BUTUAN CITY – Personnel of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Caraga completed the training sessions on Filipino Sign Language and received their certificate of participation in a culmination activity held on Thursday, November 10 at the Events Center of SM City Butuan. 

This was also in time with the commemoration of Proclamation No. 829 which declares every November 10 to 16 of every year as “Deaf Awareness Week” and also in recognition of Republic Act No. 11106 also known as Filipino Sign Language Law. 

According to Atty. Aurora Luanne Cembrano-Ramos, regional director of CHR Caraga, the said training aims to equip the CHR employees to become effective communicators and human rights implementers as they perform their duties and responsibilities especially in handling their deaf and mute clients.

She added that there are other government entities that underwent the same training in order to ensure inclusive delivery of basic services to all sectors, including the persons with disabilities (PWDs). "This is expected to enhance our communication mechanism and strategies and be able to serve the best interest of our PWDs," she said.

“It is but timely and appropriate that government agencies are back on accommodating clients face-to-face, hence, this will help them interact better with their PWD clientele. It has been noted that years ago, agencies would hire interpreters just to get the job done when handling clients who are deaf and mute. So, with this training and gained knowledge in FSL, it’s very useful for our field investigators, who are now more confident in communicating with the PDWs and could better help them in providing their special needs,” added Atty. Cembrano-Ramos.

Also, to show what they learned from the training, select personnel of the CHR Caraga led by Atty. Cembrano-Ramos, presented a dance performance of the song entitled "Umagang Kay Ganda" and “A Million Dreams” using sign language.

Christine Podadera, Special Education Teacher (SPET) coordinator from Agusan National High School (ANHS) in Butuan City, acknowledged the initiatives and efforts of the CHR Caraga in ensuring that human rights are inclusive for everyone, and also for tapping them during the conduct of Training on Filipino Sign Language for two months. 

"We are proud that we are able to help you learn the Filipino Sign Language, and with this endeavor, we are optimistic that CHR could better serve our constituents especially the persons with disabilities," she said.

Podadera also assured the Commission that the ANHS and the Butuan Deaf Association (BDA) will continue to assist and facilitate the conduct of training on Sign Language with the CHR and other government agencies and partners.

At the same venue, the induction of newly-elect BDA officers was also conducted.

Meanwhile, the Commission together with the representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Caraga, BDA, and ANHS, signed the Memorandum of Agreement highlighting the conduct of training on Filipino Sign Language every year for 3 years to all CHR Caraga employees.

Pursuant to the 1987 Philippine Constitution, the CHR is mandated to ensure that the human rights of every Filipino are respected, and upheld at all times. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)