Question & AnswerQ&A (IRR OF Republic Act No. 11106)
The Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 11106 shall be known and cited as The Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 11106, otherwise known as the "Filipino Sign Language Act (FSL Act)."
The purpose is to prescribe the procedures and guidelines for the implementation of the Filipino Sign Language Act in order to facilitate compliance and achieve the objectives of the Act, including promoting the use of Filipino Sign Language (FSL) to benefit the Filipino Deaf community.
The coverage includes all national government agencies (NGAs), bodies, instrumentalities including government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs), local government units (LGUs), state universities and colleges (SUCs), and various public sector entities. Equivalent units in autonomous regions must also formulate and implement similar rules and regulations.
The State shall promote, protect, and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms of persons with disabilities, uphold their inherent dignity, individual autonomy, and independence by guaranteeing accessibility and eliminating discrimination, and promote the use of Filipino Sign Language as embodying their linguistic and cultural identity.
Filipino Sign Language refers to the visual language naturally evolved among Deaf Filipinos, distinct from spoken Filipino and American Sign Language, and is governed by rules of phonology, morphology, syntax, and discourse, used as the natural language of the Filipino Deaf community.
The standards include training, continuing education and professional development; assessment and accreditation of interpreters; policies on interpreting as a profession including compensation, working conditions, grievance procedures, and code of ethics; and inclusion of Deaf Relay Interpreting based on FSL principles.
These agencies shall use and coordinate the use of FSL as the medium of instruction for deaf education, adapt and develop curricula and policies promoting FSL, provide qualified sign language interpreters, designate FSL specialists, and ensure accessible educational materials and training across all levels from early childhood to higher education.
The DOJ, Judiciary, DILG, and other entities shall declare FSL as the official language for all interactions involving deaf Filipinos, provide qualified sign language interpreters, develop policies and standards for communication accessibility, and maintain databases to monitor and improve implementation.
The CSC shall issue policies declaring FSL as the official language in civil service and government workplaces, facilitate recruitment and training of FSL interpreters, conduct personnel audits, and promote capacity building to progressively realize adequate interpreting services for deaf employees and clients.
MTRCB shall declare FSL as the official language for broadcast media interpreting, collaborate with stakeholders to create standards for interpreting, promote accessible programming including disaster advisories, support technical capacity-building, and monitor compliance with accessibility standards to ensure inclusion of deaf viewers.