Dizon asks local TV to provide sign language insets in programs

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City government is requesting all television stations within Metro Cebu to provide Filipino sign language insets, closed captions or subtitles during their newscast programs for the benefit of those with hearing impairments.

“Increasing ang number sa mga hearing impaired. Para ma-aware sila sa issues ug makasunod sila sa panghitabo (in the society),” said Councilor Alvin Dizon, the author of the resolution.

 Lim, president of the Cebu Gualandi Association of the Deaf Inc. (CGAD), said that television is one of the main sources of information for the deaf.

We need laws and policies for the deaf to really sustain advocacy for the deaf to really access information coming from the news particularly in calamities and emergencies,” said Lim through his Sign Language Interpreter (SLI), John Paul Maunes, the executive director of Gualandi Volunteer Service Programme, Inc. (GVSP).

Deaf cannot really participate in the community or society without SLI particularly in television. For the deaf  person to understand news to understand what is happening in the community we need sign language interpreters in the television,” Lim added.

Through the resolution of Dizon, the city government is also requesting the Senate to consider the proposed Senate Bill No. 2117 known as “The Filipino Sign Language Act in Broadcast Media 2014” as priority legislative measure and work towards the passage of the bill as soon as possible.

It states that “the free-to-air television may likewise opt to provide for Filipino sign language insets in other programs such as those pertaining to cultural affairs, livelihood and those catering to children”.

However, according to Lim, having SLIs are better than a caption posted on the TV screens.

“Caption is helpful, but there are lots of deaf who cannot read because of illiteracy because of the poor education for deaf Filipinos they cannot understand or even read what’s written on TV,” he said.

In his explanatory note, Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV, who filed the bill, said there are people who do not naturally understand the situation of the Filipino deaf.

Many deaf individuals are left without proper communication or access to information,” Aquino said.

“In order to build a safer and more inclusive society for the Filipino deaf community, government, civil society, academe, and the private sector must work together to give deaf individuals access to communication, information, and tools that are necessary to lead productive lives,” he further stated.— (FREEMAN)