Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

RECEIVED

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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill NoDO9L a

Introduced by Representative GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO.

AN ACT TO STRENGTHEN AND ENHANCE THE USE OF ENGLISH AS THE
MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION IN THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Section 7, Article XIV of the 1987 Constitution provides that for purposes of
communication and instruction, the official languages of the Philippines are Filipino and,
until otherwise provided by law, English

It is a declared ‘policy of the State to promote education as a means to achieve and
maintain an accelerating rate of economic development and social progress.

The Bilingual Policy of the Department of Education, which was introduced in 1974
(through DECS Order No. 25, s. 1974), was designed to develop a "bilingual nation
competent in the use of English and Filipino". This policy mandated the teaching of
Filipino as a subject in all curricular levels from the elementary to college. In addition,
it required the use of Filipino as a medium of instruction in Social Studies, Character
Education, Values Education, Physical Education, Industrial Arts and Home
Economics

As a result of this policy, the learning of the English language suffered a setback. One
reason is what linguists call language interference, Targeting the learning of two
languages (English and Pilipino) is too much for the Filipino learners, especially in the
lower grades. And if the child happens to be a non-Tagalog speaker, this task actually
means learning two foreign languages at the same time, an almost impossible task.

This bill aims to develop the aptitude, competence and proficiency of our students in the
English language to maintain and improve their competitive edge in emerging and fast-
growing local and international industries, particularly in the area of Information and
Communications Technology (ICT]

In view of this, the approval of this measure, which was duly approved in the
Committees of Higher Education and Basic Education in the 14" Congress is

urgently sought.

GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO
2™ District, Pampanga

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

5091

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representative GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO.

AN ACT TO STRENGTHEN AND ENHANCE THE USE OF ENGLISH AS THE
MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION IN THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Strengthening and
Enhancing the Use of English as the Medium of Instruction Act":

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the declared policy of the State to
provide the citizenry with opportunities to have quality education, to learn,
communicate, grow and change in the pursuit of a higher standard of life. Towards this
end, the government undertakes to align the education of the young with the
requirements and realities of business life and to be competitive in the global
environment by strengthening, enhancing and developing the use of the English
language as the medium of instruction in all levels of education, from the preschool to
the tertiary level

Sec, 3, Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following terms or
acronyms shall refer to and/or mean as hereunder defined:

(a) Medium of Instruction (MOI) refers to the language or dialect used in
teaching.

(b) School Year (SY) refers to the part of the year during which schools are in
session typically from June to March.

(c) Parents, Teachers and Community Association (PTCA); refers to a group of
parents and teachers organized for the welfare of the school and its pupils
(d) Regional or native language refers to the regional language or any dialect

prevailing in region or place.

(e) Academic subjects refers to curricular subjects in the areas of general
education, science and technology.

Sec. 4. Medium of Instruction (MO). - The MOI in all subjects taught shall
be as follows:



a. English shall be taught as a second language, starting with the First Grade

b. As provided for in the 2002 Basic Education Curriculum, English shall be used
as the medium of instruction for English, Mathematics and Science from at least
the Third Grade level.

c. The English language shall be used as the primary medium of instruction in all
public and private institutions of learning in the secondary level, including those
established as laboratory and/or experimental schools, and non-formal and
vocatiorial or technical educational institutions, As the primary medium of
instruction, the percentage of time allotment for learning areas conducted in the
English language is expected to be not less than seventy percent (70%) of the
total time allotment for all learning areas in the secondary level

d. Pursuant to the Constitutionally-mandated policy of the Government to ensure
and promote the evolution, development and further enrichment of Filipino as the
national language of the Philippines, the Filipino language shall continue to be the
medium of instruction in the learning areas of Filipino and Araling Panlipunan.

It is the objective of the foregoing policies to develop the aptitude, competence
and proficiency of all students in the use of the English language to make them better
prepared for the job opportunities emerging in the new, technology-driven sectors of the
economy

Sec. 5. Institutions of Higher Education. — Institutions of higher education,
including State Colleges and Universities [SUCs], are hereby encouraged to adopt the
use of the English language as the primary medium of instruction in the tertiary level
The CHED shall adopt measures to promote and encourage the use of the English
language as the primary medium of instruction in the tertiary or higher education level

Sec. 6. Government Examinations and Entrance Examinations. - Government
Examinations and entrance examinations to public schools and state colleges and
universities at all levels shall use English as the language of assessment: Provided,
however, That it may include questions in Filipino for which the credit for such
questions shall not exceed ten per cent (10%) of the total points in the examination

Sec. 7. Proficiency of Teachers. - The DepEd, through the National Educators’
Academy of the Philippines [NEAP], the Educational Development Project Implementing
Task Force [EDPITAF], the CHED, the TESDA, as well as through the educational
institutions in the private sector, shall evaluate the proficiency of educators in the English
language and conduct training programs nationwide to develop and improve it.

Sec. 8. Support Facilities. - All the requirements, devices and support
facilities necessary to strengthen, enhance and develop English as the MOI such as
training and orientation for teachers’ manuals, learning modules and workbooks,
textbooks, audio-visual aids and other auxiliary teaching and learning materials shall
be formulated, developed and provided by the Department of Education (DepEd)

Sec. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The DepEd, in consultation
with the CHED, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority
(TESDA) and other concerned government agencies shall promulgate within sixty (60)
days the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) that shall be necessary to implement
the provisions of this Act.


Sec 10. Guarantee of Academic Freedom. — Nothing in this Executive Order shall
be construed as limiting the academic freedom of institutions of higher education.

Sec. 11. Congressional Oversight Committee. - There is hereby created a
congressional oversight committee composed of Three Members from the Senate and
Three Members from the House of Representatives, The Members from the Senate
shall be appointed by the Senate President based on the proportional representation
of the parties or the coalitions therein, with at least one Senator representing the
Minority. The Members of the House of Representatives shall be appointed by the
Speaker, also based on the proportional representation of the parties or the coalitions
therein, withat least one Member representing the Minority.

The Committee shall be headed by the respective Chairpersons of the Senate
and the House of Representatives’ Committees on Education.

The Congressional Oversight Committee on Education shall, in aid of legislation
perform the following

(a) Participate in the crafting of the IRR;

(b) Approve the final draft of the IRR;

(c) Set the guidelines and the overall framework to monitor and ensure
the proper implementation of this Act;

(d) Ensure transparency and require the submission of reports from
government agencies concerned on the conduct of programs, projects and
policies relating to the implementation of this Act;

(e) Determine inherent weaknesses in the law and recommend the
necessary remedial legislations or executive measures; and

(f) Perform such other duties and functions and responsibilities as may be
necessary to effectively attain the objectives of this Act.

The Congressional Oversight Committee on Education shall be assisted by the
secretariat, of the committees of both the House of Representatives and the Senate
and shall be assisted by personnel who may be seconded therefrom. It may likewise
retain the services of Consultants.

Sec. 12. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared

unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other
provisions hereof.

Sec. 13. Repealing Clause. - All executive orders. Laws and department orders
and parts thereof contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
repealed or modified accordingly.



SEC. 14. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
Publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two newspapers of general circulation

Approved,