[7] Starting in 1982, the International Deaf Education Association (IDEA), led by former Peace Corps volunteer G. Dennis Drake, established a series of residential elementary programs in Bohol using Philippine Sign Language as the primary language of instruction.

450 was introduced in the Philippine House of Representatives by Rep. Antonio Tinio (Party-list, ACT Teachers) to declare FSL as the National Sign Language of the Philippines and to mandate its use as the medium of official communication in all transactions involving the deaf and the language of instruction of deaf education.

1455, sponsored by Senators Nancy Binay, Sherwin Gatchalian, Chiz Escudero, Bam Aquino, Loren Legarda, Joel Villanueva, Cynthia Villar, and Migz Zubiri, passed on third and final reading.

[15] The law, which seeks to eliminate all forms of discrimination against the Filipino Deaf, also mandates the use of the Filipino Sign Language in schools, broadcast media (instructing the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas [KBP] and Movie and Television Review and Classification Board [MTRCB] to adopt guidance for requiring that sign language interpretation be offered during all news and public affairs programmes),[16] and workplaces.

The law also require the availability of qualified sign language interpreters in all hearings, proceedings, and government transactions involving the Deaf.

[19] On June 1, 2024, the coalitions of Philippine Federation of the Deaf and Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) protested at Liwasang Bonifacio against the Commission on the Filipino Language's (CFL) plan to abolish its Filipino Sign Language (FSL) Unit.