AKBAYAN Party-list Rep. Chel Diokno on Sunday renewed his call for the passage of the “Batas sa Sariling Wika Act” as the country marks Buwan ng Wika, saying the measure would require the translation of Philippine laws with penal provisions into Filipino, Bisaya, and Ilokano.
“Our laws should be accessible to every Filipino. If ordinary people cannot understand the law, how can they know and exercise the rights it guarantees?” Diokno said in a statement.
“It is not just about translation but ensuring equal access to justice. No one should be left behind simply because they cannot understand the language of the law,” he added.
The lawmaker pointed out that the 1987 Constitution declares Filipino as the national language, recognizes English and Filipino as official languages, and allows the use of regional languages as auxiliary official languages.
However, understanding existing laws remains a challenge for most Filipinos.
Under the measure, all new laws with penal provisions must be translated within 90 days of enactment.
Existing laws with penal provisions, including the Revised Penal Code, Labor Code, Republic Act 7610, the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act, the Safe Spaces Act, and the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers, among others, would be translated within five years.
The bill designates the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino as the lead translating authority, and the Presidential Communications Office would publish the translations in the Official Gazette and make them available online.
Diokno said the proposal would align the Philippines with several Southeast Asian countries where laws are written and enforced in their respective national languages, including Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Timor-Leste.
Also known as the “Batas sa Sariling Wika Bill,” the proposed law was first filed in August 2025 and is co-authored by Akbayan Party-list Reps. Percival Cendaña and Dadah Kiram Ismula, and Dinagat Islands Rep. Kaka Bag-ao. It is pending before the House Committee on Revision of Laws.
