QuestionsQuestions (EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 44)
RA 7104 is titled the “Commission on the Filipino Language Act.” It creates the Commission on the Filipino Language to promote the evolution, development, enrichment, propagation, and preservation of Filipino and other Philippine languages, under the Office of the President, and provides for its powers, duties, functions, and funding.
It declares it is government policy to ensure and promote the evolution, development, and further enrichment of Filipino as the national language on the basis of existing Philippine and other languages, and to take the necessary steps to carry out that policy.
A “major language” is spoken and used by at least one-fiftieth (1/50) or two percent (2%) of all Filipinos, based on the most recent available data of the National Census Office.
A “regional language” is the lingua franca or commonly spoken language of a region; an “auxiliary language” is spoken in certain places and supports or helps the national and/or official languages in their assigned functions.
RA 7104 creates the Commission on the Filipino Language composed of representatives of various ethnolinguistic groups and different disciplines. It is directly under the Office of the President.
The Commission has 11 commissioners, one as Chairman. They must represent major Philippine languages (as specified in the law), the Northern Cultural Communities, the Southern Cultural Communities, and other languages/ethnolinguistic regions the Commission may decide upon. At least four commissioners must represent various disciplines.
The Chairman and two (2) commissioners serve full-time. The remaining eight (8) commissioners serve part-time and attend regular and special meetings.
Commissioners are appointed by the President with the consent of the Commission on Appointments, from a list of nominees submitted by different ethnolinguistic regions.
A nominee must be a natural-born Filipino citizen, at least 30 years old, morally upright, and noted for expertise in linguistics, the culture, and the language of the ethnolinguistic region and the discipline he/she represents.
The Chairman and two (2) full-time commissioners serve for seven (7) years. Of the remaining eight (8), four serve five (5) years and four serve three (3) years.
Commissioners may be reappointed for a maximum of one (1) term by the President with the consent of the Commission on Appointments.
If a vacancy occurs, the replacement serves only the unexpired portion of the term. The Commission must recommend a replacement within 30 days from the date of the vacancy, subject to CA confirmation. If it fails to make the recommendation within that period, the President fills the vacancy from the said list of nominees, with CA consent.
The Chairman and two full-time commissioners receive the same rank, privileges, salary, allowances, and emoluments as the Chairman and members, respectively, of other constitutional commissions, not decreasing during their term. Part-time commissioners receive an honorarium per meeting attended at a rate determined by the Commission.
A majority of the 11 commissioners constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business.
Examples include: (1) formulating policies, plans, and programs for development/enrichment/propagation/preservation of Filipino and other Philippine languages; (2) promulgating rules and guidelines to implement those policies; (3) undertaking or contracting research and studies, including collation of works for a multilingual dictionary; (4) proposing linguistic guidelines/standards for official communications, publications, textbooks, and teaching materials; (5) creating and maintaining a division of translation to encourage translation of important historical/cultural works, laws, and other official materials into Filipino and other Philippine languages; (6) calling on government/private entities for cooperation; (7) conducting public hearings and seminars at national/regional/local levels; (8) submitting annual progress reports to the Office of the President and Congress.
All personnel, records, assets, equipment, funds, and properties of the Institute of Philippine Languages under EO No. 117 are transferred to the Commission. Research, dictionaries, publications, and other intellectual outputs are also transferred. The transfer is done with least disruption, absorbing qualified personnel without reduced or adversely affected tenure/rank/salaries. The Institute is deemed abolished upon the Commission’s organization, assumption of duties, and functioning.