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Congress of the Republic of the Philippines 
SENATE OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Pasay City 
10 
AUG 11 
P;;: :35 
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
SENATE BILL NO. 2380 
Introduced by Senator Edgardo J, Angara 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Pursuant to the mandate of the Constitution. the Congress of the Philippines 
enacted Republic Act No. 7104 creating the Commission on the Filipino Language. 
which is now also known as Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF), in 1991. Under said law, 
KWF is tasked to undertake, coordinate and promote researches for the development. 
propagation, and preservation of Filipino as the national language of the Philippines, 
and other Philippine languages. 
After almost two decades since the creation of the KWF, there is an imperative 
need to further strengthen the same as the only constitutionally-mandated cultural 
agency of the Government, with the end in view of keeping it at pace with the 
evolution of Filipino and other Philippine languages. KWF should be governed by a 
continuing body with officials having a term of office akin to that of the constitutional 
commissioners. as well as be given the authority to enter into agreements with other 
government agencies, as well as private institutions to raise funds for the Commission in 
order to promote the Filipino Language. 
Passage of this bill is therefore earnestly sought. 
~D~.~ 


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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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(lUG 1 J f> 2 :35 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S.B. No. 23 B~O 
Introduced by Senator EDGARDO J. ANGARA 
AN ACT 
STRENGTHENING THE COMMISSION ON THE FILIPINO LANGUAGE AS A 
CONSTITUTIONALLY MANDATED AGENCY, AMENDING FOR THIS 
PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7104 
Be it enacted in the Senate and House oj Representatives oj the Philippines in the 
Congress assembled: 
1 
SECTION 1. Section 1 of Republic Act No. 7104 shall be amended to read as 
2 
follows: 
3 
4 
"SECTION 1. Short Title. -
This Act shall be known as 
5 
"STRENGTHENING THE Commission on the Filipino Language Act." 
6 
7 
SEC. 2. Section 4 of Republic Act No. 7104 shall be amended to read as follows: 
8 
9 
"SECTION 4. Creation oj the [Commission on the Filipino 
10 
Language] KOMISYON NG WlKANG FILIPINO. -
There is hereby 
11 
created a commission to be known as the [Commission on the Filipino 
12 
Language] KOMISYON NG WIKANG FILIPINO, composed of 
13 
representatives of various ethnolinguistic groups and different disciplines, 
14 
which shaH undertake, coordinate and promote researches for the 
15 
development, propagation and preservation of Filipino and other Philippine 
16 
languages and which shall be AN INDEPENDENT GOVERNMENT 
17 
AGENCY directly under the Office of the President, AND ATTACHED 
18 
TO THE NATIONAL COMMISSION ON CULTURE AND THE 
19 
ARTS (NCCA) FOR POLICY AND PROGRAM COORDINATION." 
• 
1 


I 
2 
SEC. 3. Section 6 of Republic Act No. 7104 shall be amended to read as follows: 
3 
4 
"SECTION 6. Appointment and Qualifications of Commissioners. 
5 
-
[The commissioners shall be appointed by the President, with the consent 
6 
of the Commission on Appointments, from the list of nominees to be 
7 
submitted by the different ethnolinguistic regions in the country. The 
8 
President shall appoint from the eleven (11) commissioners the Chairman 
9 
and the two (2) full-time c.ommissioners. The President shall likewise 
10 
appoint from the remaining eight (8) commissioners, four (4) commissioners 
II 
who shall serve for a term of five (5) years and four (4) who shall serve for a 
12 
term of three (3) years.] THE COMMISSION SHALL BE COMPOSED 
13 
OF ELEVEN (11) COMMISSIONERS TO BE APPOINTED BY THE 
14 
PRESIDENT FOR A TERM OF SEVEN (7) YEARS. PROVIDED, 
IS 
THAT THE FIRST APPOINTEES PURSUANT TO THIS LAW 
16 
SHALL HOLD OFFICE UNDER THE FOLLOWING STAGGERED 
17 
TERMS, 
NAMELY: 
THE FIRST 
THREE 
(3) 
APPOINTED 
18 
COMMISSIONERS SHALL HAVE A FULL TERM OF SEVEN (7) 
19 
YEARS; THE NEXT FOUR (4) COMMISSIONERS SHALL HAVE A 
20 
TERM OF FIVE (5) YEARS; AND THE REMAINING FOUR (4) 
21 
COMMISSIONERS SHALL HAVE A TERM OF THREE (3) YEARS: 
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PROVIDED, FURTHER, THAT NO COMMISSIONER SHALL BE 
23 
ELIGIBLE FOR ANY REAPPOINTMENT. APPOINTMENT TO 
24 
ANY VACANCY SHALL ONLY BE FOR THE UNEXPIRED 
25 
PORTION OF THE TERM OF THE PREDECESSOR. IN NO CASE 
26 
SHALL A MEMBER BE APPOINTED OR DESIGNATED IN A 
27 
TEMPORARY OR ACTING CAPACITY. 
In the absence of the 
28 
Chairman, the commissioners shall choose a temporary or acting chairman 
29 
from the two (2) full-time commissioners. FROM THE FIRST THREE 
30 
(3) COMMISSIONERS, THE PRESIDENT SHALL APPOINT THE 
31 
CHAIRPERSON, ONE COMMISSIONER FOR ADMINISTRATION 
32 
AND 
ANOTHER COMMISSIONER FOR PROGRAMS AND 
33 
PROJECTS. 
34 
2 


