A new legislative proposal aims to put a halt to the dubbing of English language movies and television shows into Filipino. House Bill 9939, introduced by Rep. Jose Francisco Benitez, seeks to enforce the prohibition on dubbing English-language content distributed or aired in the Philippines.
Benitez emphasized the significance of utilizing mass media as a tool for enhancing English language proficiency, particularly as a second language. He expressed concerns about the country’s low proficiency levels and believes that exposure to English through various media platforms can aid in improving communication skills, thereby opening up more opportunities for employment and social interaction.
Under the proposed law, English language movies and programs would be required to have Filipino subtitles, with the option for English language closed captions. However, exemptions are provided for TV commercials and programs aired between 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. Philippine Standard Time. Additionally, the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board would have the authority to exempt certain television programs if compliance is deemed economically burdensome.
Violations of the proposed law could result in fines ranging from P50,000 to P100,000, along with potential jail time of six months to one year, as determined by the courts. The bill aims to promote English language learning and proficiency across different media platforms while balancing the need for accessibility and cultural considerations.