2006 Res. No.194 A RESOLUTION STRONGLY INDORSING TO THE PHILIPPINE SENATE

EXCERPTS FROM THE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR SESSION OF THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF OLONGAPO, HELD ON OCTOBER 18, 2006 AT THE CITY HALL.

PRESENT:

Hon. Rolen C. Paulino- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -City Vice Mayor & Presiding Officer
Hon. Noel Y. Atienza- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - City Councilor
Hon. Cynthia G. Cajudo- - - - - - - - - - - - - - “ “
Hon. John Carlos G. delos Reyes- - - - - - - - “ “
Hon. Bella P. Asuncion - - - - - - - - - - - - - - “ “
Hon. Marey Beth D. Marzan- - - - - - - - - - - “ “
Hon. Angelina B. Andrada - - - - - - - - - - - - “ “
Hon. Anselmo A. Aquino - - - - - - - - - - - - - “ “
Hon. Edwin J. Piano- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - “ “
Hon. Gina G. Perez - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - “ “
Hon. Robine Rose C. Buenafe - - - - - - - - - - SK Federation President
Hon. Carlito A. Baloy - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - President, Liga ng mga Barangay

ABSENT:

Hon. Brian Patrick H. Gordon - - - - - - - - - - City Councilor (Sick Leave)


RESOLUTION NO. 194
(Series of 2006)

A RESOLUTION STRONGLY INDORSING TO THE PHILIPPINE SENATE
THE APPROVAL OF HOUSE BILL NUMBER 4701 ENTITLED “AN ACT TO STRENGTHEN AND ENHANCE THE USE OF ENGLISH AS THE MEDIUM
OF INSTRUCTION IN PHILIPPINE SCHOOLS”

WHEREAS, Article XIV Section 2 Paragraph 1 of the Philippine Constitution provides that “The state shall: Establish, maintain and support a complete, adequate and integrated system of education relevant to the needs of the people and society;”;
WHEREAS, the Department of Education issued Dep Ed Memorandum Number 189 Series of 2003 (Executive Order #210), which establishes the policy to strengthen the use of English language as a medium of instruction in the Philippine Educational System;
WHEREAS, the Department of Education subsequently issued Dep Ed Order Number 36 Series of 2006, which provides for the Implementing Rules and Regulations on Executive Order #210 or the Policy to strengthen English as a medium of instruction;
WHEREAS, a March 2006 survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) states that national proficiency in the language has declined by 10 percentage points over the last 12 years. According to the survey only two out of three Filipino adults or 65 percent understood spoken and written English. Some 14 percent said they were not competent at all in spoken and written English;
WHEREAS, with the proficiency of Filipinos in English communication, which was once considered as the country’s advantage for decades, has deteriorated, the gradual decline in the English competency of Filipinos would eventually erode the competitiveness of the country’s human resources in any chosen field;
Con’t. of Resolution No. 194, Series of 2006.
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WHEREAS, failure to provide quality education for all Filipinos will lead to further regression of our country’s socio-economic condition. With millions of young Filipinos unskilled, ill-equipped and ill-prepared to compete in the international arena, our future workforce will be relegated to do less productive tasks;
WHEREAS, the restoration of English as language of instruction would reinforce the abilities of students in Math and Science. Superior command of English, Math and Science would enable our future labor force to obtain the most gainful employment and achieve a higher standard of living;

WHEREAS, with the emerging tourism and call center industries in the Philippines, improved English proficiency shall pave the way to an enhanced customer service that shall entice tourists to visit the country, create job opportunities and increase in revenues;
WHEREAS, a bill requiring the use of English language as the medium of instruction in all Philippine schools has been recently approved at the plenary of the House of Representatives. Voting 132-7, the House passed last September 19, 2006 House Bill 4701 known as “An act to strengthen and enhance the use of English as the medium of instruction in Philippine schools”;
WHEREAS, highlights of the bill include English as the primary teaching language, the organization of English programs and school publication as well as English being the language of assessment in all government examinations and entrance tests in all public schools and state universities and colleges;
WHEREAS, the city government of Olongapo recognizes the importance of English communication as a vital tool to international relations and business and economic development;

NOW, THEREFORE, on motion of Councilor Gina Gulanes Perez, with unanimous accord of the Sangguniang Panlungsod present;

RESOLVED, AS IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, by the Sangguniang Panlungsod in session assembled, to strongly indorse, as it hereby strongly endorses to the Philippine Senate the approval of House Bill Number 4701 entitled “An Act to Strengthen and enhance the use of English as the medium of instruction in Philippine Schools”;

RESOLVED FURTHER, AS IT IS HEREBY FURTHER RESOLVED, to furnish approved copies of this resolution to the Office of the President, Senate of the Philippines and House of Representatives for their information, record and support.

APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY, October 18, 2006.

ROLEN C. PAULINO
City Vice Mayor & Presiding Officer


NOEL Y. ATIENZA CYNTHIA G. CAJUDO
City Councilor City Councilor


JOHN CARLOS G. DELOS REYES BELLA P. ASUNCION
City Councilor City Councilor



Con’t. of Resolution No. 194, Series of 2006.

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MAREY BETH D. MARZAN ANGELINA B. ANDRADA
City Councilor City Councilor


BRIAN PATRICK H. GORDON ANSELMO A. AQUINO
City Councilor City Councilor
(Sick Leave)


EDWIN J. PIANO GINA G. PEREZ
City Councilor City Councilor


CARLITO A. BALOY ROBINE ROSE C. BUENAFE
President, Liga ng mga Barangay SK Federation President



ATTEST:


ELFLIDA S. SALMON
Council Secretary


APPROVED BY HIS HONOR, THE CITY MAYOR ON___________________.



JAMES GORDON, JR.
City Mayor

ATTEST:


DELFIN A. JUICO, JR.
Secretary to the City Mayor