In pursuit for a safer and a more secure surroundings for the Pamilyang Valenzuelano, the City Government of Valenzuela, headed by Mayor WES Gatchalian, in partnership with the National Vocational and Rehabilitation Center (NVRC) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), held a three-day Basic Sign Language Training for relatives of families with deaf family members and Deaf Community Advocates at the Valenzuela City Academic Center for Excellence (ValACE), April 17 - 19, 2023.

A total of 30 individuals from different sectors who have deaf family members participated in the seminar to improve their communication skills towards their deaf relatives and the deaf community in general. The training aims to increase awareness among the general public on how to communicate with deaf people properly.

One of the participants, Christina Daglay, 42, an inventory staff said, “Malaking tulong talaga sa amin ‘yung mga ganitong training, lalong lalo na sa akin, na may anak na deaf, dito natutunan ko kung paano makipag-communicate talaga sa mga deaf children, nalaman ko din yung mga deaf culture. Mahirap talaga aralin itong sign language pero kung willing ka talaga aralin ito, matutunan mo naman ito. Makakatulong rin po ito sa aking trabaho kung sakaling magkaroon din po ako ng katrabahong deaf o kung kaya naman ay meron ding gustong matuto mag-sign language ay matuturuan ko naman sila.” [This kind of seminar really is a big help, especially to someone like me who has a deaf child. Here I learned how to communicate with deaf children and I learned their culture. It is really hard to learn sign language but if you are willing, you can really learn it. It can also help me in my work if I ever encounter a deaf co-worker, or if I meet someone who wants to learn sign language, I can teach them.]

Valenzuela City Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO) Officer-in-Charge, Ms. Snooky Cortez said that the long term goal of the seminar is to increase the awareness of people regarding the deaf community and to promote inclusivity in the city.

A new batch of participants including frontliners from the different units of the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) will undergo the same training on April 24 - 26, 2023 to be able to communicate properly with deaf clients.

This program once again proves the city’s efforts in creating an inclusive society for the benefit of all the Pamilyang Valenzuelano.

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