Aira Nina B.

Cosico
FINAL REQUIREMENT
The sections of Article XIV that I wish to revise in The 1987 Philippine Constitution are
Sections 6 and Section 7.

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.

Revised: 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 , on the hand, Mother Tongue shall be the language of instruction in the
educational system; specifically from Kinder to Grade 1 level.

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.

Revised: Section 7. For purposes of communication, the official languages of the Philippines
are Filipino and, until otherwise provided by law, English.
The regional languages are the essential official languages in the respective regions and shall
serve as the medium of instruction therein.
Filipino and English shall be promoted and introduced in these regions accordingly.

As generation change, the trend in education changes as well. It is already true to this
time that the use of Mother-Tongue as medium of instruction is highly promoted by the
Department of Education. Moreover, it is stated in the Department of Education’s issuances
DepEd order 4s.74, 2009 states the following: 1.The lessons and findings of various
initiatives and international studies in basic education have validated the superiority of the
use of the learner's mother tongue or first language in improving
The learning outcomes and promoting education for all (EFA).
2. Mother Tongue based Multilingual Education, hereinafter referred to as MLE, is the
effective of more than two languages for literacy and instruction. Henceforth, it shall be
institutionalized as a fundamental education policy and program in this Department in the
whole stretch of formal education including preschool and in the Alternative Learning
System (ALS).
3.The learner's First Language (L1) is the primary medium of instruction (MOI) from pre-
school until at least grade three. During such period, L1 shall be the main vehicle to teach
understanding and mastery of all subject areas like, math science, Makabayan, and language
subjects like Filipino and English.
This was reiterated in DO 16, s. 2012, Guidelines on the implementation of the
Mother Tongue Based-Multilingual Education (MTB-MLE)
Furthermore on REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10157 “AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING
THE KINDERGARTEN EDUCATION INTO THE BASIC EDUCATION SYSTEM AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR” The State shall hereby adopt the mother tongue-
based multilingual education (MTB-MLE) method. The mother tongue of the learner shall be
the primary medium of instruction for teaching and learning in the kindergarten level and
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10533 “AN ACT ENHANCING THE PHILIPPINE BASIC
EDUCATION SYSTEM BY STRENGTHENING ITS CURRICULUM AND
INCREASING THE NUMBER OF YEARS FOR BASIC EDUCATION,
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES” Section 5. “…
The curriculum shall adhere to the principles and framework of Mother Tongue-Based
Multilingual Education (MTB-MLE) which starts from where the learners are and from what
they already knew proceeding from the known to the unknown; instructional materials and
capable teachers to implement the MTB-MLE curriculum shall be available”

If this section was also revised this would also be aligned with Republic Act 8371 “
The Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997 “ which recognizes the rights of indigenous
cultural communities and indigenous peoples to determine their education systems by
providing education in their own language and in a manner appropriate to their cultural
methods of teaching and learning.

As a language teacher, I truly believe that if these sections were revised and promotes
Mother Tongue , it would reinforce multilingual instruction which today’s learner’s would
greatly benefit. It is important for our learners to learn and grasp concepts using their First
language, in being able to grasp concepts they would be able to lay foundation to learn the
other official languages of our country, English and Filipino. Instead of promoting Spanish
and Arabic , I believe it is best to promote our own languages.