PH considers dubbing ban to preserve BPO supremacy
MANILA, PHILIPPINES — A new bill introduced in the Philippines seeks to prohibit the dubbing of English language films and TV programs into Filipino to maintain the country’s edge in the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry.
House Bill (HB) No.9939, introduced by Negros Occidental Representative Jose Francisco Benitez, aims to “tap mass media as a learning platform for English as a Second Language (ESL).” The use of Filipino subtitles would instead be promoted.
As noted in the bill’s explanatory note, “English proficiency is often cited as the key factor to the growth of the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry in the country, which earned the Philippines the title of “call center capital of the world.”
However, Benitez’s bill cited recent studies on high school graduates in different regions of the Philippines that reveal varying proficiency levels in English comprehension and communication skills.
An evaluation of senior high school students in Leyte using the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) rubrics revealed that 60% of students demonstrated English proficiency at “good” or “competent” levels.
In Cagayan, a study highlighted a strong understanding of English-language literary texts among students, albeit primarily at a basic comprehension level. The research pointed out that students struggled with inferential questions and could not critically analyze or generate ideas based on the texts.
Similarly, an investigation into the English proficiency of K-12 graduates in Batangas found that while students could understand questions posed in English, they struggled to articulate their thoughts in the language.
Benitez said that this signals a crucial need to enhance learning opportunities for Filipinos to acquire English as a second language.
Mass media, like English language films and programs, can serve as an excellent platform for ESL learning, especially for younger generations. Hence, the bill puts forward the idea of prohibiting Filipino dubbing and using subtitles instead to allow greater exposure to spoken English.
With BPO industry leaders already voicing concerns over the Philippines losing its competitive edge, this bill hopes to strengthen English language skills to ensure continued success.
“We must therefore help younger generations acquire English in different settings, and through different media, to enable them to communicate better and explore new horizons in terms of employment and social interaction,” HB No.9939 further read.
Violators of the proposed ban face fines from PHP 50,000 to PHP 100,000 ($880 to $1,700) and/or imprisonment of six months to one year.
This newly proposed bill aligns with The Philippine IT-BPM industry roadmap and its goal of expanding the sector’s workforce to 2.5 million by 2028.
