Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia is determined to implement a Local School Board resolution that mandates an "English only" policy for all public schools, from pre-school to high school, here in the province.

Garcia is dismayed with the result of an examination conducted by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development that placed the Philippines in the lowest rank among countries that participated in the Reading Comprehension category.

"The mother tongue can still be used when they go home," the governor justified.

She added that using English as a medium of instruction in classes won't make one less patriotic of his or her native land.

She said that this will raise the level of educational standard among learners, and students won't settle for mediocrity.

The new policy is set to be implemented at the Cebu Provincial Schools Division level starting school year 2020.

Education Regional Director Salustiano Jimenez said they haven't been given a copy of the resolution.

He stressed the need for a legislation or a memorandum from their Central Office before any changes can be made.

"It is not that simple.... Even if there is a representation (Department of Education Cebu) in the school board, this involves a change in the curriculum," Jimenez said.

He said that he welcomes any initiative from the Provincial School Board, but things must be put in the right perspective.

Jimenez also said that some students in the mountain area of Cebu took the online exam. Some failed to complete it due to technical difficulty.