📋 Tender Overview
In a significant move towards advancing access to justice under its Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027 (SPJI), the Supreme Court organized a committee to draft the first-ever Rules on Filipino Sign Language Interpreting in the Judiciary.
Aligned with the State policy to promote, protect, and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms of persons with disabilities, Republic Act (R.A.) No. 11106, or the Filipino Sign Language Act, mandates the Judiciary to craft rules guaranteeing equal access to justice for the deaf and facilitate their meaningful participation in legal proceedings.
To fulfill this mandate and implement the provisions of R.A. No. 11106, the Supreme Court is spearheading the initiative to ascertain the availability of qualified sign language interpreters in all proceedings involving the deaf and hard-of-hearing Filipinos and to draft comprehensive rules in support thereof.
On May 27, 2024, the Technical Working Group (TWG), chaired by Associate Justice Japar B. Dimaampao, convened its inaugural meeting at the Supreme Court Session Hall, where the TWG members shared their insights, comments, and suggestions to refine and enhance the proposed Rules.
Associate Justice Jose Midas P. Marquez attended the pilot meeting as the TWG’s Vice Chairperson. Also present were members of the TWG, including Court Administrator Raul B. Villanueva, Associate Justice Geraldine C. Fiel-Macaraig of the Court of Appeals, Associate Justice Juliet M. Manalo-San Gaspar of the Sandiganbayan, representatives of trial court judges including Shari’ah court judges, Commissioner Benjamin Mendillo, Jr. of the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino, Atty. Rhealeth Krizelle D. Ramos of the National Council on Disability Affairs, and representatives from different deaf organizations in the Philippines.
Associate Justice Japar B. Dimaampao and Associate Justice Jose Midas P. Marquez, Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of the Technical Working Group (TWG) of the Supreme Court Committee organized to draft the first-ever Rules on Filipino Sign Language Intepreting in the Judiciary, share a light moment during the TWG’s inaugural meeting on May 27, 2024.
Associate Justice Japar B. Dimaampao, Chairperson of the Technical Working Group (TWG) of the Supreme Court Committee organized to draft the first-ever Rules on Filipino Sign Language Intepreting in the Judiciary, leads the TWG members in making the “Mahal kita (I love you)” sign language at the end of the TWG’s inaugural meeting at the Supreme Court on May 27, 2024.
