Filipino translators seek professionalization of industry

The Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino (KWF) or the Commission on the Filipino Language is looking at the professionalization of translation work given the lack of job security for locals who work as translators.

According to the KWF, it is working with the National Committee on Language and Translation (NLTC) of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCAA), universities, and organizations to push for a law that would regulate and professionalize translation in the country.

“Kailangan pa siyang pag-usapan o iharap sa marami para makita kung ano ‘yung mas mainam o mas maayos na direksyon ng pagsulong ng panukalang batas para sa propesyonalisasyon ng pagsasalin,” KWF department head John Enrico Torralba said in Katrina Son's report on GMA’s “24 Oras Weekend” on Sunday.

(It still needs to be discussed or to be presented to the public to see the best direction to push for a law to professionalize translation.)

This comes as local translators say they do not have job security and are not being paid properly for their services.

“Una, hindi nababayaran sila nang tama. Tinitipid silang mga tagapagsalin, so parang hindi nakikita ‘yung halaga nila sa lipunan,” former KWF director General Roberto Añonuevo said in the same report.

(Firstly, they are not being paid properly. They are being shortchanged, so it seems as though society does not see their worth.)

Añonuevo’s sentiments were mirrored by De La Salle University Salita’s Raquel Sison-Buban, who said that translators would already be lucky to be compensated with items.

“‘Pag lumapit sila sa akin, magpapa-translate, tapos thank you o kaya swerte kung may mug o kaya may keychain na ibibigay sa’yo. Sila ang nagtatakda ng presyo samantalang sa kalakaran sa buong mundo, may mga rates ang translators,” she said.

(When they come to me to translate, they would say thank you. You will be lucky to receive a mug or a keychain. They dictate the price while across the globe, there are rates for translators.) — Jon Viktor Cabuenas/DVM, GMA Integrated News