REPRESENTATIVES Roman Romulo and Antonino Roman III have filed a measure seeking to establish a National English Proficiency Framework aimed at strengthening the country’s language competencies across education and the workforce.

House Bill No. 8211, or the proposed National English Proficiency Act, also provides for the creation of an English Language Development Authority to oversee policy direction, standards, and implementation.

The measure mandates the adoption of clear English proficiency standards at all levels of education, as well as in professional and workforce settings, in a bid to ensure consistency and global competitiveness.

In their explanatory note, the lawmakers underscored that the Philippine Constitution requires the State to maintain a system of quality education while instilling patriotism, nationalism, and civic values among the youth.

“Undergirding these constitutional mandates is the recognition that a globally competitive, English-proficient citizenry is indispensable to national development, social equity, and economic sovereignty in the 21st century,” they said.

The bill seeks to establish a comprehensive framework to address what the authors described as a decline in English proficiency, and to systematically rebuild language competencies among Filipino learners at all stages of education.

It also recognizes English proficiency as a strategic national asset—one that expands access to opportunities, promotes equity, and strengthens the country’s capacity to engage in a knowledge-driven global economy.