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Republika ng Pilipinas

KAGAWARAN NG KATARUNGAN

Department of Justice

Manila

MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO.0 3TO

SUBJECT

DATE

Undersecretaries and Assistant Secretaries

OIC-PG Prosecutor Generat

OIC Chief State Counsel

Heads of Bureaus, Commissions andOffices attached to the DOJ

Reglonal/Provlnclal/Clty ProsecutorsDOJ Records Management SectionDOJ LibraryAll Concerned

PRESIDENTIAL ISSUANCES

NOV 14 2018

Attached are copies of the following Presidential Issuances signed by PresidentRodrigo R. Duterte;

f. Proclamation No. 620 dated 08 November 2018 entitled "DECLARING THE

MONTH OF EVERY YEAR AS "SCOLIOSIS AWARENESS MONTH";

2. Proclamation No. 621 dated 08 November 2018 entitled "DECLARING 22

MARCH 2019 AS "EMILIO AGUINALDO DAY" IN COMMEMORATION OF

HIS 150™ BIRTH ANNIVERSARY AND DIRECTING THE NATIONALHISTORIC COMMISSION OF THE PHILIPPINES TO LEAD THE

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROGRAM OF ACTIVITIES";

3. Proclamation No. 622 dated 08 November 2018 entitled "DECLARING 12

SEPTEMBER 2019 TO 11 SEPTEMBER 2020 AS THE CENTENNIAL YEAR

OF PHILIPPINE CINEMA"; and

4. Republic Act No. 11106 which was approved on 30 October 2018 entitled "ANACT DECLARING THE FILIPINO SIGN LANGUAGE AS THE NATIONAL

SIGN LANGUAGE OF THE FILIPINO DEAF AND THE OFFICIAL SIGN

LANGUAGE OF GOVERNMENT IN ALL TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THE

DEAF, AND MANDATING ITS USE IN SCHOOLS, BROADCAST MEDIA,AND WORKPLACES".

Let the certified copy thereof be kept in the DOJ Management Section.

For information and guidance.

/K-MENARDO I. GUEVARRA

SQCrBtSry Department of justiceCM: 0201811113

Ends.: As stated.

MALACANAN PALACE

MANILA

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES

PROCLAMATION NO. 620

DECLARING THE MONTH OF JUNE OF EVERY YEAR AS

"SCOLIOSIS AWARENESS MONTH"

WHEREAS, the 1987 Constitution provides that the State shall protect andpromote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness amongthem;

WHEREAS, scoliosis is a progressive non-communicable disordercharacterized by the lateral curvature of the spine, which can be corrected toprevent serious and even fatal complications;

1

WHEREAS, scoliosis affects a considerable portion of the worldpopulation, including the Philippines, regardless of age, gender, race, religion,socio-economic status and sexual orientation; and

WHEREAS, the "Scoliosis Awareness Month" is recognized by millions ofpeople worldwide and is celebrated annually every June, to unite people acrossthe globe and create positive public awareness of scoliosis, promote earlydetection and intervention for the treatment thereof, and bring together thoseaffected;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE, President of theRepublic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by theConstitution and existing laws, do hereby declare the month of June of every yearas "Scoliosis Awareness Month."

The Department of Health (DOM), in coordination with relevant nongovernment organizations, shall promote the observance of the ScoliosisAwareness Month, and identify the programs, projects and activities for the yearlycelebration thereof.

All other agencies and instrumentalities of the National Government,including government-owned or -controlled corporations, are hereby directed, andall local government units, as well as the private sector, are hereby encouraged,to cooperate with the DON in advocating and implementing programs andactivities pursuant to this Proclamation.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused theseal of the Republic of the Philippines to be affixed.

DONE, in the City of Manila, this Stlday of November , in the year ofour Lord, Two Thousand and Eighteen.

