Angara mulls inclusion of Spanish in K+12 program

Senator Edgardo Angara. INQUIRER file photo

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Eduardo Angara on Friday said he was considering the inclusion of Spanish in the K+12 program to help boost local tourism and the BPO industry.

In a chance interview after the Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day press launch, Angara said that the Spanish language may be integrated in the 11th and 12th grade, to be introduced in 2016 and which will have three major tracks: Arts, livelihood and sports. The Spanish language will be integrated in the Arts track of the curriculum, Angara said.

He added that he may draft a bill that would mandate Spanish as part of the K+12 program, which was started this school year and which aimed to improve the Philippine education system by adding more year levels.

“You know, when you speak Spanish, you speak almost to 1/3 of the world. When you speak, Mandarin, English and Spanish, you speak, you talk practically to the entire world,” Angara said.

“The trend of investment and tourism of Latin America is towards Asia.  We ought to catch that wave because now we have a natural destination,” he added.

Angara said that having many Spanish speaking graduates would likewise help boost our ever-growing BPO industry.

“The BPO sector now, is the largest growing sector in our economy, and soon will replace the OFW remittances. We ought to also catch the Spanish speaking businesses. Naghahanap sila e [They’re looking],” he said.