The Supreme Court has completed the draft of the first-ever Rules on Filipino Sign Language (FSL) Interpreting in the Judiciary to improve court accessibility for the deaf community.
The draft was finalized during a two-day writeshop led by Associate Justices Japar Dimaampao and Jose Midas Marquez, with active participation from FSL interpreters and deaf members of the technical working group.
Once approved, the rules will require qualified FSL interpreters to be present in court proceedings involving deaf individuals, ensuring effective communication and equal access to justice.
The SC emphasized that the rules aim to remove barriers and support the full participation of deaf individuals in judicial processes.
The draft reflects the Judiciary’s commitment to inclusivity and will be rolled out nationwide through court visits and dialogues with judges and officials.
Source: PhilNews24 | July 31, 2025
