Deaf people march to demand sign language in courts and TV news

Around 150 deaf people marched to the House of Representatives on Monday to push for the passage of two bills mandating the use of sign language in court proceedings and television news programs.

Members of the Philippine Deaf Resource Center (PDRC) arrived at the Batasang Pambansa compound at 4 p.m. and attended plenary sessions after marching from a mall on Commonwealth Avenue to call for the passage of House Bills 4121 and 4631.

A sign language interpreter was flashed on a large screen inside the plenary hall to accommodate the deaf visitors — a first in the lower chamber’s history.

“The 120,000 documented deaf… Filipinos will definitely benefit from such practices, making it possible for them to [comprehend] timely and relevant information," the group said in a letter to House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr.

The group was also able to gather during the past months more than 100,ooo signatures endorsing their call for the enactment of these measures.

HB 4121, authored by Bayan Muna party-list Reps. Teodoro Casiño and Neri Colmenares, requires local networks to use sign language insets in their news programs.

Use of interpreters in court

The PDRC lamented how major Metro Manila news programs do not use subtitles or sign language insets, despite provisions in Republic Act 7277 or the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons.

“Although some regional stations have started utilizing sign language insets with the help of non-government organizations, this practice is unfortunately not carried out by their mother stations," the group said.

HB 4631 meanwhile provides for the use of interpreters in all court proceedings and public hearings.

The group said the measure should be immediately passed to address the “high" incidence of criminal cases involving deaf persons.

Casiño said in a privileged speech that Congress should make sure that the rights of hearing-impaired Filipinos are protected.

“Deaf Filipinos need empowerment and charity… They merely demand equal realization of their rights," he said. — VS/HS, GMA News