By the President:

SALVADOR C. MEDIALDEA

Executive Secretary ^

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MALACANAN PALACE

MANILA

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES

PROCLAMATION NO. 621

DECLARING 22 MARCH 2019 AS "EMILIO AGUINALDO

DAY" IN COMMEMORATION OF HIS 150™ BIRTHANNIVERSARY AND DIRECTING THE NATIONAL

HISTORICAL COMMISSION OF THE PHILIPPINES TO LEAD

THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROGRAM OF ACTIVITIES

WHEREAS, 22 March 2019 marks the 150"^ birth anniversary of EmilioAguinaldo, the first President of the Republic of the Philippines;

WHEREAS, as the first President of the Republic, Aguinaldo symbolizedthe desire of the nation to be self-reliant, independent and free fromoppression; and

WHEREAS, the State recognizes the necessity to rekindle the Filipinospirit through the lessons of history and encourages every citizen to emulateand honor our forefathers;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE, President of thePhilippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution andexisting laws, do hereby declare 22 March 2019 as "Emilio Aguinaldo Day" incommemoration of his 150"^ birth anniversary.

The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) is herebydesignated as the lead agency for the celebration of the 150'^ birth anniversaryof Emilio Aguinaldo. The NHCP may convene an inter-agency task force toplan, coordinate and implement effectively all programs, projects and activitiesrelative to this milestone event.

All departments, agencies, bureaus, offices and national governmentagencies, local government units and government-owned or -controlledcorporations, as well as educational institutions at all levels, are herebyenjoined to give full support and assistance, consistent with their respectivemandates, to the NHCP in the exercise of its responsibilities under thisProclamation.

The necessary funding for the various commemorative activities shall besourced from the regular appropriations of the concerned agencies.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, 1 have hereunto set my hand and caused theseal of the Republic of the Philippines to be affixed.

Done, in the City of Manila, thisSth day of Novemberthe Year of our Lord Two Thousand and Eighteen.

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By the President:

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SALVADOR C. MEDIALD^Executive Secretary ^

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MALACANAN PALACE

MANILA

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES

PROCLAMATION NO. 622

DECLARING 12 SEPTEMBER 2019 TO 11 SEPTEMBER 2020 AS THECENTENNIAL YEAR OF PHILIPPINE CINEMA

WHEREAS, the Constitution provides that the State shall conserve, promote andpopularize the nation's historical and cultural heritage and resources, as well as artisticcreations;

the enhancement of the social fabric, by promoting Philippine cultureand values, safeguarding the Philippine cultural heritage and sustaining and enhancingcultural assets, is one of the overriding objectives of the government under the PhilippineDevelopment Plan 2017-2022;

WHEREAS, the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) was createdthrough Republic Act No. 9167 to undertake initiatives that will promote the growth anddevelopment of the local film industry, as well as establish, organize, operate and maintainlocal and international film festivals, exhibitions and other sirhilar activities; and

WHEREAS, Dalagang Bukid, a film directed by Jose Nepomuceno and consideredas the first Filipino-produced and directed feature film, premiered on 12 September 1919,and will be celebrating its centennial year on 12 September 2019;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE, President of the Philippines,by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution and existing laws, do herebydeclare the period 12 September 2019 to 11 September 2020 as "Centennial Year ofPhilippine Cinema."

The FDCP shall lead the observance of the Centennial Year of Philippine Cinema,and identify the programs, projects and activities for its celebration.

All other agencies and instrumentalities of the National Government, includinggovernment-owned or -controlled corporations, are hereby directed, and all localgovernment units, as well as the private sector are hereby encouraged, to cooperate withthe FDCP in promoting and implementing programs and activities pursuant to thisProclamation.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal ofthe Republic of the Philippines to be affixed.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 8th day of November in the year of ourLord, Two Thousand and Eighteen.

By the President:

SALVADOR C. MEDIALDEA

Executive Secretary ^

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINESPRRD 2016 - 008067

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S. No. 1455

H. No. 7503

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Begun and held in Metro Manila, on Monday, the twenty-thirdday of July, two thousand eighteen.

