MANILA -- Individual and group researchers, as well as public and private institutions like schools, have until 5 p.m. on February 15 to seek 2019 Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) grants for documenting Philippine languages.
Interested parties can send their respective language documentation proposals to KWF on or before the deadline for initial evaluation, noted the agency's Sangay ng Salita at Gramatika translator Jay-Mar Luza.
"We'll afterwards ask shortlisted applicants to present their proposals before a KWF panel, either this month or in early March to determine the grant recipients," he said.
Luza said the grants will vary, depending on the difficulty and cost involved in the documentation, but can be as much as PHP600,000.
For this year, he said KWF targets documenting 30 languages as Senator Loren Legarda's office committed PHP20 million to PHP25 million for the undertaking.
KWF said languages that grant-seekers can propose to document are Tagalog, Sebwano, Waráy, Pangasinan, Butwánon, Chabacano, Kinaray-a, Akeanon, Bugkalút, Malawég, Tagbanwá, Mamanwá, Mandaya, Manobo Matigsálug, Blaan, Manobo Kalamansíg, Finallig, Ratagnón Mangyán, Bagobo Tagabawa and Itneg.
They can also propose to document Tagakawló, Kolibugan, Tëduray, Tibóli, Iranun, Mëranáw, Bahasa Sug, Magindanawon, Ata Manobo, Palaw-an, Porohánon, Paranan, Malaynón, Kaluyanën, Masbatenyo, Rinkoda, Binukid, Kinamayu and Hamtikanon, KWF continued.
Luza said the grant recipients have until October to finish their documentation.
"We'll publish their documentation in a series featuring one book per Philippine language," he noted.
KWF's language documentation activities are under theagency's Lingguwistikong Etnograpiya project.
The project is among KWF's initiatives to help promote and preserve about 130 Philippine languages.
Prospective grant applicants can contact KWF to inquire about this agency's other language documentation details.
Luza said records as of Thursday show that KWF already received proposals to document Tagbanwá (one application), Chabacano (two applications), and Bahasa Sug (one application).
In cases involving multiple applications for one language, he said KWF will choose the best proposal and offer the other applicants grants for documenting other Philippine languages instead.
"There can be one grant recipient only per language to be documented," he noted.
Luza said that in 2018, KWF began giving grants for nationwide language documentation since the agency lacks manpower to do the work.
He noted that funding assistance from Legarda's office enabled KWF to document, through such grants' recipients, 32 languages around the country.
KWF personnel documented three languages in 2015 when the Lingguwistikong Etnograpiya project started, three languages in 2016, and two languages in 2017 using the agency's funds during these years, he added. (PNA)
