NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
of the
72 SEP 14 P5-13
No, 1319
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR RISA HONTIVEROS
AN ACT
INSTITUTING A PHILIPPINE NATIONAL AUTISM CARE PLAN FOR THE 
SUPPORT OF PERSONS WITH AUTISM AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurological and developmental disorder 
with an unknown etiology that affects an individual to communicate and interact with 
others. It is a lifelong development condition that affects how a person communicates 
and relates to other people.
The World Health Organization estimates that 1 in every 160 children has an ASD 
worldwide. In the Philippines, experts and advocates have estimated that there are close 
to 1,000,000 people with autism.1 The Autism Society of the Philippines estimates that 
only 10% of Filipinos with autism are diagnosed and only 5% are receiving appropriate 
interventions. Studies have also shown that the average annual cost of the interventions 
designed for a school-aged child is around P180,000.2
The 67th World Health Assembly adopted resolution calling for the strengthening 
of capacities of national governments to address ASD and other developmental disorders 
within the context of a broader framework of mental health and disabilities.
This measure proposes actions to strengthen government capacities towards 
addressing the needs of individuals with ASD and their families. Interventions that focus 
on protecting the rights and ensuring the well-being of people with ASD, raising public 
awareness, training and capacity building of public service providers will be undertaken 
by different government agencies through the Philippine Council for Mental Health 
established by the Mental Health Law.
Thus, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought
RISA HONTIVEROS ^ 
Senator
1 https://www.phi]star.com/headlines/2014/04/ 0/13 10840/number-people-autisni-increasing#6rsOBlEJr7eMAPYv.99
2 Magno Veluz, M et al. Primer on Autism in the Philippines, Autism Society of the Philippines


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
oftDcf?' "ftniT
*22 SEP 14 P5:13
SENATE
S.B. No
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR RISA HONTIVEROS
AN ACT
INSTITUTING A PHILIPPINE NATIONAL AUTISM CARE PLAN FOR THE 
SUPPORT OF PERSONS WITH AUTISM AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Phiiippines in Congress 
assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "National Autism Care
2 
Plan Act"
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
4 
protect and promote the rights of all persons to full, healthy, and holistic development.
5 
As such, the State shall promote an environment conducive to the development of
6 
persons with autism (PWAs) to become independent, self-reliant, productive and socially-
7 
accepted members of an inclusive society. Towards this end, the State commits itself to
8 
the establishment of institutional and social mechanisms to support PWAs throughout
9 
their lifetime, responsive to their needs, empowering and providing them quality of life.
10 
Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the following terms shall mean:
11 
a) "Autism" or Autism Spectrum Disorder refers to a neurological condition
12 
characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors,
13 
communication, as well as by unique strengths, as defined in the latest
14 
version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
15 
b) "Diagnosis" refers to necessary assessments. Including but not limited to
16 
neuro-psychological evaluations, genetic testing, MRIs, hearing tests,
17 
psychometric tests to diagnose or discount autism and/or developmental
18 
disabilities in individuals.
19 
c) "Intervention" refers to interceding action undertaken to help improve the
20 
autism prognosis. Intervention in autism may take the form of medical,
21 
pharmacologic, therapeutic, educational, and non-traditional habilitative
22 
care.
1


1 
d) "Epidemiology" refers to the study and analysis of the distribution and
2 
determinants of health conditions, like autism, in define populations.
3 
Sec. 4. Treatment as Persons with Disability— All PWAs shall be treated as persons
4 
with disability, as defined under Republic Act No. 7277, as amended. They shall be entitled
5 
to all the rights, privileges, and benefits provided for persons with disabilities under
6 
existing laws.
7 
Sec. 5. Continuing Education and Training on Autism for Public Service Providers.
8 
— All officers and staff in charge of providing services to the public, including but not
9 
limited to the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Social Welfare and
10 
Development (DSWD), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Labor and
11 
Employment (DOLE), Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Transportation (DOTr),
12 
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department of National
13 
Defense (DND), Department of Science and Technology (DOS T), Commission on Higher
14 
Education (CHED), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA),
15 
National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA), Persons with Disabilities Affairs offices
16 
(PDAOs) at the Local Government Units (LGUs), Public Safety Units (military, police,
17 
firemen and other first responders), shall undergo mandatory continuing education to
18 
sensitize and empower service providers to become effective front liners in the delivery
19 
of services to PWAs and their families
20 
Sec. 6. Epidemiological Surveillance Programs. — The Department of Health, in
21 
coordination with different academic institutions and non-governmental organizations is
22 
hereby mandated to conduct an epidemiological survey to determine the prevalence of
23 
autism in the country annually to provide data to government agencies and the private
24 
sector, to make necessary services available to PWAs and their families.
25 
Sec. 7. Evidence-based Research. — The DOH, the Philippine Council for Health
26 
Research and Development (PCHRD), and the National Institute of Health (NIH) are
27 
mandated, in coordination with local and international educational institutions, to
28 
strengthen its research focus on autism; to Invest in clinical and molecular studies and
29 
grants to support the development of best practices in autism intervention in the
30 
Philippines.
31 
Sec. 8. Early Detection and Intervention of Autism. — The DOH, in coordination
32 
with the DepEd, is hereby mandated to establish a program for early screening and
33 
detection of autism, to provide the appropriate services to children and toddlers with
34 
developmental delays associated with autism, and to ensure the central PWD registry are
35 
updated accordingly.
36 
Sec. 9. Mandatory PhUHeaith Coverage. — All persons with autism shall be


