KWF Position Paper on EO210

8/3/2019 KWF Position Paper on EO210

1/5

Setyembre 18, 2007

Her Excellency

President GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO

Office of the President

Malacaang, Manila

Dear Madame President:

We, the Commissioners of the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino(KWF), express our full

support of Her Excellencys Executive Order No. 210 (EO No. 210), series of 2003, entitledEstablishing the Policy to Strengthen the Use of the English Language as a Medium of

Instruction in the Educational System.

Antecedent Facts

On 17 May 2003, the President issued EO No. 210 in recognition of the need todevelop the aptitude, competence and proficiency of our students in the English language tomaintain and improve their competitive edge in emerging and fast-growing local andinternational industries, particularly in the area of Information and CommunicationsTechnology.

1

Toward this end, the President declared through EO No. 210:

xxx

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 beused as the medium of instruction for English, Mathematics andScience from at least the Third Grade level.

c. The English language shall be used as the primary medium ofinstruction in all public and private institutions of learning in thesecondary level, including those established as laboratory and/orexperimental schools, and non-formal and vocational or technicaleducational institutions. As the primary medium of instruction, thepercentage of time allotment for learning areas conducted in the English

1 Third Whereas Clause, EO No. 210.


2/5

2

language is expected to be not less than seventy percent (70%) of thetotal time allotment for all learning areas in the secondary level.

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.

xxx2 (Emphasis and italics supplied)

On 22 August 2006, Secretary Jesli A. Lapus issued Department of Education Order

No. 36 (DepEd Order No. 36) to implement the provisions of EO No. 210.

Attack on EO No. 210 and DepEd Order No. 36

Sometime in May 2007, a number of Filipino writers, educators, artists and parents

challenged the constitutionality of EO No. 210 and DepEd Order No. 36 before the Supreme

Court.3 They claim that the executive issuances run counter to the following provisions of

the Constitution:

Sec. 6. The national language of the Philippines is Filipino. As it

evolves, it shall be further developed and enriched on the basis of existing

Philippine and other languages.

Subject to provisions of law and as the Congress may deem

appropriate, the government shall take steps to initiate and sustain the use

of Filipino as a medium of official communication and as language ofinstruction in the educational system.

Sec. 7. For purposes of communication and instruction, the official

languages of the Philippines are Filipino and, until otherwise provided by

law, English.

The regional languages are the auxiliary official languages in the

regions and shall serve as auxiliary media of instruction therein.

2

Section 1, EO No. 210.3 They are Isagani R. Cruz (representing Wika ng Kultura and Agham, Inc.), Beverly Siy (representingLinangan sa Retorika at Arte, Inc.), Romulo P. Baquiran, Jr. (representing Filipinas Institute ofTranslation, Inc.), Aurora E. Batnag (representing Samahan ng mga Tagasalin, Inc.), Efren R. Abueg,Virgilio S. Almario, Roberto T. Aonuevo (representing his minor children Amansinaya and Idyanale),Abdon Balde, Jr., Michael M. Coroza (representing his minor children Miko Idyanale, Jeanne Haraya,and Miguel Bulawan), Randolf David, Ma. Theresa de Villa, Fanny A. Garcia, Juan T. Gatbonton,Bienvenido Lumbera, Victor Emmanuel Carmelo D. Nadera, Jr. (representing his minor children DinahPsalma Sigla, Victor Emmanuel Carmelo II, and Dinah Palmera Sulat), Vina P. Paz, Jovy M. Peregrino,Nicanor G.Tiongson, Rosario Torres-Yu, and Galileo S. Zafra.


3/5

3

Spanish and Arabic shall be promoted on a voluntary and optional basis.

(Emphasis and italics supplied)4

In addition, they allege that the use of English will cause the deterioration of our

educational system and place the poor students at a disadvantage position. It will alsohamper the students ability to learn English, as well as alienate them from their cultural

heritage.

KWF Position

The above notwithstanding, we adhere to the soundness of EO No. 210.