[ Republic Act No. 11106]

AN ACT DECLARING THE FILIPINO SIGN LANGUAGE AS

THE NATIONAL SIGN LANGUAGE OF THE FILIPINO

DEAF AND THE OFFICIAL SIGN LANGUAGE OF

GOVERNMENT IN ALL TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING

THE DEAF, AND MANDATING ITS USE IN SCHOOLS,BROADCAST MEDIA, AND WORKPLACES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of thePhilippines in Congress assembled:

Section l. Title. — This Act shall be known as "TheFilipino Sign Language Act".

Sec. 2. Decla.rat.ion of Policy. - The State shall, incompliance with the.United Nations Convention on the Rightsof Persons with Disabihties, promote, protect, and ensme thefull and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamentalfreedoms of persons with disabilities. Thus, national and local

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State agencies shall uphold respect for their inherent dignity,individual autonomy, and independence by guaranteeingaccessibility and eliminating all forms of discrimination in allpubhc interactions and transactions, thereby ensiaring their fulland effective participation and inclusion in society. The Stateshall also take all appropriate measures to ensure that theFilipino deaf can exercise the right to expression and opinion.Accordingly, the State recognizes and promotes the use of signlanguages embodying the specific cultural and linguisticidentity of the Filipino deaf.

The State also fruthers the vision talcen with the EarlyYears Act (Repubhc Act No. 10410) and the Enhanced BasicEducation Act (Republic Act No. 10533), which have alreadyrecognized Filipino Sign Language-in the education of deaflearners from early childhoock' up to the secondary level.

Sec. 3. Filipino Sign Language as the National SignLanguage. - Fihpino Sign Language, hereinafter referred toas FSL, is hereby declared as the national sign language ofthe Phihppines. The FSL shall be recognized, promoted, andsupported as the medium of official communication in alltransactions involving the deaf, and as the language ofinstruction of deaf education, without prejudice to the use ofother forms of communication depending on individual choiceor preference.

Sec. 4. Filipino Sign Language iii Education. —

(a) Medium of Instruction and Curriculum. - TheDepartment of Education (DepEd), the Commission on HigherEducation (CHED), the Technical Education and SkillsDevelopment Authority (TESDA), and all other national andlocal government agencies uivolved in the education of the deaf,are tasked to henceforth use, and coordinate with each otheron the use of FSL, as the medium of instruction in deafeducation. The FSL shall also be taught as a separate subjectin the curriculum for deaf learners. The reading and writingof Filipino, as the national language, other Philippinelanguages, and English shall also be taught'to deaf learners.

(b) Deaf Teachers. - To promote the licensing andmobilization of deaf teachers in formal education as well as

alternative learning systems, the Professional RegulationCommission (PRC) together with teacher education programs

nationwide are directed to employ alternative assessmentprocedures as affirmative action measures which shall considerthe conditions, abilities, and social barriers of the deaf teachers.-These procedures shall be language-appropriate andculture-fair to deaf education graduates.

(c) FSL in Teacher Education Programs. - In the contextof inclusive education and Universal Design, the learning of'FSL shall be a curricular or co-cufricular offering in teachereducation programs as deemed appropriate.

(d) Training and Evaluation Programs. - All national andlocal government agencies and centers providing educationto deaf students are hereby tasked to undertake regularpre-/in-service training and evaluation of their teachers. Theseshall be designed and taught in partnership with therepresentatives of the Filipino deaf community.

The University of the Phihppines (UP), together with theKomisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF), professional signhnguistics and hngrdstics researchers, in collaboration with theCHED and the DepEd, and the Early Childhood Care andDevelopment (ECCD) Council, shall develop guidelines for thedevelopment of training materisds in the education of the deaffor use by all state universities and colleges (SUCs), as wellas their teachers and staff.

Sec. 5. Standards for Filipino Sign LanguageInterpreting. - The KWF, with the involvement of the deafcommunity and other stakeholders, shall establish a nationalsystem of standards, accreditations, and procedures for FSLinterpreting, without prejudice to other forms of communicationwhich respect the right of a deaf person to accessibility, andto seek, receive, impart ideas on an equal basis with othersaccording to their choice. This shall include policies on thepractice of interpreting as a profession such as compensationrates and benefits, working conditions, procedures forgrievances and others.

