PRESIDENT RODRIGO R. Duterte has signed the Filipino Sign Language Act or Republic Act (RA) No. 11106, which declares the Filipino Sign Language as the National Sign Language of the Filipino deaf and the Official Sign Language of the government in all transactions that involve the deaf. The new law also mandates the use of the Filipino Sign Language in schools, broadcast media, and workplaces. The University of the Philippines (UP) and the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) and other concerned agencies, according to RA 11106, are tasked to “develop guidelines for the development of training materials in the education of the deaf for use by all state universities and colleges, as well as their teachers and staff.” The Filipino Sign Language will be used in all public hearings, proceedings, and transactions of the courts, quasi-judicial agencies, and other tribunals. And the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas (KBP) and the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) “shall, within one (1) year from the effective date of this Act, require Filipino Sign Language interpreter insets, compliant with accessibility standards for television, in news and public affairs programs.” — Arjay L. Balinbin

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