House panel OK’s bills on communication access for deaf Filipinos
A COMMITTEE in the House of Representatives approved on Monday two bills that seek to help deaf Filipinos be able to communicate in day-to-day activities by providing adequate support such as sign language interpreters and subtitles.
The House Special Committee on Persons with Disabilities passed House Bill 3796 or the proposed Communication Accessibility to Filipino Deaf and Hard Hearing Act, and House Bill 8922 or the proposed Sign Language Interpreters for Persons with Disabilities Act, subject to amendments.
House Bill 3796 would provide communication access to education by establishing systems of oral and signed communication with education agencies, training of teachers, and support services through alternative communication such as hearing aid and transcription services.
It also would direct government agencies to deliver their services in the most appropriate language and means of communications for deaf individuals.
Television stations should also provide subtitles or signed communication for deaf individuals in their programming.
Meanwhile, House Bill 8922 would require all courts conducting public hearings and investigations to hire accredited interpreters. — Russell Louis C. Ku