Legal Aspect. While the Constitution declares Filipino as the national language of the

Philippines, it also provides that (f)or purposes of communication and instruction, the official

languages of the Philippines are Filipino and, until otherwise provided by law, English.5

This must be so, according to the framers of the Constitution, since English is

considered the second language in the Philippines.6 In fact, even the proponent7 of

Section 6, 2nd paragraph, Article XIV of the 1987 Constitution which mandates the

Government to take necessary steps to initiate and sustain the use of Filipino as a medium

of official communication and as language of instruction in the educational system clarified

that such provision would not preclude the use of English as a medium of communication

and as language of instruction.8

EO No. 210 is in harmony with the Constitution because it simply strengthens theuse of the English language as a medium of instruction,9 and not necessarily prohibits theuse of the Filipino language. To be sure, making the English language as the primarymedium of instruction does not necessarily mean abrogating Filipino as our nationallanguage or official language for communication and instruction. Neither does it prohibit theuse of the Filipino language or the regional languages from time to time in reinforcing theunderstanding of lectures and discussions conducted in English.

Policy Aspect. In decreeing that English shall be taught as a second language

starting with the First Grade and that English shall be used as the medium of instruction

for English, Mathematics and Science from at least the Third Grade level, EO No. 210 in

effect recognizes the vital role of the childs first language in the learning process.

4 Article XIV, 1987 Constitution.5 Section 7, Ibid.6 IV Record of the Constitutional Commission: Proceedings and Debates, at page 500.7 Mr. Wilfrido V. Villacorta.8 Supra, at pages 495-497.9 This is in essence the view expressed by Solicitor General Agnes VST Devanadera in her letter dated

12 April 2007addressed to Mr. Isagani R. Cruz.


4/5

4

Filipino and English are not the first languages of most Filipinos, especially those in

the outlying areas of the country. Thus, while we want the students to be competent in both

Filipino and English, we cannot do so without admitting that children learn best, first in their

own first language (childs language), whether it be Ilocano, Bicol, Hiligaynon, Ivatan,

English or Filipino.

In 2000, the Philippine Committee on Education Reform observed that a child

acquires a second language faster and better if the first language is mastered. It then

suggested the use of vernacular or the childs first language as a bridge to more effective

learning in Filipino and English, as well as to facilitate cognitive maturity.

This is also the view of UNESCO when it reported that the process of beginning

education in the community language of the learner enhances educational opportunities and

literacy for lifelong learning which will be effectively achieved only when planned and

implemented in the local contexts of the language and culture.

EO No. 210 therefore protects the child by allowing him first to perfect his native

dialect before introducing English as the primary medium of instruction.

Epilogue

The local languages, Filipino and English should be viewed as complementary to

one another. In fact, through Republic Act No. 7104,10 the KWF is mandated to ensure and

promote the evolution, development and further enrichment of Filipino as the national

language of the Philippines, on the basis ofexisting Philippine and other languages.11 The

phrase other languagesincludes Englishas it refers to foreign languages, whether officialor not, as long as they have influenced the indigenous languages and cultures to a certain

degree.12

Based on the foregoing, the KWF hereby expresses its full support to the Presidents

EO No. 210.

Thank you.

Very truly yours,

10 Also known as the Commission on the Filipino Language Act.

11Section 1, RA No. 7104.

12Section 3, Ibid.


5/5

5

RICARDO MA. DURAN NOLASCO

Acting Chairperson

CARMELITA C. ABDURAHMAN,Acting Full-Time Commissioner

JOSE L. SANTOS

Acting Full-Time Commissioner

ROMEO G. DIZON

Acting Part-time Commissioner

FE A. HIDALGO


CONCEPCION H. LUIS


ISABEL P. MARTIN


ISMAEL M. TOMAWIS


ANTONIO L. TAMAYO


cc : DepEd Secretary

KWF Position Paper on EO210

Documents

Transcript of KWF Position Paper on EO210