- Advisories
-- Notices
-- Announcements
-- Bulletins
-- Forms and other papers for the application, request, or enjoyment of a public service, right, privilege, benefit, license, clearance, permit
-- The agency’s citizen’s charter
-- Documents detailing and explaining a government program, activity, or project
-- Replies and responses to an inquiry or request for assistance or information
-- Any other document that the PIA (Philippine Information Agency) or GCG (Governance Commission for GOCCs) as the case may be, in consultation with the agency or office concerned, deemed as important to be included in the measure.

The government bodies that will be tasked to ensure and monitor compliance of this plain language requirement are the Civil Service Commission (CSC) for national government agencies and offices and the Governance Commission for GOCCs (GCG).

The two agencies 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 and in Filipino and other regional language or dialects, the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) shall be tapped to facilitate the necessary capacity-building activities.