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CFL hit over plan to abolish sign language unit
By Creselda Canda-Lopez
“We condemn actions of Chairman Arthur Casanova and newly appointed CFL commissioners’ unjust removal of all deaf personnel from FSL Unit, following their rightful demand for timely and prompt salary payments… action is not only inhumane but also undermines rights and dignity of Deaf community,” Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) has slammed Commission on the Filipino Language (CFL) over its plan to dissolve its Filipino Sign Language (FSL) Unit, would effectively retrench its deaf personnel.
In statement, ACT received information that CFL also referred to as Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino (KWF) decided to abolish its FSL Unit after its personnel demanded timely release of their salaries.
Teachers’ group cited Republic Act 11106 or Filipino Sign Language Act, which states Filipino Sign Language or FSL shall be official sign language of government in all transactions involving deaf. Same law also mandates use of FSL in schools, broadcast media and workplaces.
ACT said RA 11106 was enacted in compliance with United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, member-states committed to promote, protect, and ensure full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedom of persons with disabilities (PWDs).
“Thus, national and local state agencies shall uphold respect for their PWDs inherent dignity, individual autonomy, and independence by guaranteeing accessibility and eliminating all forms of discrimination in all public interactions and transactions, thereby ensuring their full and effective participation and inclusion in society, ..state shall also take all appropriate measures to ensure Filipino deaf can exercise right to expression and opinion…accordingly, state recognizes and promotes use of sign languages embodying specific cultural and linguistic identity of Filipino deaf,” ACT said.
With abolition of FSL Unit of CFL, “implementation of RA 11106 will not be realized,” ACT said, “thus, depriving Deaf Filipinos of their language rights and violating mandate of RA 7104 Commission on the Filipino Language Act.”
“We support fight for protection of rights and welfare of Filipino Deaf community and other persons with disabilities,” it added.
ACT, meanwhile, called on administration to “ensure full implementation of FSL Act and that services are available for Filipino Deaf community and other persons with disabilities.”
Meanwhile, members and supporters of Philippine Federation of the Deaf held protest rally at Liwasang Bonifacio to oppose abolition of FSL Unit of CFL.
ACT reminded CFL of its primary mandate to “develop, propagate, and preserve Filipino and other Philippine languages,” they said, include Filipino Sign Language.
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