I 
"No one shall be appointed as commissioner unless he/she is a 
2 
natural-born Filipino citizen, at least thirty (30) years old, morally upright 
3 
and noted for his/her expertise in linguistics, the culture and language of the 
4 
ethnolinguistic region and the discipline he/she represents." 
5 
6 
SEC. 4. Section 8 of Republic Act No. 7104 shall be amended to read as follows 
7 
8 
"SECTION 8. Vacancy. -
In case a vacancy occurs prior to the 
9 
expiration of the term of office of a commissioner, the replacement shall 
10 
serve only the unexpired portion of the term of office that was vacated. The 
II 
Commission shall, within thirty (30) days from the date the vacancy occurs, 
12 
recommend to the President a replacement from the list of nominees 
13 
submitted by the particular ethnolinguistic region affected by the vacancy[, 
14 
subject to the confirmation of the Commission on Appointments]: Provided, 
15 
That, in the event of the Commission fails to make such recommendation, 
16 
the vacancy shall be filled up by the President, also from the said list of 
17 
nominees [and with the consent of the Commission on Appointments]." 
18 
19 
SEC. 5. Section 12 of Republic Act No. 7104 shall be amended to read as follows: 
20 
21 
"SECTION 12. Director General. -
[There shall be a director 
22 
general who shall be appointed by the Commission for a term of seven (7) 
23 
years and who may be reappointed for a maximum of one (1) term. The 
24 
Commission shall determine the powers, functions, duties and compensation 
25 
of the director general.] 
THERE SHALL BE AN EXECUTIVE 
26 
DIRECTOR WHO SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE PRESIDENT. 
27 
HE/SHE SHALL HAVE A RANK EQUlV ALENT TO A BUREAU 
28 
DIRECTOR. 
29 
30 
31 
32 
33 
34 
"THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SHALL 
HAVE 
THE 
FOLLOWING FUNCTIONS: 
(A) IMPLEMENT 
APPROVED 
COMMISSION; 
THE 
AND 
3 
POLICIES 
AND 
PROMULGATED 
PROGRAMS 
BY 
THE 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
(B) REPRESENT THE COMMISSION IN MEETINGS WHEN 
AUTHORIZED OR DELEGATED BY THE BOARD; AND 
(C)PERFORM SUCH OTHER FUNCTIONS ASSIGNED BY 
THE COMMISSION'S BOARD." 
, 
6 
SEC. 6. Section 14 of Republic Act No. 7104 shall be amended to read as follows: 
7 
8 
"SECTION 14. Powers, Functions and Duties o/the Commission. 
9 
The Commission, pursuant to the pertinent provisions of the 
10 
Constitution, shall have the following powers, functions and duties: 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
(a) 
Formulate policies, plans and programs to ensure the further 
development, emichment, propagation and preservation of Filipino and 
other Philippine language; 
(b) 
Promulgate rules, regulations and guidelines to implement its 
• 
17 
policies, plans and programs; 
18 
19 
(c) 
Undertake or contract research and other studies to promote the 
20 
evolution, development, emichment and eventual standardization of Filipino 
21 
and other Philippine languages. This will include the collation of works for 
22 
possible incorporation into a multi-lingual dictionary of words, phrases, 
23 
idioms, quotations, sayings and other expressions, including words and 
24 
phrases from other languages now commonly used or included in the lingua 
25 
franca; 
26 
27 
(d) 
Propose guidelines and standards for linguistic forms and 
28 
expressions in all official communications, publications, textbooks and other 
29 
reading and teaching materials; 
30 
31 
(E) 
DEVELOP 
AND 
IMPLEMENT 
CONSORTIUM 
32 
AGREEMENTS TO LINK OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES 
33 
AND/OR 
PRIVATE 
INDIVIDUALS 
AND 
ORGANIZATIONS 
34 
ENGAGED IN OR IN SUPPORT OF THE MANDATE OF THE 
35 
COMMISSION; 
4 


