THE call for a Deaf-inclusive 2027 national budget is more than a request for government support. It represents years of collective advocacy by Deaf Filipinos, hearing allies, civil society organizations, and policy advocates working to translate the recognition of linguistic rights into meaningful government action.
The proposed General Provision on Filipino Sign Language (FSL) for the 2027 General Appropriations Act (GAA) is the product of sustained collaboration among the Filipino Sign Language National Network (FSLN2), the broader FSL National Network, and the Social Watch Philippines (SWP) Secretariat through its Alternative Budget Initiative (ABI). This partnership demonstrates how grassroots advocacy and organized civil society engagement can bring the concerns of marginalized communities into national budget deliberations.
The proposed FSL General Provision has undergone annual revisions through the lobbying efforts of FSLN2 and SWP-ABI for the 2023-2026 GAAs, although it was not included in the 2024 GAA. These efforts have involved engagement with legislators in both the Senate and the House of Representatives who champion disability-related legislative concerns. More recently, the campaign has gained urgency amid corruption controversies and legislative changes affecting transparency, civil society participation, and public accountability.
At its core, the proposal seeks to strengthen the implementation of Republic Act 11106, or the Filipino Sign Language Act of 2018, which recognizes FSL as the national sign language of the Philippines and the official sign language of government. The proposed provisions emphasize interagency policy coordination, accessible public services, clearer budget reporting, auditing mechanisms, and implementation monitoring. Rather than focusing solely on securing substantial new appropriations, the initiative seeks to ensure that existing government systems explicitly recognize and address Deaf people’s accessibility needs.
The broader principle is clear: legal recognition alone does not guarantee accessibility. Rights must be reflected in policies, budgets, institutional responsibilities, and measurable accountability. Deaf Filipinos must have equitable access to education, healthcare, justice, employment, information, and public services in their own language. As deliberations on the 2027 GAA continue, legislators, government agencies, civil society organizations, disability advocates, and institutional leaders are called upon to support the proposed General Provision on FSL. Policymakers must work toward its inclusion in the final national budget, while implementing agencies must commit to clear responsibilities, measurable timelines, transparent reporting, and effective monitoring. Deaf organizations and their allies are also urged to sustain collective advocacy and demand meaningful Deaf participation throughout implementation.
n Dr. Leonides D. Sulse is a Filipino Deaf Full Professor and Research Coordinator at the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies (SDEAS) with over 25 years of tertiary teaching experience, specializing in Deaf education, curriculum development, organizational leadership, and research.