Sec. 6. Filipino Sign Language in the Justice System.- The FSL shall be the official language of legal interpretingfor the deaf in all public hearings, proceedings, andtransactions of the courts, quasi-judicial agencies, and othertribunals. To ensure effective access to justice for the deaf onan equal basis with others and to facilitate their effective role

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as direct and indirect participants in the legal system, courts,quasi-judicial agencies, and other tribunals are herebymandated to ensure the availability of a quahfied sign languageinterpreter in all proceedings involving the deaf, withoutprejudice to the right of the deaf to choose other forms ormodes of communication, if they so prefer.

For purposes of this Act, "hearings, proceedings, and ■transactions" shall include those in pohce stations and beforethe Lupong Tagapamayapa of the Katarungang Pambarangay,as well as prehminary investigations and other initial stagesin the courts, quasi-judicial bodies, and other tribunals.

The Supreme Court and other concerned agencies shallpromote appropriate training for those working in theadministration of justice, includmg hearing interpreters, deafrelay interpreters, and other court personnel, pohce and prisonstaff. Support staff shall also be trained in translation fromFSL to written English or Filipino.

The Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Departmentof the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and theJudiciary, with the involvement of the deaf community andother stakeholders, are tasked to create a national system ofstandards, accreditation, and procedures for legal interpretingin FSL.

Sec. 7. Filipino Sign Language in All Workplaces. - TheFSL .shall be the official language of the Filipino deaf employedin the civil service and in aU government worlq)laces. For thispurpose, all government offices shall take reasonable measuresto encourage the use of FSL among its deaf and hearingemployees, including the conduct of awareness and trainingseminars on the rationale and use of FSL.

The UP, together with the KWF, professional linguisticsorganizations and deaf linguistics researchers, shall formulateguidelines for the development of training materials for theemployees of the DOJ, the Judiciary, the Department of Health(DOE), the Department of Social Welfare and Development(DSWD), the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), theCouncil for the Welfare of Children (GWC), and theCommission on Human Rights (CHR), in the conduct of themandates and activities of these concerned offices.

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Sec. 8. Filipino Sign Language in the Health System.- State hospitals and aU health facilities shall take steps toensure access of the Fihpino deaf to health services, includingthe free provision of FSL interpreters and accessible materialsupon request of deaf patients, or individuals who have familymembers who are deaf. As part of their corporate socialresponsibility, private health facihties are encorrraged to provideaccess to health services to' aU deaf patients and. their familymembers.

Sec. 9. Filipino Sign Language in All Other PublicTransactions, Services, and Facilities. — All national agenciesincluding government-owned or -conti^olled corporations(GOCCs), and local government units (LGUs) are herebydirected to use FSL as the medium of official communicationin all public transactions involving the deaf. Quahfied FSLinterpreters and accessible materials shall be providedwhenever necessary or requested during fora, conferences,meetings, cultural events, sports competitions, communityaffairs, and activities conducted by government agencies andGOCCs.

Sec. 10. Filipino Sign Language in Media. — The FSLshall be the language of broadcast media interpreting. Toguarantee access to information and freedom of expression ofthe Filipino deaf, the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa-Pilipinas (ICBP), and the Movie and Television Review andClassification Board (MTRCB) shall, within one (1) year fromthe effective date of this Act, require FSL interpreter insets,comphant with accessibility standards for television, in newsand public affairs programs. Subsequently, the MTRCB shalltake steps to promote progressive use of FSL in all otherbroadcasts and programming, especially in educationaltelevision programs designed for children, in conjunction withthe National Council for Children's Television and the DepEd.

The KB? and the MTRCB, the deaf community, andother stakeholders are tasked to create a national system ofstandards, procedures and accreditation for broadcast mediainterpreting in FSL.

All videos published online, including those on socialmedia, shall also conform to Philippine web accessibilitystandards.

