A contentious piece of legislation has emerged in the Philippines, drawing sharp criticism from linguistic advocates and sparking a national conversation about language and identity.
House Bill No. 9939, proposed by Negros Occidental 3rd district Representative Jose Francisco “Kiko” Benitez, seeks to prohibit the Filipino dubbing of English-language motion pictures and television programs.
Instead, the bill mandates the inclusion of Filipino subtitles, purportedly to enhance English language acquisition.
The majority of the Executive Committee of the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF), comprising Commissioner Benjamin M. Mendillo Jr., Commissioner Carmelita C. Abdurahman, and Director General Atty. Marites A. Barrios-Taran, has united against the bill.
They argue that it would sacrifice the Filipino language to potentially elevate global language proficiency scores, while many Filipinos struggle with more pressing basic needs.
“The ban on Filipino-dubbed movies is an oppression that must be understood by Filipinos in their viewing. It should be opposed,” expressed the KWF officials.
They further emphasized the Commission’s mandate to foster the continuous development and use of Filipino as the national language, while also protecting the country’s indigenous languages for mutual understanding, unity, and development of the Filipino nation.
The KWF officials’ contention is clear: the proficiency in a foreign language should never necessitate the sacrifice of our own. To allow such legislation is to starve the Filipino soul while our national language, the bedrock of our independence and wisdom, dissolves into oblivion.
The ban on Filipino-dubbed films is seen as an affront to the understanding and enjoyment of cinematic arts by the Filipino audience and therefore must be resisted.
The KWF, mandated to foster the continuous development and usage of Filipino as the national language, while safeguarding the country’s indigenous languages, stands as a vocal advocate for linguistic inclusion and diversity.
Their work promotes understanding, unity, and progress among the Filipino people, and the proposed bill is viewed as a direct threat to these values.
Benitez, however, has highlighted that English proficiency is often cited as a critical factor in the growth of the business process outsourcing industry, which has earned the Philippines the title of “call center capital of the world.”
He insists, “We must, therefore, help younger generations acquire English in different settings, and through different media, to enable them to communicate better and explore new horizons, in terms of employment and social interaction.”
This proposed legislation comes with a caveat, exempting television commercials and programming aired from 1:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. Philippine Standard Time from the prohibition.
Moreover, the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) may grant exemptions if compliance is deemed economically burdensome.
Under HB 9939, violators could face fines ranging from P50,000 to P100,000 and/or imprisonment of six months to one year.
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