Frontline workers from various sectors learn basic Filipino sign language
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY -- In its aim to better communicate with the Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and provide them with their special needs, the frontline workers from the different sectors converged efforts and learned the basic Filipino sign language.
This was made possible by the Regional Committee on Disability Affairs (RCDA) with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Caraga as the lead agency.
According to Police Lieutenant Colonel Marife Farol, Assistant Regional Community Affairs and Development Division and focal person for PWDs of Police Regional Office-13, it is a great opportunity to have joined in this kind of training, which will help the Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel especially the investigators in communicating with their mute and deaf clients.
Major Farol added that they usually ask the help of a social worker to get details and other important information whenever they have mute and deaf clients, as they have difficulty in communicating with them through sign language.
“In fact, we are now planning to conduct the same training for our investigators, so that we could also easily communicate with the persons with disabilities, especially those who would be needing our assistance,” said Farol.
Bryan Ramon, House Parent II, DSWD-Rehabilitation Center for Youth - Agusan del Sur, also elaborated how helpful it is for them to gain knowledge on sign language, as they constantly deal with some children-PWDs in their center. “Apart from work, it is also an advantage for me personally because I could now communicate with my PWD friends,” he said.
Darrylie Molina, a Special Education (SPED) teacher, who served as the resource speaker during the training, also emphasized that there is inclusive development in the communities only when everyone is able to communicate well with the PWD sector even through sign language, and live a more peaceful and productive life.
“We aim to experience an inclusive society, hence, we need to learn better how we could communicate well also with the PWD sector,” bared Molina.
Meanwhile, Elsa Jamora, Project Development III and Sectoral Unit Head of DSWD-Caraga, also urged the participating sectors to put into practice what they learned from the training to effectively serve the PWDs.
The said training formed part of the 44th National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation (NDPR) Week celebration. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
