SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
SENATE 
) 
) 
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S.B. No. 2619 
Introduced by Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. 
AN ACT 
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FEO -2 PS :40 
PROVIDING FREE AND SUITABLE PUBLIC EDUCATION FOR HANDICAPPED 
CHILDREN AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The right to education is a universally recognized right of any citizen. At all levels, 
access to quality education shall be guaranteed. The State shall promote non-formal, 
informal, indigenous and out-of-school study programs especially those that address the 
needs of community, and of the disabled and the handicapped. 
This proposed measure seeks to provide free and suitable public education for 
differently-abled children. This shall be under a special education program with the goal 
of ensuring the survival and advancement of these children. With this proposal, we wish 
to make them productive partners for national development. 
In this regard, passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENAT.E 
S.B. No. 
<!619 
Introduced by Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. 
AN ACT 
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PROVIDING FREE AND SUITABLE PUBLIC EDUCATION FOR HANDICAPPED 
CHILDREN AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy - It is hereby declared the policy of the State 
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to protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels and to 
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make appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all. It shall promote non-
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formal, informal, indigenous and out-of-school study programs particularly those that 
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respond to the needs of the community, and of the disabled and the handicapped. 
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Towards this end, the State shall provide free and suitable public education for 
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differently-abled children under a special education program with the end in view of 
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ensuring their survival and advancement and making them productive partners for 
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national development. 
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SECTION 2. It shall be the purposes of this Act to: 
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a) Establish a special education program that shall cater to the needs of the 
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differently-abled and the mentally and physically handicapped children. 
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b) Provide full financial and educational assistance to differently-abled children 
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of the cou ntry. 
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c) Help in the development and rehabilitation of differently-abled children 
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through special education program. 
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SECTION 3. Definition of Terms - For the purpose of this Act, the following terms 
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shall mean: 
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a) A differently-abled child is one who has not yet reached the age of eighteen 
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(18) years old; 
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b) A suitable public education refers to a course, profession, skill or program 
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prescribed by the Department of Education to a differently-abled child taking 
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into consideration the child's aptitude handicap and talents. 
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SECTION 4. 
A special education center shall, whenever possible, be 
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established in the provincial, city and municipal levels for this purpose. Said special 
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education center shall, as much as possible provide for elementary levels of education 
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with maximum opportunities for integration with non-handicapped peers. 
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SECTION 5. The benefits that will be given to qualified differently-abled shall 
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include tuition fees, textbook allowance, and ambulatory equipment or devices that may 
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be necessary. Special services such as note-takers and readers for the blind, sign 
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interpreters for the deaf and tutorial institution shall also be offered. 
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SECTION 6. A Special Education Development Fund is hereby established with 
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an initial capital of Fifty Million Pesos (P50,OOO,OOO.OO) to be taken from the 
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appropriations for the Department of Education under the current General 
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Appropriations Act. Thereafter, such sum as may be necessary for this continued 
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operations and maintenance shall be included in the annual General Appropriation Act. 
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SECTION 7. The Department of the Education, in coordination with the 
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Department of Social Welfare and Development, shall promulgate the necessary rules 
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and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act. 
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SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. -
All laws, decrees, orders, issuances, 
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ordinances, rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this 
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Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
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SECTION 9. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason, any provision of this Act or 
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part thereof is declared unconstitutional or invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, 
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the other provisions or parts hereof not affected shall remain in full force and effect. 
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SECTION 10. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
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after its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general 
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circulation. 
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Approved, 
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