Dear PAO,

I am a government employee, and I have co-workers who are deaf. They usually communicate through writing and sign language. I was told that they primarily use English sign language as a means of communication. I am curious, is there no Filipino sign language?

Elijah

Dear Elijah,

The Philippine government puts a high value on inclusivity. Throughout the years, it has crafted laws to ensure that the rights of persons with disabilities (PWDs) are protected. Likewise, the government has taken steps to ensure full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms of PWDs.

A part of these steps is the declaration of an official National Sign Language of the Philippines. Section 3 of Republic Act (RA) 11106, otherwise known as “The Filipino Sign Language Act,” declares:

“Section 3. Filipino Sign Language as the National Sign Language. – Filipino Sign Language, hereinafter referred to as FSL, is hereby declared as the national sign language of the Philippines. The FSL shall be recognized, promoted, and supported as the medium of official communication in all transactions involving the deaf and as the language of instruction of deaf education, without prejudice to the use of other forms of communication depending on individual choice or preference.”

To answer your question, there is an official Filipino Sign Language (FSL). Based on the above-mentioned provision, FSL shall be the official medium of communication for deaf individuals. However, this does not preclude the use of other sign languages that may be preferred by the concerned deaf individual.

The law also declares FSL as the National Sign Language of the Philippines. Similarly, it encourages the use of FSL in all government workplaces within the Philippines. Section 7 of the said law states:

“Section 7. – Filipino Sign Language in All Workplaces. – The FSL shall be the official language of the Filipino deaf employed in the civil service and in all government workplaces. For this purpose, all government offices shall take reasonable measures to encourage the use of FSL among its deaf and hearing employees, including the conduct of awareness and training seminars on the rationale and use of FSL.

“The UP, together with the KWF, professional linguistics organizations and deaf linguistics researchers, shall formulate guidelines for the development of training materials for the employees of the DOJ, the Judiciary, the Department of Health (DOH), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC), and the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), in the conduct of the mandates and activities of these concerned offices.”

We hope that we are able to answer your queries. This advice is based solely on the facts you have narrated and our appreciation of the same. Our opinion may vary when other facts are changed or elaborated.

Thank you for your continued trust and support.

Editor’s note: Dear PAO is a daily column of the Public Attorney’s Office. Questions for Chief Acosta may be sent to [email protected].