To: Undersecretaries
Assistant Secretaries
Bureau Directors
Directors of Services, Centers and Heads of Units
Regional Directors
Schools Division/City Superintendents
Heads, Public Elementary Schools
All Others Concerned

1. In addition to the languages of instruction mentioned in DepEd Order No. 16, s. 2012 entitled Guidelines on the Implementation of the Mother Tongue Based-Multilingual Education (MTB-MLE) under the K to 12 Basic Education Program, the following shall be used as the languages of instruction for Grade 1 pupils who speak the same languages. These languages will used in the specified regions and divisions starting school year (SY) 2013-2014:
   

   Mother Tongue and other Language	Region	Geographical Location
   1. Ybanaq	Region II	Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, Isabela
   2. Ivatan	Region II	Batanes Group of Islands
   3. Sambal	Region III	Zambales
   4. Akianon	Region VI	Aklan, Capiz
   5. Kinaray-a	Region VI	Capiz, Aklan
   6. Yakan	ARMM	Basilan Province
   7. Suriqaonon	Caraga	Surigao City and Provinces

2. The MTB-MLE aims to improve the pupil’s language and cognitive development, as well as his/her socio-cultural awareness as provided in the enclosure of DepEd Order No. 16, s. 2012. The child’s language will serve as the fundamental language for literacy and learning.
3. As soon as the Teacher’s Guide (TG) and Learner’s Materials (LMs) of these languages are ready, the Department through the Instructional Materials Council Secretariat (IMCS) shall issue a Memorandum announcing the schedule and manner of distribution to the schools.
4. Immediate dissemination of and strict compliance with this Order is directed.

Reference:
DepEd Order: (No. 16, s. 2012)

To be indicated in the Perpetual Index under the following subjects:
CHANGE
CURRICULUM
LANGUAGE
PUPILS
SCHOOLS

DO_s2013_028