To: Bureau Directors
Regional Directors
Schools Superintendents
Presidents, State Colleges and Universities
Heads of Private Schools, Colleges and Universities

1. In consonance with 1987 Policy on Bilingual Education, the Department of Education, Culture and Sports hereby promulgates the following implementing guidelines:
   1. Bilingual Education is defined operationally as the separate use of Filipino and English as media of instruction in specific subjects. The separate use of Filipino and English for instruction should be observed.
   2. Reading in the regional languages, in Filipino and in English shall be achieved in stages. In non-Tagalog speaking areas, Filipino may be taught orally using procedures, techniques and materials needed for teaching Filipino to non-Tagalog speakers.
   3. The phasing in of two or three languages shall be planned at the regional level, provided that bilingual instruction (the use of Filipino and English as media of instruction) shall be implemented in all regions.
   4. Content learning (in whatever language) should not be sacrificed because of the variations in the phasing in of the languages.
   5. For all subjects to be taught in Filipino, the development of teaching and reference materials as well as training of teachers to teach in Filipino shall be funded.
   6. The regional director, upon consultation with his superintendents, supervisors, principals, teachers and other sectors of the community shall formulate a program to start the implementation of the revised bilingual policy in all levels and SY 1987-1988.
   7. In non-Tagalog areas, the regional director shall organize compensatory programs in order to equalize competence in Filipino among Tagalogs and non-Tagalogs through the development of suitable teaching materials, training of special teachers, offering of additional classes, and establishment of incentives for teachers in Filipino. For the Tagalog areas, an enrichment program for enhancing competence in the language shall likewise be organized.
   8. The levels of competence set as goals for both Filipino and English, shall be set by the Department according to the levels and needs of populations and periodically revised (e.g. every six years).
   9. The transfer of cognitive and linguistic skills form one language to another shall be facilitated and reflected in the syllabi of the schools.
   10. In the measurement of achievement nationwide, consideration shall be given to regional differences because of varieties of Filipino and variations in the phasing in of the languages. Regional evaluation shall be undertaken to gauge the attainment of standards set for quality education.
   11. Minimum standards of language skills (in both Filipino and English) shall be required for the promotion of students.
   12. Department of Education, Culture and Sports shall coordinate the following activities for the implementation of the revised language policy through its respective agencies:
       1. Revision of pre-service teacher training courses to reflect the Bilingual Education Policy;
       2. Development of a program to train teachers to use Filipino as a medium of instruction for content subjects;
       3. Certification of teachers for language and content competence including those who have been teaching in Filipino with success;
       4. Admission to training of future teachers with required language competence; and
       5. Development of evaluative instruments for teachers and pupils for gauging language and content competence using various skills.
   13. The Department shall appoint a Bilingual Education Committee to be composed of the following:
       The Bureau Directors (Elem., Sec., Tertiary)
       The Chairperson of the National Language
       Commission (Institute of Philippine Languages)
       Representatives from the Language Education
       Sector and Language Societies
       The Chairman of this Committee shall be designated by the Secretary.
       The representatives shall serve for a period of three years, renewable at the option of the Secretary.
       The Secretariat shall be housed in the same office as the Chairperson.
       The first task of this Committee shall be the dissemination of information on the Bilingual Education Policy among other departments of the Republic and among government and non-government agencies and the public at large.
       The Committee shall present an annual report of its activities and findings to the Secretary.
       It shall compile baseline data on achievement in both languages for future use.
       Periodically, with the help of research agencies it shall conduct or commission evaluation studies on the implementation of the policy and suggest revisions of the policy. It should undertake a summative evaluation after ten years implementation (1987-1997).
2. This Order supersedes previous Orders on Bilingual Education Policy Implementing Guidelines except those that are not inconsistent with this Order.
3. This Order takes effect in the school year 1987-1988.

(SGD.) LOURDES R. QUISUMBING
Minister

Reference: Department Orders: Nos. 25, s. 1974 and (50, s. 1975)
DECS Order: No. 52, s. 1987
Allotment: 1-2-3-4–(M.O. 1-87)

To be indicated in the Perpetual Index under the following subjects:
CHANGE
COMMITTEE
COMMUNICATION ARTS
COURSE OF STUDY, COLLEGIATE
COURSE OF STUDY, ELEMENTARY
COURSE OF STUDY, SECONDARY
TEACHERS