Lapid wants ‘plain language’ used in all gov't communications
Senator Lito Lapid wants government advisories, public announcements, and other forms of information to be disseminated in what he described as “plain language".
Thus, the Senator filed Senate Bill (SB) 273 or the “Plain Language in Government Documents Act". Lapid’s measure mandates the use of Filipino, English, or other regional languages by all government agencies to disseminate information to the public, including:
“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 citizens’ 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, deems as important to be included in the measure,” the bill read.
“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,” Lapid wrote in his explanatory note.
This bill goes hand-in-hand with another measure filed by Lapid: SB 275 or the “"Language Accessibility of Public Information on Disasters Act". This seeks to establish a similar mandate but for information and advisories pertaining to natural disaster on a local and national scale.
“Sadyang napakahalaga po sa ating bansa na lubos na naiintindihan ng ating mga kababayan ang lahat ng mga dokumento at sulatin ng ating gobyerno (It is important that our fellow Filipinos understand the documents of our government),” Lapid said.
“Kung madali pong maintindihan ang ating mga batas ay mas ma-engganyo po ang ating mga kababayan na hindi iamang sumunod sa batas, kundi makilahok po sa mga usapan tungkol sa mga pambansang at pampublikong mga isyu (If Filipinos can easily understand the law, not only will they be more obedient, they will be more participative in discourse on national and public issues),” he concluded.