THE HOUSE of Representatives has adopted a resolution integrating foreign language studies into the K-12 program, to acquaint learners with foreign languages other than English.

House Resolution 1502 also aims to encourage students to learn foreign languages that will vastly improve employability in the global labor markets.

The adopted resolution was a substitution of House Resolution 910 both filed by House Minority Leader and 4Ps Partylist Rep. Marcelino Libanan.

The solon, in filing for the resolution, said Filipino students can draw inspiration from national hero Jose Rizal, who developed a passion for learning foreign languages.

“Our school system by tradition has been teaching Filipino children to emulate and aspire to be like Rizal. We might as well encourage them to study foreign languages, just like Rizal,” Libanan said.

He cited that Rizal became conversant in Arabic, Catalan, Chinese, Dutch, English, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Portuguese, Russian, Sanskrit, Spanish, and Swedish because he was fascinated with foreign languages.

“The whole world has become a global village with multilingual labor markets, thus creating a strong demand for workers with foreign language skills,” Libanan said in his resolution.

The lawmaker added that exposing young learners to foreign languages will vastly improve their employability in the global labor markets of the 21st century.