This year, two local government units (LGUs) have been honored with the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) Selyo ng Kahusayan sa Serbisyo Publiko, an annual award recognizing agencies and LGUs that effectively implement Executive Order No. 335 and excel in using Filipino in public service.
The awardees are Marilao, Bulacan, and Sta. Rosa, Laguna, both of which proudly shared their achievements during an exclusive interview on Wednesday's "DILG sa DZRH sa Breaktime."
Marilao Mayor Henry Lutao, whose municipality received a second-degree award from KWF, announced that they have now earned a third-degree award this year.
"Syempre po isang karangalan para po sa amin na magkamit ng antas tatlo sa Selyo ng Kahusayan sa Serbisyo Publiko at ito po ay magsisilbing insparasyon upang mas mapalawig pa po namin ang paggamit g Wikang Filipino sa Bayan ng Marilao bilang wika ng serbisyo publiko," Lutao said.
Lutao explained that their LGU has mandated the use of Filipino for transactions, communications, and correspondence, including letterheads, as well as the LGU’s mission and vision statements, which are written in Filipino.
Additionally, the LGU organizes various activities to promote the Filipino language, such as a spoken word poetry competition every August. This year, they will also hold a speech competition.
"At dahil po dito naging katuwang din po ng mahalaang bayan ng Marilao sa pagpapabatid sa mga gawaing pangwika ng komisyon sa wikang Pilipino at patuloy po kaming nagdaraos ng Palihan o yun pong tinatawag nating seminar sa paggamit bng wikang Pilipino sa mga korespondesiya sa mga opisyal na ibinababa po namin na hanggang sa mga barangay," the Mayor said.
In a separate interview, Miguel Garcia, the acting president of the Lupon ng Wikang Filipino in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, and a former Filipino teacher, discussed the significant role of the Filipino language in public service.
Garcia shared that he accepted the appointment from their former mayor and began his work with a seminar in Mandaluyong, which highlighted the benefits of using Filipino in public service. He subsequently implemented a policy to have all internal LGU documents written in Filipino.
"Sa kung paano po namin ito napanatili, sa suporta po yan syempre ng aming Alkalde. Nagkataon na very supportive yung aming alkalde at yung aming mga kasama, mahirap pero dahil sa pagmamahal ko rin sa Pilipino at gusto kong mabigyan ng katangalan ang Lungsod ng Santa Rosa, kaya patuloy o kami na talagang sumasali sa lahat ng panahon kahit pa noong pandemic."
Garcia hopes, that desptite the changes in education system, Filipinos would still see the importance of the Filipino language in all aspects.
He hopes that despite changes in the education system, Filipinos will continue to recognize the importance of the Filipino language in all aspects of life.
