The language barrier between the firefighters and persons with disabilities (PWD) will soon be a thing of the past as the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) has started training personnel to do and understand sign language.

“It is being piloted at the Baguio City Fire Station because they have one personnel who is knowledgeable and is willing to train the others,” Fire S/Supt. Robert Pacis, BFP-Cordillera Administrative Region Director, in an interview with the Philippine News Agency Friday.

Pacis said Supt. [Marisol] Odiver, the city’s fire marshal, initiated the program in a bid to include those with hearing and speaking impairments in fire prevention, safety and disaster risk reduction programs.

“May na-encounter yata sila sa operations nila kaya naisip nila na para maparating ang message ng ahensiya sa sector, magpursige na mag-aral ng sign language ang mga personnel (I think they encountered it in their operation that is why they thought of making an effort to learn sign language to be able to bring across the messages of the agency to the sector),” he said.

He said that in their BFP television program, they have included an insert in the screen for a sign language interpreter.

“Maganda naman ang reception ng mga tao. Sabi nila mabuti raw at merong sign language interpreter para ma-iparating din kahit sa mga hindi nakakarinig at di nakakapagsalita ang mga programa (It was received well by the people. They said that it was good that we have a sign language interpreter so that even the PWDs can learn),” he said.

He said the plan is to conduct similar training in other BFP provincial stations.

“The goal is to have more sign language interpreters not only for the television program on social media but also in operations so that in case there are PWDs who cannot hear or speak, there will be no communication barrier or gap with the rescuers or firefighters,” he said.

Aside from BFP officers, private professionals may also join other training sites. (PNA)