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Sec. 11. Promotion of Filipino Sign Language. - TheDepEd, CHED, UP, KWF, linguistic Society of the PliUippines,and other national agencies and LGUs shall, in consultation withprofessional organizations with expertise and experience inlanguage pohcy and planning and the deaf community, takeappropriate steps to propagate sign language competencyainong hearing people, by offering FSL as an elective subjectin the regular or mainstream curriculum, particularly ofSUCs.

In coordination with the KWF, SUCs, led by the UP,are directed to undertake continuing research for thedevelopment, propagation, and preservation of FSL and its ■crdtural history.

Sec. 12. Instructional Materials for Schools and ChildDevelopment Centers. - The DepEd Instructional Materialsand Council Secretariat shall, in coordination with the Bureauof Learning Resources and the Bureau of Learning Dehvery,as well as the ECCD Council, develop guidelines for theselection, production, procurement, and distribution of printand video materials in FSL to all public schools, day carecenters, and national child development centers. Seventy-fivepercent (75%) of all procurement contracts shall be reservedfor deaf people's organizations, including regional or provincialenterprises and cooperatives run by the deaf and recognizedby the LGUs.

Sec. 13. Implementing Rules and. Regulations. — TheKWF, in coordination with the Secretary of Education, theChairperson of the CHED, the Director General of the TESDA,the Chairperson of the PRC, and the Chief Justice of theSupreme Court, the Secretary of Justice, and the heads ofother relevant agencies, and in consultation with therepresentatives of the deaf community, teachers withknowledge and experience with the use of FSL in deafeducation, the academe, interpreters, and other personsconcerned, shall promulgate the necessary rules andregrdations for the effective implementation ofhhis Act withinone hundred eighty (180) days after its effective date. Theserules and regulations shall be pubhshed in accessible formatsin the respective websites of the concerned agencies andthrough other means necessary.

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Sec. 14. Strict Monitoring and Implementation of thisAct. - The monitoring and implementation of this Act shallbe strictly upheld. For this purpose, an Inter-Agency Councilis hereby created which shall consist of one (1) representativeeach from the GHR, the CWC, the PCW, the KWF and theFSL organizations or institutions. The Inter-Agency Councilshall make an annual report on the' monitoring andimplementation of this Act and the ,copy of which shall besubmitted to both Houses of Congress and published inaccessible formats in their respective websites and throughother means necessary to serve the purpose of effectivedissemination. Failure to comply with any of the provisionsof this Act shall be a matter that can be referred to the CivilService Commission, DILG, Sandiganbayan or Office of theOmbudsman or other pertinent offices or bodies for appropriatesanctions pursuant to existing laws and regulations.

Sec. 15. Appropriations. - The initial funding of this Actshall be taken from the current year's appropriations of theconcerned agencies. Thereafter, the amount necessary for itscontinued implementation shall be included in the annualGeneral Appropriations Act. Relevant and allowableexpenditures related to education may also be charged to theECCD Council, the LGU Special Education Fund, or otherrelevant fund.

Sec. 16. Separability Clause. - If any provision of thisAct is declared unconstitutional or invahd, the remaining partsor provisions not affected shall remain in full force and effect.

Sec. 17. Repealing Clause. - All laws and executiveissuances inconsistent with the provisions of this Act arehereby repealed or amended accordingly.

Sec. 18. Effectivity Date. - This Act shall take effectfifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazetteor in one (1) newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,

•:C

GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYOSpeaker of the Houseof Representatives

VICENTE (C. SOTTO IIIPresident of the Senate

This Act was passed by the Senate of the Philippines asSenate Bill No. 1455 on August 28, 2018 and adopted by the Houseof Representatives as an amendment to House Bill No. 7503 onSeptember 10, 2018.

DABTE R^BERTO-T. MALIBGActing Secretary GeneralHouse of Representatives

MYRA Marie d. villarica

Secretary of the Senate

Approved: qqj 3 0 2018

RODRII&O^TCOA DUTERTEPresident of the Philippines

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