Kasutusan

Kasutusan is a Filipino term that translates literally as “decision” or “decree.” It is commonly used in legal, administrative, and political contexts to refer to official orders or resolutions issued by government authorities or courts. The word derives from the Spanish “decisión,” reflecting the Philippines’ history of Spanish colonial influence on its legal lexicon. In modern usage, a kasutusan can pertain to rulings from the Philippine Supreme Court, orders from the Office of the Ombudsman, or directives from local government units.

The formation of a kasutusan typically follows established procedural rules. For judicial decisions, written opinions are published in official reporters and contain a title, facts, legal basis, and a reasoned conclusion. Administrative kasutusan are dated, signed, and often recorded in official gazettes or online portals. The language of a kasutusan tends to be precise and formal, focusing on the legal authority that underpins the action.

In jurisprudence, the term appears in court rulings such as Republic v. Filipino Industrial Bank, where the Supreme Court issued a kasutusan to invalidate a contract under the Code of Civil Procedure. Administratively, a kasutusan may be issued by the Department of Trade and Industry mandating compliance with new safety standards. While the term is largely country-specific, it is comparable to “decree,” “edict,” or “order” in other legal systems.