The Philippines’ First Modern Speech Therapy Room Opened with TİKA Support

Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) has supported education and the social inclusion of individuals with special needs by establishing the country’s first modern speech therapy room at the Philippines’ only state-run school for the hearing impaired.

The new facility, equipped with state-of-the-art technology, has been inaugurated on the campus of the Philippines School for the Deaf, one of the country’s 117-year-old educational institutions and the sole state-run school for the hearing impaired, which currently serves 650 students.

The speech therapy room is fitted with speech analysis systems, auditory training devices, and visual-auditory support units designed to help students with varying degrees of hearing ability improve their language and communication skills. It also offers advanced tools for special education specialists, enabling the more effective implementation of individualized education plans.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, School Principal Jordan S. Madronio said, “This speech therapy room, established with the generous support of Türkiye, will help our students maximize their auditory potential and communicate more effectively with their peers. This is a vital investment in reducing inequalities in opportunity.”

Therapist Trainer Jennifer Joy M. Mendoza added: “With the technology available in this modern therapy room, we can closely track students’ progress and provide immediate feedback, which greatly supports lasting development.”

Sharing her personal experience, parent Analyn Servantes said: “My son’s communication skills have improved significantly throughout his therapy. He can now interact more easily with his teacher and classmates, which has boosted his self-confidence.”

This TİKA initiative not only enhances access to quality special education in the Philippines but also contributes to the academic achievement, self-confidence, and active participation in social life of individuals with hearing impairments.