Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

nace Rad
House bil No, 5438

Talroduced by Representatives Mariano Michael M. Velarde Jt. and William Irwin
Tieng (BUHAY Party List)

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘According to Resources for the Blind, Inc, a leading non-governmental organization in
the country taking up the cause of blind, there may be up to 40,000 blind children in the
Philippines who are not able to go to school. The organization said that the only thing
Keeping them out of school is the lack of teachers trained in how to include the blind
child in the regular classroom.

Verily, such pronouncement was affirmed by a study published by the Asian
Development Bank when it reported that despite increased awareness, the inclusion of
disabled children in education continues to be an uphill battle, with just 3-5% of
Children with disabilities of school age currently accessing educational opportunities.
‘The study concluded that there is a need for government authorities to take more
serious steps to ensure that policies and programs for the education and development
of disabled children are implemented adequately. In doing so, the finding suggested
that methodologies and strategies to train more teachers in recognizing and addressing,
the special needs of children with learning disabilities must also be addressed.

In this regard, this bill seeks to strengthen the literacy program for blind or visually
impaired students, Braille, for many, may not be the exclusive literacy tool, but its
potential usefulness even to those who can also read some printed matter should not be
belittied. This piece of legislation also lays out the tasks of the Department of Education
as the key institution of the aforementioned program if the State's goal of having a
literate populace is to be achieved.

sroval of this bill is earnestly requested.

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill No._0438

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Introduced by Representatives Mariano Michael M. Velarde Jr. and William Irwin
Tieng (BUHAY Party List)

AN ACT STRENGTHENING THE LITERACY PROGRAM FOR BLIND OR
VISUALLY IMPAIRED STUDENTS; DETERMINING THE NEED FOR BRAILLE
INSTRUCTION, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Blind Persons’ Literacy
Rights and Education Act of 2011."

SEC. 2. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the term:

a. "Blind student" means an individual who is eligible for special education
services, and who:

1. Has a visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with correcting
lenses or has a limited field of vision such that the widest diameter
subtends an angular distance of no greater than 20 degrees; or

2. Has a medically indicated expectation of visual deterioration.

b. "Braille” means the system of reading and writing through touch commonly
Known as Standard English and Filipino Braille.

SEC. 3. Individualized Planning and Assessment. - Each legally blind student must be
identified and offered a special education program in consultation with a parent or
legal guardian. It is presumed that the need for Braille reading and writing are valuable
skills to be considered in the student's transition plan towards pursuing higher
education and in broadening job and career opportunities.

No child who is legally blind may be denied the opportunity to receive instructions in
Braille reading and writing on the basis that the child has the ability to read and write
print. Each student must be given an assessment which must include an evaluation of
the need for Braille skills to be designed by the Department of Education (DepEd), and
shall include strengths and weaknesses. The purpose of the assessment is to determine
the most appropriate teading and writing media for the individual child and does not
require the use of Braille if other special education services are appropriate.


SEC. 4. Instructional Materials. - From the effectivity of this Act, any publisher of a
textbook adopted pursuant to the DepEd’s instructional materials procurement process
shall furnish the DepEd with an electronic copy, which meets the specifications
prescribed by the department, at least two (2) years in advance. Any textbook
reproduced pursuant to the provisions of this subsection shall be purchased at a price
equal to that paid for the textbook as adopted. The DepEd shall not reproduce
textbooks obtained pursuant to this subsection in any manner that would generate

revenues for the department or would preclude the payment of fees to the publisher for
the use of the textbook.

SEC. 5. Functions. - The DepEd shall perform the following functions:

a. Formulate policies, plans and programs for the preparation of instructional
materials, and evaluation of programs for the blind students’ literacy education;

b. Conduct studies, and develop standards for programs and services for blind
learners;

c, Establish standards to ensure that individuals who provide Braille instruction
are appropriately trained and supervised;

d. Plan for prototype in-service education programs to upgrade the competencies
of administrators, supervisors, coordinators, teachers, as well as the non-teaching
special education personnel;

e. Grant scholarship to teachers who will undergo training in the care and
mentoring of blind students; and

£. Establish/ strengthen linkages with agencies concerned with the education and
welfare of blind children.

SEC. 6. Philippine Printing House for the Blind. - The Philippine Printing House for the
Blind under the DepEd is hereby tasked to:

a. Produce Braille books and other education materials;
b, Produce Braille printing materials; and

c. Distribute Braille books and supplies to regions/divisions/schools with
programs for the visually impaired children and youth.

SEC. 7. Teacher Certification. - Teachers who provide education services to students
with blindness shall obtain the specific skills to enable them to work effectively with the
students. These skills may be obtained through formal training, in-service training or
consultation.

As a part of the certification process, teachers certified in the education of blind and
visually impaired students shall be required to demonstrate competence in reading,
writing, and teaching Braille pursuant to standards adopted by the DepEd. The
department shall ensure that teachers of students with visual impairments have access
to in service instruction for the purpose of updating their Braille skill competence.



SEC. 8. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall
remain valid and subsisting.

SEC. 9. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive order,
letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, or inconsistent
with, the provisions of this Act, is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly.

SEC. 10. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
complete publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,

(BUPJAY Party List)