Padilla: use filipino in Gov’t docus
SAYING it is high time that Filipinos start giving importance to their own language – Filipino – Senator Robinhood Padilla filed Senate Bill 228, which will provide for the equal use of Filipino and English language in government documents.
The passage of the bill will educate and encourage Filipinos to speak their own language, give importance to our own heritage and identity as a people, and ensure a greater understanding and appreciation of government documents, Senator Robinhood Padilla said.
Padilla maintained that our national language, Filipino, should be used the whole year and not just promoted for one month in time for the Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa this August.
Senator Robinhood “Robin” C. Padilla stressed this Sunday on the eve of the start of the Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa on August 1.
“Ang pambansang wika ay para sa lahat ng Pilipino. Dahil dito, dapat bida ang wikang Filipino sa ating pang-araw-araw na buhay, hindi lang sa Agosto (Filipino, our national language, is for all Filipinos. Because of this, it should be our primary language in our everyday lives, not just in August),” he said.
Padilla, who has made it clear he will use Filipino in official functions of the Senate, added: “Mismong Saligang Batas ang nagsasabi na ang pambansang wika natin ay Filipino. Ayon sa Art. XIV, Sec. 6, Filipino ang pambansang wika ng Pilipinas (No less than our Constitution decrees that Filipino is our national language. Art. XIV, Sec. 6 is clear: ‘The national language of the Philippines is Filipino’).”.
The passage of the measure, he said will “promote the policy of inclusion and equal opportunities for all Filipinos.”
Under the bill, Filipino and English will be the official languages of the Philippines for all government issuances and documents including: Executive issuances such as implementing rules and regulations of acts, executive orders, proclamations, administrative orders, memorandum circulars, and memorandum orders; Legislative documents to include acts, bills, rules of procedures, resolutions, journals, and committee reports; Judicial Issuances and Proceedings including “decisions, resolutions, rules and other issuances of the Supreme Court and lower courts”, International Treaties, Public Advisories, and Publication of Acts.
Padilla also confirmed that he is also considering to propose translating commercial and product labels to help many Filipinos understand vital information and instructions specified in medicines, electronic gadgets, etc.
Based on studies, many Filipino patients are facing challenges as most of them are confused and cannot understand the dosage of medicines and other procedures that they need to know in taking medicines because it is written in English or other languages which Padilla said must be a top consideration. Government agencies, he said, must be aware that a lack of understanding can lead to catastrophic results and puts lives at risk.
At the same time, Padilla said this will create another industry and will give jobs to many Filipinos who can share and use their skills in this field because translating many things in Tagalog will also need some expertise.
The neophyte senator said a valuable Filipino translation industry will create additional income for many Filipinos as he maintained that this is also our way to preserve, promote and enrich the Filipino language, identity, and heritage.
