Republic Act No. 5182

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippine Congress Assembled:

Section 1

The teaching of Spanish is hereby declared obligatory in all the universities and colleges, public and private, and all students shall be required to complete twelve units at least, in the said subject: Provided, That students enrolled in liberal arts and education majoring in Spanish shall be required to complete at least twenty-four units of Spanish without increasing the number of years required at present for the completion, of such courses: Provided, However, That this is without prejudice to the authority of the Board of National Education to require, in consideration of the particular relevance and importance of Spanish, additional units for such other courses as it may, in the exercise of its discretion, determine.

Section 2

After nine units of Spanish shall have been completed, the remaining units exceeding nine must include the teaching of selected writings in their original Spanish versions by renowned Filipino heroes, scholars, writers, and poets, especially Rizal and Mabini. Spanish shall be optional for foreign students.

Section 3

The Secretary of Education shall take immediate steps to carry out the provisions of this Act, including the selection upon recommendation of the Board of National Education of the writings mentioned in Section 2 hereof and shall promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary to put this Act into effect.

Section 4

Republic Act Numbered seven hundred nine, as amended by Republic Act Numbered eighteen hundred eighty-one, as well as provisions of existing laws which are inconsistent with this Act, are hereby repealed.

Section 5

This Act shall take effect at the beginning of the school year next following its approval.

Approved: September 8, 1967.