Manila Bulletin
Philippines
National
DepEd's shift to Filipino, English for K–3 gets backing from business sector
Philippines
National
DepEd's shift to Filipino, English for K–3 gets backing from business sector
DepEd's shift to Filipino, English for K–3 gets backing from business sector
Country's oldest business institution calls for repeal of RA 12027
Published Jul 9, 2025 12:20 pm
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Updated Jul 9, 2025 01:16 pm
DepEd’s K–3 language shift to Filipino and English earns strong backing from the Chamber of Commerce of the Philippine Islands, which hails it as a bold, inclusive move—and calls for the repeal of RA 12027 to support learner comprehension and global competitiveness. (MARK BALMORES / MANILA BULLETIN / FILE)
The Department of Education’s (DepEd) decision to adopt Filipino and English as the primary languages of instruction from Kindergarten to Grade 3 starting School Year (SY) 2025–2026 has gained strong support from the Chamber of Commerce of the Philippine Islands (CCPI), the country’s oldest business institution.
Under DepEd Order No. 20, s. 2025, the agency formally announced its shift away from the Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education (MTB-MLE) approach, citing learning gaps, limited teaching resources, and implementation challenges in linguistically diverse classrooms.
Bold and inclusive
In a statement, CCPI called the move a “bold and inclusive step forward,” praising newly appointed Education Secretary Senator Sonny Angara for prioritizing learner comprehension and national competitiveness.
“This shift places the Filipino child at the center of education policy,” said Chamber President Jose Luis U. Yulo Jr. “It bridges learning gaps, supports comprehension, and aligns our learners with global competencies,” he added.
The Chamber emphasized that DepEd’s language policy aligns with Pillar 1 of its Economic Compass Pillars 5 (ECOMP-P5) framework, which envisions a high-quality, inclusive education system that fosters bilingual proficiency in Filipino and English, alongside moral values, cultural literacy, and critical thinking.
Call to repeal Republic Act No. 12027
As part of its advocacy, CCPI also urged Congress to repeal Republic Act No. 12027 (An Act Discontinuing the Use of the Mother Tongue as Medium of Instruction from Kindergarten to Grade 3), which mandates the exclusive use of the mother tongue as the medium of instruction from Kindergarten to Grade 3.
The Chamber warned that RA 12027 could undermine DepEd’s efforts to streamline language instruction and achieve equitable learning outcomes across public schools, particularly in resource-limited and multilingual communities.
Supporting DepEd’s vision for quality basic education
The business group expressed willingness to work closely with DepEd and other education stakeholders to ensure the smooth implementation of the revised K–3 language policy.
It also reaffirmed its commitment to supporting education reforms aligned with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the broader vision of building a globally competitive Filipino workforce.
Hard copies of the Chamber’s full ECOMP-P5 advocacy document, which outlines its education and development agenda, are available at the Chamber Building in Intramuros, Manila. Interested parties may also email [email protected] for more information.
Founded on April 9, 1886, through a Spanish Royal Decree, the CCPI is recognized by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) as the oldest business institution in the country.