Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. 
Introduced by 
REPRESENTATIVEJASONP.ALMONTE 
AN ACT INSTITUTING A NATIONAL COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM FOR THE 
EARLY DETECTION OF DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS AND DISABILITIES IN 
ClllLDREN AGES 0-5 YEARS OLD AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFORE 
that-
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Philippine Constitution in its declaration of principles and state policies declares 
"Section 15. The State shall protect and promote the right to health of the 
people ... " 
PhilHealth estimates th'at one out of seven or around 5.1 million Filipino children are 
living with disabilities 1 while results of the National Disability Prevalence Survey (NDPS) 
showed that, in 2016, around 12 percent of the Filipinos age 15 and older experienced severe 
disability. Almost one in every two (47%) experienced moderate disability while 23 percent 
with mild disability.2 Further, studies conducted by the Development Academy of the 
Philippines' Center for Governance showed that one in every five persons with disabilities is a 
child aged 0-14. Its findings also showed that there is still no inclusive service framework and 
a strong referral system that integrates the different social services for these children, and that 
the link between poverty and disability is often missed out while access to services remains a 
challenge.3 
Persons with disabilities often encounter discrimination and exclusion on a daily basis. 
This means, in particular, pervasive exclusion from development programmes and funds, as 
well as all areas of economic, political, social, civil and cultural life, including employment, 
education and healthcare.4 
1 No Child Left Behind: Study calls for better care of children with disabilities, Unicef Philippines, Unicef.org, 
https://www.unicef.org/philippines/press-releases/no-child-left-behind-study-calls-better-care-children-
disabilities. 24 July 2018. (Accessed: 21 June 2022). 
2 Disability Spares No One, Philippine Statistics Authority, psa.gov.ph, https://psa.gov.ph/ndps/disability-
survey-id/138567, 03 May 2019. (Accessed June 21, 2022) 
3 OAP Presents Findings of Study of Children with Disabilities, dap.edu.ph, https://dap.edu.ph/dap-presents-
findings-of-study-on-children-with-disabilities/, 06 September 2018. (Accessed June 21, 2022) 
4 Position paper by Persons with Disabilities, Sustainable Development Goals, sustainabledevelopment.un.org, 
https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/index.php?page- view&type-30022&nr- 261&menu- 3170, 2016. 
(Accessed June 21, 2022). 
August 18, 2022
10:27 am
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Developmental delay occurs when a child does not meet developmental milestones 
compared to children their own age. However, developmental disability refers to severe, 
lifelong impairment in areas of development that affects learning, self-sufficiency and adaptive 
skills.5 
Early identification can lessen the effects of disability and prevent the onset of potential 
problems and exacerbation of existing conditions. It facilitates early intervention and promotes 
better outcomes for children in fulfilling their greatest potential. It also affords parents and 
caregivers opportunities to maximize awareness and allows them to explore options in the 
management and selection of treatment strategies and ensure that full support is given to the 
child. 
This bill seeks to create a framework for the early detection of developmental delays 
and disabilities and create a strong and reliable referral system that integrates the different 
social services through the creation of the Developmental Delays and Disability Detection 
Council of the Philippines. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate approval of this bill is ea es y sought. 
5 Ying Ying Choo, MD, Developmental delay: identification and management at primary care level. National 
Library of Medicine, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, hhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6441684/, March 
2019. (Accessed June 21, 2022). 


Republic oftbe Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. 
Introduced by 
REPRESENTATIVE JASON P. ALMONTE 
AN ACT INSTITUTING A NATIONAL COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM FOR THE 
EARLY DETECTION OF DEVELOPMENT AL DELAYS AND DISABILITIES IN 
CHILDREN AGES 0-5 YEARS OLD AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFORE 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
Section 1. Short Title. -
This Act shall be known as the Early Detection of 
Developmental Delays and Disabilities in Children 0-5 Years Old. 
Section 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to 
protect and promote the right to health of children to full, healthy and holistic development. 
The State shall institutionalize a comprehensive program for the timely determination of 
developmental delays and disabilities and include awareness and active referral process for 
early diagnosis for purposes of empowering and providing them quality of life. Towards this 
end, the State commits to implement an institutional screening procedure for the detection 
of developmental delays and disabilities. 
