IN HER address at the closing ceremony of the 2023 National Deaf Awareness Week at the Philippine School for the Deaf, Gina Gonong, Undersecretary for Curriculum and Instruction at the Department of Education, underscored the importance of fostering and expanding partnerships to support the deaf community.

She expressed a commitment to acknowledging the unique perspectives of each individual within the Deaf Community.

During the event, Gonong also urged continued backing for significant advocacy efforts benefiting the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Late-Deafened community.

“Collective conversations surrounding laws supporting inclusivity, interpreter guidelines, court interpretation, newborn hearing screening, and the inspiring success stories of deaf individuals may reaffirm a commitment to creating a society that celebrates diversity and embraces all forms of communication,” PSD Principal Shery Funcion said.

Present during the awareness week were Pasay City Mayor Imelda Calixto Rubiano, Ryan Roberto Delos Reyes of Technical Support and Services Division-Employment Promotion and Workers Welfare of Department of Labor and Employment and Dr. Marida Arend Arugay (Otorhinolaryngology) of Department of Health.

Maricris Galang of Center for Education Advancement of the Deaf, De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, Raymond Manding of Center for Partnership and Development School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies of De La Salle College of Saint-Benilde also attended the event.