Supreme Court to adopt Filipino Sign Language nationwide in 2026

The Supreme Court (SC) announced that it will adopt Filipino Sign Language (FSL) in all courts nationwide by the first quarter of 2026 to ensure equal access to justice for the deaf community.

According to SC Associate Justice Jose Midas Marquez, the draft rules governing the use of FSL interpreting in in-court hearings and videoconferencing sessions have been finalized and submitted for the full court’s approval.

Justice Marquez said they hope the court will be able to approve the draft rules within the year so that implementation can begin by early 2026.

Marquez serves as the vice chairperson of the Technical Working Group (TWG) that drafted the rules.

The initiative aligns with the Filipino Sign Language Act (Republic Act No. 11106), which mandates the judiciary to facilitate the meaningful participation of deaf and hard-of-hearing Filipinos in legal proceedings.

FSL has its own distinct grammar and structure, separate from spoken languages such as English or Filipino.

The Supreme Court will also launch an information campaign and conduct court visits across the country to disseminate the rules and discuss their implementation.