Pangasinan town council mandates strict 'Buwan ng Wika' observance

• Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1043971
• Sunday, August 12, 2018

By Ahikam Pasion (PNA)

MANGALDAN, Pangasinan -- Local and national government employees here are mandated to use the Filipino or Pangasinan language in verbal business transactions and other proceedings this month, in observance of the "Buwan ng Wika".

This was stated in Resolution No. 2018-68, authored by Councilor Aldrin Soriano and passed on July 30.

“Business transactions and proceedings in all government offices in the town will be spoken in Filipino or Pangasinan language, to which English has been the norm,” Soriano said in an interview Monday afternoon.

He noted that this is the first time in the history of the municipal council of Mangaldan to adopt a resolution, which commands strict observance of the Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa by speaking in Filipino or Pangasinan language.

“The Philippine Constitution says that we need to initiate and sustain the use of Filipino as our language,” Soriano said.

Memorandum Circular 2018-101 of the Department of the Interior and Local Government also mandates the conduct and active participation of local government units in activities and programs for the Buwan ng Wika, which would promote the use of the national language, he added.

No penalty will be imposed, however, on those who will fail to follow the said resolution, Soriano noted.