Through the Muntinlupa City Persons With Disability Affairs Office (PDAO), the Basic Filipino Sign Language (FSL) Training was held for Muntinlupa City Government staff and private sector workers last August 14 at SM Muntinlupa.
This FSL Training aims to break the communication barrier that hinders understanding and communication with the Muntinlupa Deaf Community.
Among the attendees were some members of the Deaf Congregation from the International Evangelical Church of Alabang (IECA), where they had a fun and productive interaction with the hearing participants, who were all public servants and private sector employees or professionals.
“It is a good experience for those who can hear to be with some of the Deaf Community because they will really know how difficult it is to communicate with them,” said Chona Taja of the IECA Deaf Ministry in Filipino.
According to the Filipino Language Commission, Filipino Sign Language is among the 134 languages under Republic Act No. 11106, recognized in both the Early Years Act (Republic Act No. 10410) and the Enhanced Basic Education Act (Republic Act No. 10533).
FSL is the official language of the Philippine government for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Filipinos in public agencies or offices, schools, and other government offices and facilities.