The national language, Filipino, should be used the whole year and not just promoted for one month, Senator Robinhood “Robin” C. Padilla stressed Sunday, on the eve of the start of the Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa celebration on August 1.
He said Filipino is for all Filipinos. Because of this, it should be our primary language in our everyday lives, not just in August.
Padilla has made it clear he will use Filipino in official functions of the Senate.
“Our Constitution decrees that Filipino is our national language. Art. XIV, Sec. 6 is clear: ‘The national language of the Philippines is Filipino’),” he added.
Earlier, Padilla filed Senate Bill 228, providing for the equal use of Filipino and English languages in government documents.
He stressed that in seeking the passage of the measure, he “strives to 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 including implementing rules and regulations of acts, executive orders, proclamations, administrative orders, memorandum circulars, and memorandum orders;
* Legislative documents including 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.