[EDLING:276] The Philippines: English bill to pass despite suit

[Francis M. Hult]

The Manila Bulletin

English bill to pass despite suit

The petition challenging the enforcement of a presidential order that builds up 
the use of English in schools will not prevent the new Congress from passing 
legislation reinstating the language as the medium of instruction, House Deputy 
Majority Leader Eduardo Gullas said. 

"We do not see the petition dampening in any way the resolve of Congress to 
revive English," said Gullas, an educator and principal author of the House 
bill restoring English as the teaching language.

The House passed the bill on third and final reading in September 2006. The 
Senate, however, failed to act on the bill as key members became busy with 
their reelection bids.

A group of Filipino writers, academicians and linguists recently filed a 
petition asking the Supreme Court to stop the enforcement of Executive Order 
(EO) 210, which strengthens English as the second language in schools, and 
Department of Education (DepEd) Order 36, which implements the presidential 
directive.

Full story:
http://www.mb.com.ph/YTCP2007070597200.html