ACADEMIC institutions and language advocates are raising alarm over the recent appointment of Atty. Marites Barrios-Taran as the new Chairperson and Commissioner for the Tagalog language at the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF), citing lack of qualifications and violation of the agency’s own legal mandate.
In a strongly worded statement, the Department of Filipino of the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) denounced the appointment as a “blatant violation” of Republic Act 7104, which requires KWF commissioners to have proven expertise in the language and culture of the ethnolinguistic group they represent.
“Alinsunod sa Seksiyon 6 ng Batas Republika 7104, ang bawat komisyoner ng KWF ay kinakailangang may kadalubhasaan sa wika at kultura ng kaniyang kinakatawang etnolingguwistikong pangkat,” said ADMU’s Filipino department on a Facebook post.
“Ngunit walang maipapakitang pag-aaral, pananaliksik, pagkilala, o anumang aktibong ambag si Atty. Barrios-Taran sa Tagalog o Filipino. Wala siyang natatanging tagumpay, parangal, o reputasyon sa larangang ito,” they added.
The Department of Linguistics at the University of the Philippines Diliman also issued a formal statement condemning the appointment, calling it a major step backward for the KWF.
“Sa tahasang pagsasantabi sa halaga ng wika sa pagtatalaga ng pamunuan nito, ipinapakitang balewala ang batayang mandato ng Komisyon, at sa halip ay mas umiiral ang paggiit ng kapangyariha,” they said.
“Ang usapin ng wika ay usapin ng pagbubuo ng bansa, demokrasiya, pagkakaisa, pagkakakilanlan, at katarungan. Hindi dapat kinakasangkapan ang wika upang mabigyang-kapangyarihan ang iilan,” argued the department.
Former KWF Commissioner Jerry Grácio, who represented Samar-Leyte languages in the commission, echoed these sentiments.
Citing the same provision in the law, Grácio questioned not only Barrios-Taran’s qualifications but also the decision to accept the post.
“Ang tanong ko: qualified ba ang bagong appoint na Commissioner ng KWF sa mga kahingiang ito ng batas? Kung hindi, bakit siya na-appoint? At kung alam niyang hindi siya qualified, bakit niya tinanggap?” he said in a separate post.
Likewise, award-winning writer and academic Edgar Calabia Samar questioned the moral uprightness of accepting such a role without the requisite expertise.
“Kung alam nating hindi naman tayo eksperto sa disiplina para hawakan ang isang pambansang tungkulin, bakit natin ito tatanggapin? Morally upright din ba iyan?” he said.
The appointment has sparked concern among linguistic and cultural institutions, especially as it comes at a time when issues such as the discontinuation of Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education (MTB-MLE), the marginalization of the Filipino language in academic spaces, and the endangerment of indigenous languages remain unresolved.
Barrios-Taran previously served as Director General of the KWF and held administrative posts, including Board Secretary of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila’s Board of Regents. She is also a Certified Public Accountant.
Her appointment as commissioner and concurrent chair of the KWF was confirmed by the Palace on Thursday.
As of writing, Atty. Barrios-Taran has yet to issue a public statement addressing the criticisms.
