EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S. No. 
1141
of l()r 
crflary
•If NOV-5 A9«9
RECEIVED BY:
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid
AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING A NATIONWIDE LANGUAGE REVITALIZATION 
PROGRAM AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
It is undeniable that the Philippines is a linguistically diverse society with about 
130 different languages. However, out of these languages, "close to 40 are considered 
endangered as speakers are only about 8,000 or less and are slowly diminishing since 
their mother tongues are no longer the language of choice and use, replaced by 
Filipino or in other areas, Ilocano and Sebwano."1 Examples of these nearly extinct 
languages are Isarog Agta (with only five documented speakers), Ata (three), Arta 
(11) and Sorsogon Ayta (15).2 In response to this sad reality of dying or endangered 
languages, the government had initiated and implemented programs and policies that 
aim to preserve, revive and encourage the use of local languages. Examples of these 
are the Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education (MTB-MLE) enshrined in Republic 
Act No. 10533 or the "Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013" and the Language 
Immersion Program of the Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino.
However, addressing this problem of language extinction requires the 
implementation of a nationwide and comprehensive program. The institutionaiization 
of a Language Revitalization Program for all the dying or endangered languages in the 
country is the aim of this proposed measure. This bill mandates the Komisyon ng 
Wikang Filipino, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and the National
https://lifestyle.inquirer.net/325511/kwf-races-to-save-dying-philippine-languages/ 
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/l 155014/saving-ph-diverse-languages-from-extinction


Commission on Indigenous Peoples to undertake the task of identifying, describing 
and mapping all of the dying and endangered languages in the Philippines with the 
end-goal of creating the List of Dying and Endangered Philippine Languages. Also, 
Bahay-Wika or language revitalization centers shall be established in areas identified 
in the List. These Centers shall be responsible for the implementation of language 
learning and immersion programs for students and adults, teacher training on the 
dying and endangered languages and the development of relevant courses and 
instructional materials.
In view of this, early passage of this bill is sought.
EL "LITO" M. LAPID
Senator


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
Senate
of tbf 
trftarp
T9 NOV-5 A9X)9
SENATE
S. No. 
1141
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid
AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING A NATIONWIDE LANGUAGE REVITALIZATION 
PROGRAM AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House o f Representatives o f the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the "Bahay-Wika Act of
2 
2019".
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration o f Policy. -  It is hereby declared as a policy of the
4 
Government to preserve and revitalize dying and endangered local languages in the
5 
Philippines for purposes of affording future generations the use and appreciation the
6 
richness and beauty of these languages and the cultures that they underpin.
7 
Sec. 3. Identification o f Dying and Endangered Languages. -  Within one (1)
8 
year after the effectivity of this Act, the Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino (KWF), in
9 
coordination with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the
10 
National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), shall undertake a comprehensive
11 
research program for the identification, description and mapping of dying and
12 
endangered languages in the Philippines. The outcome of this research program shall
13 
be the List of Dying and Endangered Philippine Languages, which shall contain
14 
information regarding the number of active speakers, the general location of active
15 
speakers, the availability of translators, among other data that the concerned agencies
16 
deem necessary. This List shall be updated on an annual basis.


1 
Sec. 4. Establishment o f Bahay-Wika. -  On the basis of the List of Dying and
2 
Endangered Philippine Languages, the KWF shall undertake the establishment of
3 
Bahay-Wika, or a language revitalization center, in the public elementary and
4 
secondary schools of the cities or municipalities identified as the areas where a
5 
significant number of active speakers still lives.
6 
These centers shall:
7 
a. implement extra-curricular classes and seminars on learning and immersing
8 
with the dying and endangered language for the students in the respective
9 
schools where these are stationed. Priority shall be given to students who
10 
belong to the indigenous communities that speak said language;
11 
b. provide relevant trainings to teachers on how to incorporate the dying and
12 
endangered language to the Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education
13 
(MTB-MLE) in the basic education curriculum;
14 
c. provide a program for the teaching of the dying and endangered language to
15 
the adult members of the ethnic group; and
16 
d. develop courses and instructional materials, such as books, dictionaries,
17 
translations and multi-media tools for learning the dying and endangered
18 
language and for instruction using such language.
19 
The personnel complement of these Centers shall be funded by the KWF,
20 
including the appointment of at least one language expert based on the qualifications
21 
to be set by the KWF. Teachers in the schools where the Centers are stationed may
22 
be designated as its staff subject to the grant of additional honoraria and allowances.
23 
Sec. 5. Annual Report. -  The Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino shall submit to
24 
Congress an annual report on the status of the implementation of this Act.
25 
Sec. 6. Appropriations. -  The amount necessary for the initial implementation
26 
of this Act shall be charged against the current appropriations of the Komisyon ng
27 
Wikang Filipino. Thereafter, the amount necessary for the continued implementation
28 
of the language revitalization program shall be included in the annual General
29 
Appropriations Act.


1 
Sec. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. -  The Komisyong ng Wikang
2 
Filipino shall issue the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation
3 
of this Act not later than ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act.
4 
Sec. 8. - Separability Clause. - Should any provision of this Act or the application
5 
thereof to any person or circumstance be held invalid, the other provisions or sections
6 
of this Act shall not be affected thereby.
7 
Sec. 9. - Repealing Clause. -  All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and
8 
regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed,
9 
amended or modified accordingly.
10 
Sec. 10. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following
11 
its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general
12 
circulation.
13
Approved,