Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
____________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by HON. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
AN ACT 
INSTITUTIONALIZING A NATIONWIDE LANGUAGE REVITALIZATION PROGRAM 
AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR  
No less than the Constitution provides that “t]he Congress shall establish a national 
language commission composed of representatives of various regions and disciplines 
which shall undertake, coordinate, and promote researches for the deveiopment, 
propagation, and preservation of Filipino and other languages” 
It's evident that the Philippines boasts a rich tapestry of languages, with approximately 
130 distinct ones. Nevertheless, out of these languages, "nearly 40 are on the brink of 
extinction, with fewer than 8,000 speakers or less, and are steadily declining as their 
native languages are no longer the primary choice or are being replaced by Filipino, 
Ilocano, Cebuano, or other languages in different regions. 
In response to this distressing reality of vanishing or endangered languages, the 
government has initiated and executed programs and policies aimed at preserving, 
revitalizing, and promoting the use of local languages. Instances of these initiatives are 
the Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education (MTB-MLE) incorporated in Republic 
Act No. 10533, also known as the "Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013," and the 
Language Immersion Program administered by the Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino. 
Nevertheless, addressing the issue of language extinction necessitates the 
implementation of a comprehensive nationwide program. 
The objective of this proposed measure is to institutionalize a Language Revitalization 
Program for all endangered or dying languages in the country. This bill mandates the 
Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, and 
the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples to undertake the responsibility of 
identifying, describing, and mapping all endangered and dying languages in the 
Philippines. The goal is to create a List of Dying and Endangered Philippine Languages. 
Additionally, language revitalization centers known as Bahay-Wika will be established 
in the areas identified in the list. These centers will be responsible for executing 
language learning and immersion programs for both students and adults, providing 
teacher training for endangered languages, and developing relevant courses and 
instructional materials. 
On behalf of the people of Parañaque City’s Second District, and for the common good 
of the Filipino people, the approval of the said measure is earnestly sought. 
September 11, 2023
1:25 pm
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REP. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
2nd District, Parañaque City 


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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
______________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by HON. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
______________________________________________________________________ 
AN ACT 
INSTITUTIONALIZING A NATIONWIDE LANGUAGE REVITALIZATION PROGRAM AND 
PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the "Bahay-Wika Act of 2023". 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared as a policy of the Government to 
preserve and revitalize dying and endangered local languages in the Philippines for purposes 
of affording future generations the use and appreciation the richness and beauty of these 
languages and the cultures that they underpin.  
Sec. 3. Identification of Dying and Endangered Languages.-Within one (1) year after the 
effectivity of this Act, the Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino (KWF), in coordination with the 
National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the National Commission on 
Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), shall undertake a comprehensive research program for the 
identification, description and mapping of dying and endangered languages in the 
Philippines. The outcome of this research program shall be the List of Dying and Endangered 
Philippine Languages, which shall contain information regarding the number of active 
speakers, the general location of active speakers, the availability of translators, among other 
data that the concerned agencies deem necessary. This List shall be updated on an annual 
basis.  
Sec. 4. Establishment of Bahay-Wika. - On the basis of the List of Dying and Endangered 
Philippine Languages, the KWF shall undertake the establishment of Bahay-Wika, or a 
language revitalization center, in the public elementary and secondary schools of the cities 
or municipalities identified as the areas where a significant number of active speakers 
still lives.  
These centers shall: 
(a) implement extra-curricular classes and seminars on learning and immersing with the
dying and endangered language for the students in the respective schools where these
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are stationed. Priority shall be given to students who belong to the indigenous 
communities that speak said language;  
(b) provide relevant trainings to teachers on how to incorporate the dying and endangered 
language to the Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education (MTB-MLE) in the basic 
education curriculum; 
(c) provide a program for the teaching of the dying and endangered language to the adult 
members of the ethnic group; and  
(d) develop courses and instructional materials, such as books, dictionaries, translations and 
multi-media tools for learning the dying and endangered language and for instruction 
using such language.  
 
The personnel complement of these Centers shall be funded by the KWF, including the 
appointment of at least one language expert based on the qualifications to be set by the 
KWF. Teachers in the schools where the Centers are stationed may be designated as its 
staff subject to the grant of additional honoraria and allowances.  
 
Sec. 5. Annual Report. - The Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino shall submit to Congress an 
annual report on the status of the implementation of this Act.  
 
Sec. 6. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the initial implementation of this Act 
shall be charged against the current appropriations of the Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino. 
Thereafter, the amount necessary for the continued implementation of the language 
revitalization program shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.  
 
Sec. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Komisyong ng Wikang Filipino shall 
issue the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act not later 
than ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act.  
 
Sec. 8. - Separability Clause. - Should any provision of this Act or the application thereof to 
any person or circumstance be held invalid, the other provisions or sections of this Act shall 
not be affected thereby.  
 
Sec. 9. - Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations or 
parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified 
accordingly.  
 
Sec. 10. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.  
 
 
Approved,