LTO enhances customer service for PWDs in partnership with PSD
July 12, 2023 – Press Release – LTO-NCR
The Land Transportation Office-National Capital Region (LTO-NCR) teamed up with the Philippine School for the Deaf (PSD) to enhance employee customer service for persons with disabilities (PWDs) and foster a culture of creating safe spaces for everyone.
LTO-NCR Regional Director Roque “Rox” I. Verzosa III, through a Regional Office Order, issued a directive for a group of twenty-five (25) employees to participate in Deaf Awareness and Basic Sign Language Training on June 26, 2023.
Under the leadership of LTO-NCR Human Resources Division (HRD) Chief Minda S. Gipulan, the project was spearheaded as a crucial component of their employee development program. Ms. Reann Christine A. Maniago, Marx Almond M. Torres, and Sonny C. Castro, all LTO-NCR HRD personnel, provided valuable assistance throughout the process.
The training was facilitated by Ms. Maria Clarissa D. Donato and Ms. Kleer H. Esperanza, esteemed professionals from the Philippine School for the Deaf, specializing in Special Education, Sign Language Training, and Sign Language Interpretation.
(LTO-NCR Officers with Ms. Maria Clarissa D. Donato and Ms. Kleer H. Esperanza,
teachers from the Philippine School for the Deaf (PSD), as well as students from PSD.)
The employees were given an insightful introduction to the experiences of individuals who are deaf or have hearing difficulties, gaining a deeper understanding of their unique perspective on the world. Additionally, they received comprehensive instruction in basic sign language, covering essential aspects such as the alphabet and common phrases. This equipped them with the necessary skills to effectively communicate with individuals who are deaf.
Based on the 2020 census conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), approximately 1.7 million individuals in the Philippines are reported to have difficulty hearing, while a total of 8.4 million people have some form of functional difficulty. These statistics highlight the significant number of individuals who require support and accommodations to ensure inclusive and accessible environments in various aspects of life.
“As a government institution that deals with a lot of people on a daily basis, our employees have to be skilled and equipped to communicate with them as well. We are grateful to the Philippine School for the Deaf for this learning opportunity,” Administrative Division Chief Arch. Pio Paolo E. Erta said.
As an integral part of the project, a group of eighteen (18) senior high school students from the PSD began their on-the-job training (OJT) in various LTO-NCR offices on June 27. The training program spanned a total of eighty (80) hours and provided the students with practical experience in a professional work environment.
Specifically, the students were assigned to the Regional Office, DLRO SM Manila, Parañaque Licensing Section, Muntinlupa District Office, and Manila East District Office. The OJT opportunity provided them with invaluable exposure to a genuine work environment, enabling them to contribute their skills and capabilities to relevant tasks.
(Two students from PSD assigned with clerical tasks)
The commencement ceremony for the 18 students was then held on Tuesday, July 11, 2023, as part of the 75th Commencement Exercises of the Philippine School for the Deaf in Pasay City.
As part of the program, a Certificate of Appreciation was presented to LTO-NCR, with Jose Allan S. Tecson, the Chief of Araneta Licensing Center, accepting the award on behalf of RD Verzosa.
The Philippine School for the Deaf also awarded Certificates of Appreciation to Ms. Cyrile Heteroza, Chief of Law Enforcement and Traffic Adjudication Services; Ms. Ella Bautista, Chief of PITX Licensing Center; Mr. Tecson; and the LTO-NCR HRD personnel. These LTO-NCR Office Chiefs were the ones who supervised the students from the PSD during their work immersion program.
“It is crucial to remember that engaging in new activities that will benefit and develop us shouldn’t be restricted, especially if it will let us learn new things and improve ourselves. Thus, the Land Transportation Office-National Capital Region utilizes all means of learning to provide necessary training and emersions, not only to its employees but also extend its hand to everyone as well,” Gipulan explained.
Rammel S. Fernandez, an LTO employee earlier assigned to supervise a student from the PSD, shared his valuable insights and experience collaborating with them.
“I learned how challenging but important it is to empathize and to be able to communicate with someone who sees and feels the world differently. It is truly an eye-opening experience that I will carry with me when I deal with all kinds of people,” Fernandez said.
(Students from PSD in their work immersion or OJT in Muntinlupa District Office with
Chief Frederick Mario R. Ubaldo (Left) and in Manila East District Office with Chief Ria Nova M. De Vera (Right)
Republic Act (RA) No. 7277, commonly referred to as the Magna Carta for Persons with Disabilities, recognizes employment as a fundamental right and privilege for individuals with disabilities. This legislation aims to ensure equal opportunities for employment, encompassing individuals with disabilities as well.
“We hope that this partnership with the Philippine School for the Deaf will allow our employees to grow more as persons and as public servants. We also hope that there will be more awareness of PWDs here in our country,” Gipulan stated, also emphasizing that the regional office is actively planning additional activities and projects in collaboration with the school and other agencies.
This project was carried out under the guidance and support of Transportation Secretary Jaime “Jimmy” J. Bautista, LTO Assistant Secretary Atty. Hector A. Villacorta, Regional Director Verzosa, and LTO-NCR Assistant Regional Director Mr. Hanzley H. Lim, whose leadership and involvement were instrumental in the successful implementation of the project.
The Philippine School for the Deaf (PSD), founded in 1907 and formerly known as the School for the Deaf and Blind (SDB), is the first school for the handicapped in the country and in Asia. It is a semi-residential school and the only government-owned institution for the Deaf in the country, and it is under the Schools Division Office (SDO) of the Department of Education
