THE HOUSE of Representatives has approved a measure that aims to promote the country’s indigenous writing systems by including them in relevant subjects in basic and higher education.

With 251 votes, the House approved on final reading House Bill 6069 or the Philippine Indigenous and Traditional Writing Systems Act to generate greater awareness of indigenous and traditional scripts and promote wider appreciation of their significance as part of cultural treasures.

“While these writing systems are being revived again, it is becoming vulnerable and in danger of misrepresentation and alteration due to technological advancements,” Tingog Party-list Reps. Yedda Marie Romualdez and Jude Acidre said.

“Proper and official recognized standardization, publication, and documentation must be established in order for the writing systems to sustain its intrinsic characteristics,” they added.

The measure requires government agencies to ensure the record-keeping of relevant documents and preservation of oral evidence on the writing systems.

Under the bill, the Department of Education, the Commission on Higher Education and local governments will conduct activities that promote awareness of the writing systems, particularly during Buwan ng Wika and similar occasions and events.

Seminars, conferences, conventions, symposia and other relevant activities shall also be held to promote the writing systems indigenous to a particular region.

The National Commission for Culture and the Arts will be the lead agency in promulgating policy guidelines on the promotion of the writing systems.