- DepEd ends mandatory use of mother tongue for Kindergarten to Grade 3, mandating Filipino and English as primary instruction languages from SY 2025–2026.
- CCPI backs the move, calling it inclusive and aligned with their advocacy for quality education and global competence.
- CCPI urges repeal of RA 12027 to ensure smooth implementation of DepEd’s new learner-focused framework.
The Chamber of Commerce of the Philippine Islands (CCPI), the country’s oldest business organization, has expressed its support for the Department of Education’s (DepEd) new policy mandating the use of Filipino and English as the primary media of instruction from Kindergarten to Grade 3, starting School Year 2025–2026.
The policy shift, issued through DepEd Department Order No. 20, s. 2025, ends the compulsory use of mother tongue languages in early-grade instruction a practice mandated by the previous Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education (MTB-MLE) policy under Republic Act (RA) No. 10533, also known as the Enhanced Basic Education Act. The new directive follows the recent enactment of RA No. 12027, which reclassifies regional languages as auxiliary tools rather than primary instruction media.
Calling the change a 'bold and inclusive step forward', CCPI noted that the policy addresses the educational challenges posed by linguistic diversity and limited classroom resources. The organization believes that the new approach will better support comprehension and help bridge learning gaps for early-grade learners.
“This policy now places the Filipino child at the center of education policy”, said CCPI President Jose Luis Yulo Jr. “It bridges learning gaps, supports comprehension, and aligns our learners with global competencies”.
Yulo emphasized that the move also echoes CCPI’s advocacy under its Economic Compass Pillars 5 (ECOMP-P5), particularly the vision of delivering the “best education” to Filipino children. This includes academics, critical thinking, new technology, ethics, good manners and right conduct, and being proficient in Filipino, English, and an additional dialect or language.
While the organization supports the DepEd’s directive, Yulo added that CCPI is urging lawmakers to repeal RA No. 12027 to avoid potential legal barriers to the unified implementation of the learner-centered education framework introduced by DepEd.
Also Read: Online International School in Singapore Delivers World-Class Education at Home
“CCPI remains committed to working with education leaders, stakeholders, and communities to build an educational system that prepares every Filipino to reach their highest potential and capabilities”, Yulo affirmed.
The policy shift has sparked discussions nationwide, particularly among education stakeholders and language advocates, with many closely monitoring how the implementation will unfold across the country’s linguistically diverse regions.
