AN ACT CREATING THE COMMISSION ON THE FILIPINO LANGUAGE

Case Overview and Summary

Summary of Republic Act No. 7104 (Commission on the Filipino Language Act)

Declaration of Policy (Section 2)
- Ensure and promote the evolution, development and enrichment of Filipino as the national language, based on existing Philippine and other languages.

Creation of the Commission on the Filipino Language (Section 4)
- A commission is created to undertake, coordinate and promote research for the development, propagation and preservation of Filipino and other Philippine languages.
- The commission is under the Office of the President.

Composition of the Commission (Section 5)
- 11 commissioners, one as Chairman.
- Representing major Philippine languages (Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon, Muslim Mindanao), cultural communities, and other languages/regions.
- At least 4 commissioners represent various disciplines.
- Chairman and 2 commissioners serve full-time, 8 serve part-time.

Appointment and Qualifications of Commissioners (Section 6)
- Appointed by the President with consent of Commission on Appointments.
- Natural-born Filipino citizen, at least 30 years old, morally upright, expertise in linguistics, culture, language of the region and discipline represented.
- Terms: Chairman and 2 full-time (7 years), 4 part-time (5 years), 4 part-time (3 years).

Vacancy (Section 8)
- Replacement serves unexpired term.
- Commission recommends replacement to the President within 30 days, subject to confirmation.

Compensation (Section 9)
- Chairman and 2 full-time have same rank, privileges, salary as other constitutional commissions.
- Part-time commissioners receive honorarium per meeting attended.

Rules and Meetings (Section 10)
- Commission adopts own rules and procedures.
- Meets at least once a month or as needed.
- Quorum is majority of 11 commissioners.

Organizational Structure (Section 11)
- Commission determines organizational structure.
- Technical personnel exempt from Civil Service eligibility requirements.

Director General (Section 12)
- Appointed by the Commission for 7-year term, renewable once.
- Powers, functions, duties and compensation determined by the Commission.

Secretariat (Section 13)
- Headed by the Director General.
- Functions, duties and compensation determined by the Commission.

Powers, Functions and Duties of the Commission (Section 14)
- Formulate policies, plans and programs for development, enrichment, propagation and preservation of Filipino and other Philippine languages.
- Promulgate rules, regulations and guidelines.
- Undertake or contract research and studies.
- Propose guidelines and standards for linguistic forms and expressions.
- Encourage and promote writing, publication and translation through incentives, grants and awards.
- Create a division for translation.
- Call on government and private entities for cooperation and assistance.
- Conduct public hearings, conferences, seminars.
- Formulate guidelines, standards and systems for monitoring and reporting.
- Submit annual progress report to the President and Congress.
- Appoint and dismiss officials and employees.
- Organize and reorganize the structure, create or abolish positions.
- Perform other necessary activities.

Franking Privilege (Section 15)
- Commission's publications enjoy free postage.

Transfer of Existing Agency (Section 16)
- Personnel, records, assets, funds and properties of Institute of Philippine Languages transferred to the Commission.
- Research, dictionaries, publications and intellectual outputs also transferred.
- Qualified personnel absorbed by the Commission with no reduction in tenure, rank, salaries and privileges.

Appropriations (Section 17)
- Funding from current fiscal year appropriations of Institute of Philippine Languages.
- Thereafter, appropriations in the General Appropriations Act.

Promulgation (Section 18)
- Act promulgated in Filipino, English and regional languages.
- In case of doubt, Filipino version is binding.

Separability Clause (Section 19)
- If any provision is declared invalid, the remainder is not affected.

Repealing Clause (Section 20)
- Inconsistent laws, decrees, orders are repealed or amended.

Effectivity (Section 21)
- Act takes effect 15 days after publication in the Official Gazette or newspaper of general circulation.