Northeastern Mindanao Colleges

Surigao City
College of Teacher Education

ELT7: Language Programs & Policies in Multilingual Societies

Language in Education Policy Evolution in the Philippines

1. Spanish Colonization
 The colonizers implemented the use of Spanish in teaching. Philippine Spanish was
the language of commerce, law, politics and the arts during the colonial period.
2. Education under the Americans 
 After the Spanish-American War, the US Government sent the Thomasites to the Philippines.
They made it a point to teach English to the Filipinos. 
3. Education under the Commonwealth
 An organized effort to develop a common national language was stared in compliance with the
mandate of the 1935 constitution.
 To help counteract the American cultural influence among the Filipinos, President Quezon
greatly encouraged the revival of native culture as well as desirable Filipino values (Code of
Ethics). 
4. Education under the Japanese 
 Nippongo and Culture were aggressively propagated. They were offered as compulsory courses
in schools and were included in civil service tests. 
 The Commander-in-Chief of the Japanese Imperial Forces ordered the prohibition of the use of
English and the Filipino people’s reliance upon Western nations particularly the United States
and Great Britain.
 The Filipino language bloomed. It was used as the official language of the country in teaching
Philippine History and Character Education (Executive Order No. 10 signed by Pres. Laurel). 

Dept. Order No. 25, s. 1974

Pilipino and English shall be used as media of instruction, the use allocated to specific
subjects in the curriculum as indicated in Department Order No. 25, s. 1974.
On the basis of this survey results, as well as the recommendations of the Soriano
Committee and the National Board of Education and in consonance with the constitution of 1973,
the Bilingual Education Policy was enunciated officially in Department Order No. 25, series
1974, on June 19, 1974 by the Secretary of Education and Culture, in order to develop a bilingual
nation competent in the use of English and Pilipino. Bilingualism in the schools is defined
operationally as the separate use of English and Pilipino as media of instruction in certain subject
areas from Grade I to 4th year High School. The subject areas are divided into Pilipino Domain
or Pilipino Block and English Domain or English Block.
PILIPINO DOMAIN
1.Social Studies
2.Social Sciences
3.Character Education
 4.Work Education
5.Health Education
6.Physical education.
ENGLISH DOMAIN
1. Science
2. Mathematics
3. Arts & Music
In organizing a bilingual program for the elementary school, in compliance with the DEC Order
No. 25, series 1974, it needed the following:
• A modified time table
• A suggested blocking of time according to language domain
• A public relations campaign for acceptance on the part of parents- materials in Pilipino
for the stipulated subject areas of social studies/ social sciences, character education,
work education, health education and physical education
• A continuous formative and summative evaluation program
• A good coordinator to oversee the program.

1987 Constitution
The Language provision in the 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines
which are embodied in Article XIV, Sec. 6 and 7 provide the legal basis for the various language
policies that are being implemented in the country.
The ratification of the above-mentioned constitution resolved the issue on what
the national language is, since the 1935 and 1973 Philippine Charters were not clear about this.
The provision are as follows:
Section 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 of instruction in the educational system.
Section 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. Spanish and Arabic shall be promoted on a voluntary
and optional basis.
“Pilipino” was changed and approved into “Filipino” during this constitution.

Department order no. 53 s. 1987 Constitution

The 1987 policy of Bilingual education. - Aims for achievement of competence in both Filipino
and English language.

Goals of Bilingual education policy:

1. Enhance learning through two languages to achieve quality education. "Ang

Filipino at English ay gagamiting midyum ng pagtuturo, na ang gamit ay
 naangkop sa mga tiyak na asignatura." (Dr. Lourdes Quisumbing. DepEd
Secretary 1986-1990)
2. Propagate Filipino as language of literacy. - Use Filipino as language of
Instruction.
3. Develop Filipino as linguistic symbol of national unity and identity. - On June 7,
1940, the Philippine National Assembly passed Act No. 570 declaring that
Filipino would be considered an official language effective on July 4,1946.
4. Cultivate and elaborate Filipino as language of scholarly discourse.
5. Maintain English as an International language and as non-exclusive of science
and technology.

DECS Order No. 11 s. 1987

In Pursuant to Section 3 of Republic Act No. 8190 otherwise known as “An Act Granting
Priority To Resident of the Barangay, Municipality or City Where The School Is Located, in the
Appointment Or Assignment Of Classroom Public School Teachers“
A. Teacher - refers to a person who meets the minimum requirements for the position as
required by law and the standards set by the Department who does actual teaching in
classrooms and other learning centers.
B. Applicant - refers to a person who holds a valid certificate of registration/professional
license as a teacher from the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) seeking to be
appointed to a Teacher I Position.
C. Qualified applicant – refers to a person who meets the evaluation and selection criteria as
prescribed by the Department of Education (DepEd), and who is in the registry of the
Schools Division and is a bona fide resident.
D. Bona fide resident - refers to a qualified applicant who is, prior to appointment, resident
for a period of at least six (6) months of a particular barangay, municipality, city or
province where the school is located, as evidenced by legal documents to be identified by
the Department.