1 
covered by the National Health Insurance Program of the Philippine Health Insurance
2 
Corporation (PHIC). Funds necessary to ensure the enrolment of PWAs, who are
3 
currently covered under any existing category, shall be sourced from the National
4 
Health Insurance Fund of PHIC, earmarked from the proceeds of sin tax collections, as
5 
provided for in Republic Act No. 10351. It shall likewise include the cost of early
6 
screening and detection programs, as one of the available benefits of its members.
7 
Sec. 10. Protection Against Discrimination in Schoois/ Coiieges, Universities and
8 
Training Institutions. — The DepEd, CHED and TESDA shall formulate or update policies
9 
and protocols to ensure that all educational institutions shall be inclusive to learners with
10 
autism, in matters including, but not limited to, acceptance to academic or training
11 
programs, instructional supports, and behavior management.
12 
Sec. 11. Provision for Equai Opportunities for Empioyment— The DOLE and the
13 
Civil Service Commission shall formulate policies and programs to ensure that adult PWAs
14 
are provided equal opportunities for gainful employment In the private and public sector.
15 
Sec. 12. Protection against Discrimination in Insurance Coverage. — The
16 
Department of Finance shall formulate or update policies and protocols to ensure that all
17 
insurance providers shall provide PWAs access to life insurance instruments and shall
18 
include allied medical procedures (like occupational and speech therapies) in health
19 
insurance benefits of policy holders.
20 
Sec. 13. Protection in cases of Disasters and Emergencies. — The DILG and the
21 
DND shall formulate the necessary policies and protocols to ensure the military, public
22 
safety professionals, local government units, and first responders shall provide the
23 
necessary life-saving support to PWAs with behavioral and communication challenges.
24 
Sec. 14. Access to Transportation. — The DOTr shall formulate the necessary
25 
policies and protocols to ensure PWAs with behavioral and communication challenges and
26 
their families are given reasonable accommodation in accessing all forms of transportation
27 
by service providers over land, sea and air.
28 
Sec. 15. Reasonabie Accommodation in cases of Legai Action. — The DOJ shall
29 
formulate the necessary policies and protocols to ensure criminal justice agencies and
30 
professionals shall provide the necessary accommodations and protections to PWAs in
31 
behavioral and communication challenges, who may be the accused of, victims of or
32 
witnesses to crimes.
33 
Sec. 16. The Phiiippine Councii for Mentai Heaith — The Philippine Council for
34 
Mental Health (PCMH), a multi-sector body established by the Mental Health Act to
35 
provide for a coherent, rational and unified response to mental health in the country, shall


1 
spearhead and coordinate the government actions to address the need of Filipinos with
2 
autism and their families.
3 
Sec. 17. The National Autism Care Rian — The PCMH, in coordination with other
4 
government agencies and stakeholders, shall develop, regularly update, and monitor the
5 
implementation of the National Autism Care Plan (NACP), a holistic medium-term plan to
6 
respond to the needs of PWAs and their families for the guidance of the stakeholders in
7 
public and private sector. The PCMH shall likewise coordinate the development and
8 
implementation of necessary policies and programs to operationalize the NACP and to
9 
ensure the needs of PWAs are served.
10 
Sec. 18. Appropriation. — The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this
11 
Act shall be included and Incorporated in the annual general appropriations of the DOH
12 
Sec. 19. Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or
13 
unconstitutional, the provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and
14 
effect.
15 
Sec. 20. Repealing Clause. — All laws, executive orders, presidential decrees,
16 
presidential proclamations, letter of instruction, rules and regulations or parts thereof
17 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
18 
Sec. 6. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
19 
in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,