I 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
• 
[ (e)] (F) 
Encourage and promote, through a system of incentives, 
grants and awards, the writing and publication, in Filipino and other 
Philippine languages, of original works, including textbooks and reference 
materials in various disciplines; 
[(0] (G) 
Create and maintain within the Commission a division of 
transaction which shall encourage through incentives, undertake and 
vigorously support the translation into Filipino and other Philippine 
languages of important historical works and cultural traditions of 
ethnolinguistic groups, laws, resolutions and other legislative enactments, 
executive issuances, government policy statements and official documents, 
textbooks and reference materials in various disciplines and other foreign 
materials which it may deem necessary for education and other purposes; 
(H) 
SECURE 
AND 
RECEIVE 
LOCAL, 
BILATERAL 
AND 
, 
INTERNATIONAL DONATIONS, GRANTS AND ENDOWMENTS 
IN SUPPORT OF ITS PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS; 
20 
[(g») (I) 
Call on any department, bureau, office, agency or any 
21 
instrumentality of Government or on any private entity, institution or 
22 
organization for cooperation and assistance in the performance of its 
23 
functions, duties and responsibilities; 
24 
25 
26 
[(h») (J) 
Conduct, at the national, regional and local levels, public 
27 
hearings, conferences, seminars and other group discussions to identify and 
• 
28 
help resolve problems and issues involving the development, propagation 
29 
and preservation of Filipino and other Philippine languages; 
30 
31 
(K) 
INITIATE 
AND, 
IN 
COOPERATION 
WITH 
THE 
32 
APPROPRIATE 
GOVERNMENT 
OR 
PRIVATE 
ENTITIES, 
33 
34 
PROMOTE 
PROGRAMS 
FOR 
THE 
DEVELOPMENT, 
AND 
PROPAGATION 
5 
PRESERVATION, 
OF 
FILIPINO 
AS 


I 
NATIONAL 
LANGUAGE, 
AND 
OTHER 
PHILIPPINE 
2 
LANGUAGES; 
3 
4 
[(i») (L) Formulate and adopt guidelines, standards and systems for 
5 
monitoring and reporting on its performance at the national, regional and 
6 
local levels; and submit to the Office of the President and to Congress an 
7 
annual progress report on the implementation of its policies, plans and 
8 
programs; 
9 
IO 
[(j)) (M) 
Appoint, subject to the provlSlons of existing laws, its 
11 
officials and employees and such other personnel as are necessary for the 
12 
effective performance of its functions, duties and responsibilities; and 
13 
dismiss them for cause; 
14 
IS 
(N) GENERATE FUNDS FROM GOVERNMENT OR PRIVATE 
16 
SOURCES, LOCAL OR INTERNATIONAL FOR ITS PROGRAMS 
17 
AND PROJECTS; 
18 
19 
[(k») (0) 
Organize and reorganize the structure of the Commission, 
20 
create or abolish positions, or change the designation of existing positions to 
21 
meet the changing conditions or as the need therefor arises; Provided, That 
22 
such changes shall not affect the employment status of the incumbents, 
23 
reduce their ranks, decrease their salaries or result in their separation from 
24 
the service; [and) 
25 
26 
(P) 
COLLECT REASONABLE FEES FOR THE USE, SALE OR 
27 
RENT OF ITS RESOURCES; AND 
28 
29 
[(I») (Q) 
Perform such other activities which are necessary for the 
30 
effective exercise of the abovementioned powers, functions, duties and 
31 
responsibilities." 
32 
33 
SEC. 7. A new section, Section 17-A, shall be added in Republic Act No. 7104 to 
34 
read as follows: 
35 
6 


• 
1 
"SECTION 17-A. REVOLVING FUND. 
THE INCOME OF 
2 
THE COMMISSION NOT EXCEEDING THE AMOUNT OF ONE 
3 
MILLION 
PESOS 
(Pl,OOO,OOO.OO) 
DERIVED 
FROM 
THE 
4 
PROCEEDS 
OF 
PUBLICATIONS 
AND 
DONATIONS, 
THE 
5 
RENDERING OF TECHNICAL SERVICES, CONFERENCES AND 
6 
WORKSHOPS 
AND 
SIMILAR 
INCOME 
SHALL 
BE 
7 
CONSTITUTED AS A REVOLVING FUND TO AUGMENT THE 
8 
PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS WHERE THE INCOME WAS 
9 
DERIVED, SUBJECT TO GOVERNMENT AUDITING RULES AND 
10 
REGULATIONS: PROVIDED, THAT PROCEEDS IN EXCESS OF 
11 
THE AFOREMENTIONED AMOUNT SHALL BE REMITTED TO 
12 
THE NATIONAL TREASURY AND ACCRUE TO THE GENERAL 
13 
FUND." 
14 
15 
SEC. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. The Commission, in consultation 
16 
with the other government agencies, shall promulgate the implementing rules and 
17 
regulations within ninety (90) days after the effectivity of this Act. 
18 
19 
SEC. 9. Effectivity. This Act sha11 take effect after fifteen (15) days following its 
20 
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in one (1) newspaper of general circulation. 
21 
22 
Approved, 
7