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 335 S. 1988

Signed August 25, 1988 by Pres. Cory C. Aquino
Enjoining all departments/bureaus/ offices/ agencies/ instrumentalities of the Government to take
such steps as are necessary for the purpose of using Filipino Language in official transactions,
communications, and correspondence. All departments/bureaus/offices/ agencies/
instrumentalities of the government are enjoined to do the following:
1. Take steps to enhance the use of Filipino in all official communications, transactions
and correspondence in their respective offices, whether national or local
2. Assign one or more personnel, as may be necessary, in every office to take charge of
all communications and correspondence written in Filipino;
3. Translate into Filipino names of offices, buildings, public offices, and signboards of
all offices, divisions or its instrumentalities, and if so desired, imprint below in smaller
letters the English text;
4. Filipinize the “Oath of Office” for government officials and personnel;
 5. Make as part of the training programs for personnel development in each office the
proficiency in the use of Filipino in official communications and correspondence.
To implement such objectives, the Institute of Philippine Language were ordered to
formulate and implement programs and projects, which includes;
1. Information campaign on the importance and necessity of Filipino as an effective
instrument for national unity and progress
2. Translation into Filipino of this Executive Order, as well as government terms to be
utilized as reference materials for all offices.
3. Training of all government officials and personnel in the use of Filipino
4. Monitoring of the implementation of this Order and submitting periodic progress
report of implementation to the Office of the President of the Philippines thru the
Department of Education, Culture and Sports
5. Taking into account other strategies for the full implementation of the objectives of
this order.

The Language Policy of the Commission on Higher Education (Higher Education Act of 1994)
o Signed in 1994 as Republic Act No. 7722, also called as Higher Education Act of 1994"
o Created the Commission on Higher Education (CHED)
o States that CHED shall be independent and separate from DECS and attached to the office of
the
o President only for administrative purposes only.
o CHED covers both public and private institutions of higher education as well as degree
granting
o programs in all post-secondary educational institutions, public and private.
o CHED updated the General Education Curriculum of tertiary courses leading to initial
bachelor degree covering 4 (curriculum years).

The following are the guidelines vis-a-vis medium of instruction:

1. Language courses, whether Filipino or English, should be taught in that language.
2. At the discretion of the HEI, Literature subjects may be taught in Filipino,
English or any other language as long as there are enough instructional materials
for the same and both students and instructors/professors are competent in the
language.
3. Courses in the Humanities and Social Sciences should preferably be taught in
Filipino.

 Executive Order No.210 (May 17, 2003)- “Establishing the Policy to Strengthen the Use of
the English Language as Medium of Instruction in the Educational System”
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo came up with EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 210,
"ESTABLISHING THE POLICY TO STRENGTHEN THE USE OF THE ENGLISH
LANGUAGE AS A MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION IN THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM," this
was issued on May 17, 2003. In pursuance to this Order, DepEd Memorandum No. 181 s. 2003
was disseminated to the field of education.
 DepEd Memorandum No.81, s. 2003-English language be used as medium of instruction
SECTION 1. Declaration of Policies. – The following policies are hereby established:
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 vocational 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.
SECTION 2. 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.
The policies being illustrated above elucidate the appropriate guidelines of what specific grade /
level should English language being use during instructions and as medium of instruction.

References:
https://www.slideshare.net/LuzvieEstrada/language-policies-in-the-philippines-122135345?
fbclid=IwAR21rmPXSC2fP2s_uhs__QrEpDjojhvgOFKnrW9iHYNLKujVv8l99MK1pCE
https://www.slideshare.net/fvsandoval/bilingual-education
https://ncca.gov.ph/about-ncca-3/subcommissions/subcommission-on-cultural-
disseminationscd/language-and-translation/language-policies-in-the-philippines/
https://kso.page.link/wps https://www.teacherph.com/localization-law/
https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2003/05/17/executive-order-no-210-s-
2003/https://www.seameo.org
https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1988/08/25/executive-order-no-335-s-1988/

Prepared by:
Kimberly Dawn B. Llamera
Almer John Y. Cea
Angelou L. Gojetia
Lea Jean R. Dacles