THE KOMISYON sa Wikang Filipino signed a memorandum of agreement with the National Coordination Network of Deaf Organizations and National Coordination Network for Interpreting for the promotion of Filipino sign language.

Under the agreement, signed on Wednesday, the commission will designate a Filipino Sign Language Unit to assist in the planning and implementation of the promotion and teaching of Filipino Sign Language and institutionalization of sign language in all government offices.

In 2018, Republic Act 11106 or the Filipino Sign Language Act was enacted, declaring FSL as the national sign language of the Deaf Filipino.

It will be used as the official sign language in Deaf transactions with the government. It will also be used in schools, broadcast media, and the workplace.

This law has been recognized by the World Federation of the Deaf as the model of legal recognition of the national sign language found in only 40 countries around the world.

NCNDO Representative Carolyn Dagani expressed her gratitude to the KWF for the partnership.

“Tunay na makasaysayan ito para sa buong komunidad ng mga deaf. Lubos akong nagagalak na kabahagi ng pambansang network ng organisasyon ng mga deaf ang KWF,” she said as translated by an interpreter.

NCNDO is composed of the Philippine Federation of the Deaf, the Filipino Sign Language Advocacy Cooperative, the Deaf Accessibility Network of the Philippines and the Phil-Sports Federation of the Deaf.

Meanwhile, the NCNI members are the Philippine National Association of Sign Language Interpreters, The Philippine Association of Interpreters for the Deaf Empowerment, and the Philippine Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf.