Citing the more than 170 dialects spoken in the Philippines, Senator Manuel “Lito” Lapid wants public announcements to be in Tagalog or in the vernacular.
He filed a bill to direct government agencies to translate all documents including announcements, advisories, press releases and other information on local and national disasters to Tagalog or the vernacular language.
According to Lapid, most, if not all advisories, announcements or issuances regarding impending disasters or calamities are delivered either in English or Tagalog.
But for a country like the Philippines where more than 170 languages are spoken, he noted that not all could understand English or Tagalog.
If the announcements are in Tagalog or vernacular language, Lapid said they will be well-informed and prepared for impending disasters.
