Filipinas Institute of Translation stresses need for more translators

“Filipino is only used for day-to-day transactions –not for knowledge –not a lot read books. We have to improve the literacy of the masses to change the current situation,” Coroza said in a press conference (Photo: Filipinas Institute of Translation/ Facebook)

MANILA –Filipinas Institute of Translation president Michael Coroza has stressed the need for more translators amid the slow growth of the country’s translation industry.

“Filipino is only used for day-to-day transactions –not for knowledge –not a lot read books. We have to improve the literacy of the masses to change the current situation,” Coroza said in a press conference for the “2017 Salinan International Conference: Translation and Translation Studies in Local and Global Contexts” held at the Luxent Hotel in Quezon City on Wednesday.

He pointed out that the lack of a regulatory body for translators has also hampered estimates on the total count of translators in the country.

National Commission for Culture and the Arts chairman Virgilio Almario, who is also a National Artist for Literature, said the potential Department of Culture will include a Bureau of Translation. Its creation was discussed in Congress last February during the first hearing of the priority bill, which proposes its enactment.

Coroza further said the lack of translation courses in universities and colleges also reflect student interest in translation. Currently, the University of the Philippines is the only school in the country offering the course.

He added that excellent translators earn from PHP30,000 to PHP120,000.

The translation industry includes interpretation, dubbing and simultaneous translation.

The Filipinas Institute of Translation is a non-governmental organization that aims to improve translation and the development of the Filipino language.