In 2002, a poll of representatives of 17 business sectors in the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines rated the English communications skills of Filipinos as deteriorating.

According to the Department of Education, only 6.59% of graduating high school students has a mastery of English.

The Business Processing Association of the Philippines says that less than 5% of applicants are hired because of inadequate English skills.

Business leaders, NGOs and the academe join hands in support of PEP and helping Filipino students improve their English language skills. In photo are representatives from AmCham, ILS, Philip Morris, Lyceum of Batangas, Lipa City Colleges and Christian College of Tanauan

A 2006 nationwide survey conducted by the Social Weather Station confirmed that Filipinos are no longer as proficient in English as they seem. Based on the survey results,

  • 65 percent of Filipinos understand spoken English compared to 74 percent in 1993
  • 65 percent read in English as against 73 percent in 1993
  • 48 percent write in English in contrast to 59 percent in 1993
  • 32 percent speak in English compared to 56 percent in 2000


With English as the world's most widely used language for international business and communications, English language proficiency is critical for the success of Filipino workers, professionals, and the nation.

The PEP project's Information, Awareness, and Advocacy Campaign aims to:

  • Increase the awareness among the general public of the importance of English proficiency in advancing one's career both in the Philippines and abroad;
  • Motivate the public, especially the youth, to make a deliberate effort to improve their English communication skills;
  • Highlight to Filipino companies the necessity of raising the standard for English communication in their organizations, recognizing the threat that other Asian countries pose to Philippine competitiveness;
  • Develop and disseminate materials for those seeking to improve their English Language skills.

You too can help the PEP project promote English proficiency by:

  1. becoming a project partner,
  2. being a member of PEP's Facebook http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?ref=name&id=100000624491861
  3. follow PEP at Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/PromoteEnglish),
  4. adding a link to this website from your own site, and (create PEP BADGE with link)
  5. downloading PEP Advocacy posters and displaying them in your offices and schools:




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