Final Output PDF
Final Output PDF
PART 1
House Bill No. 5091: A Language Policy in the Philippines
Throughout my more than 20 years of education, I have always thought that the language
policies we have here in the Philippines have always been the same. But having read an article
by Luzvie Estrada entitled “The Language Policies in the Philippines”, from which the writer
enumerated the different language policies passed since Spanish colonization era to the present
and that there are more than 30 language policies observed, I am therefore, corrected from
erroneous beliefs. Included from these various language policies is the House Bill No. 5091 “An
Act to Strengthen and Enhance the Use of English as the Medium of Instruction in the
Educational System”, which was updated two years ago on February 21, 2017 and instigated by
the former President, Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. This is the recent language
policy we have and it wants to strengthen and enhance the use of the English language as the
medium of instruction (MOI) in the educational system from preschool to the tertiary level. To
be honest, I have always believed that this is what we have been doing all these years because I
grew up following such policy. But it is quite surprising that this House Bill had to be specified.
Under House Bill 5091, English shall be taught as a second language, starting with the First
Grade and shall be used as the MOI for English, Mathematics, and Science from at least the
Third Grade level. However, the Filipino language shall continue to be the medium of instruction
in the learning areas of Filipino and Araling Panlipunan, in accordance to the bill. To properly
ascertain the policy, the next pages are the complete copies of the House Bill 5091 retrieved
As I have mentioned earlier that although this bill had been implemented before & only
competitive as we always have, especially for those of us who are seeking jobs in English-
speaking countries. Even though our previous language policy of having English language as a
medium of instruction from preschool to tertiary level have altered to First Grade onwards, I do
believe this still has its merits. Krashen’s Monitor Model wherein language learning is done by
the formal study of language where learners have to learn the rules to monitor their words. The
usage of English language from early childhood has already been proven to allow learners the
mastery of the language as they progress level after level. The common practice of the language
in school will develop the habit of learners to utilize it in order to accomplish designated tasks or
goals. As also indicated in the Operant-Conditioning Theory that good habits are rewarded while
bad habits are punished to stop any mistakes in the usage of the language in educational settings.
As promising as these all may seem, there are still disadvantages for the said policy. The
Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) stated their disapproval for the passage of this bill because
it violates and disrespects the Constitution of the Filipino language. They said that the
government must focus, instead on how to improve the learning of Filipino subjects in our
country and not remove them from Colleges. The commissioners of KWF believe that the
Arroyo bill is anti-poor, anti-Filipino and against the United Nations Educational Scientific and
Cultural Organization (UNESCO) study that the mother tongue is indispensable. Furthermore,
House Bill 5091 is seeking to use English as a medium of instruction in 70 percent of school
subjects and institutions, including vocational schools, limiting Filipino to 10 percent of standard
tests, and focus on the evaluation of proficiency in the English language. Lastly, KWF stated
that, “By nature and purpose, HB 5091 is a direct assault to the indigenous Philippine languages
as well as Filipino…. the lingua franca …. as unifying agent for the diverse regional cultures and
languages,”.
PART 3
Impact of House Bill No. 5091 to SLA or Foreign Language Acquisition
The effect of House Bill No. 5091 to SLA or Foreign Language Acquisition with
emphasis on the former, is without a doubt, positive. We are well aware that the English
language is our second language and given this language policy which reinforces its utilization in
the educational system is absolutely to our benefit. It will definitely boost the second language
acquisition at a faster pace in comparison to not implementing it. Learners exposure to the target
language daily in schools will likely to form the habit of using the language until they are able to
master it as they further progress. In Acculturation Theory wherein the learner undergoes the
process of becoming adapted to a new culture and is dependent upon the degree he or she
acculturates to the target language group will control the degree to which he or she acquires the
second language. In our case here in the Philippines, although we are not surrounded by native
English speakers to maximize our adaptation of the English language, we do have other factors
to promote quality learning. Apart from the usage of English as the medium of instruction, the
availability of English reading materials, various media resources such as videos, music, and
films are what provide the ideal environment for the adaptation of the English language.
REFERENCES
Online Sites
https://www.slideshare.net/LuzvieEstrada/language-policies-in-the-philippines-122135345
http://www.congress.gov.ph/legisdocs/basic_17/HB05091.pdf
https://www.manilatimes.net/2017/07/07/news/national/gma-bill-making-english-instruction-
medium-opposed/337156/