Section 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the following terms shall mean: 
3.1 Audiologic Diagnostic Evaluation - refers to a service related to diagnosis of hearing 
loss administered by professionals or by Newborn Hearing Screening Centers; 
3.2 Children/Persons with Disabilities - are those who have long-term physical, 
mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which in interaction with various barriers may 
hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. Children 
with disabilities include those with health conditions, such as cerebral palsy, spina bifida, 
muscular dystrophy, traumatic spinal cord injury, Down syndrome, and children with hearing, 
visual, physical, communication and intellectual impairments. These children may be born 
with these disabling health conditions or may acquire a disability as a result of illness, injury 
or poor nutrition; 
3.3 Congenital Hearing Loss - refers to hearing impairment already present at birth; 
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3.4 Developmental Milestone - refers to a set of functional skills or age-specific tasks 
that most children can do at a certain age range. For instance, beginning to hold head up and 
smile by 2 months or recognizing familiar faces and responding to his own name by 6 months; 
3.5 Developmental Delay - refers to children who experience significant variation in 
the achievement of expected milestones for their actual or adjusted age and may be mild, 
moderate or severe. Developmental delays are caused by poor birth outcomes, inadequate 
stimulation, malnutrition, chronic ill health and other organic problems, psychological and 
familial situations, or other environmental factors. While developmental delay may not be 
permanent, it can provide a basis for identifying children who may experience a disability; 
3.6 Developmental Monitoring - means observing how your child grows and changes 
over time and whether your child meets the typical developmental milestones in playing, 
learning, speaking, behaving, and moving. Usually a checklist of milestones is used to do 
developmental monitoring. Its purpose is to identify children who may be at risk for 
developmental delays; 
3.7 Developmental Screening - means more in-depth than monitoring and may 
identify children with a developmental risk that was not identified during developmental 
monitoring. Screening tools for specific conditions, such as autism or cerebral palsy may be 
used. Developmental Screening does not, however, come up with a diagnosis; 
3.8 Disability- refers to any condition of the body or mind (impairment) that makes it 
more difficult for the person with the condition to do certain activities (activity limitation) and 
interact with the world around them (participation restrictions); 
3.9 Early Interventions - means doing things as early as possible to work on the child's 
developmental, health and support needs. These may include medical or surgical treatments 
and therapy, which may come from doctors, nurses, Physical Therapists, Occupational 
Therapists, Speech Therapists, special education professionals, counseling for the parents and 
family, and provision of assistive devices, among others; 
3.10 Newborn - refers to an infant from the time of complete delivery to thirty (30) 
days old; 
3.11 Newborn Screening Test - is a blood test done on the newborn after 24 to 72 
hours after birth. It enables early detection and management of several congenital disorders, 
which may lead to mental retardation and/or death, if untreated; 
3.12 Newborn Hearing Loss Screening- refers to an objective, physiological procedure 
performed on a newborn for the purpose of determining if the newborn has hearing 
impairment; 
3.13 Newborn Hearing Screening Test - a test done on the newborn to detect 
congenital hearing impairment; 


3.14 Recall - refers to a procedure of locating an infant with a possible hearing loss for 
purposes of providing diagnostic services to confirm hearing condition and, as appropriate, 
provide intervention or treatment; 
3.15 Vision Screening - refers to a set of simple vision tests and assessments that help 
identify people who may have certain eye problems. 
Section 4. Services - The services under the early detection program shall include, 
among others, the following: 
4.1 Regular monitoring and screening of children. The regular monitoring and 
screening of children for disabilities and developmental delays using the Developmental 
Milestones Checklist as well as other prescribed screening forms. 
4.2 Interventions through medical referrals and therapy. If necessary, timely referral 
to the Municipal or City Health Officers and/or other appropriate professionals for diagnoses, 
intervention and advice on assistive device as well as other needs from clinical experts. 
4.3 Capacity building of medical and developmental workers of children. Capacity 
building of nurses, midwives, barangay health workers, child development workers and 
barangay nutrition scholars on disability prevention, detection and simple management 
strategies. 
4. 4 Counseling and capacity building of parents and families. Counseling and capacity 
building of parents and families on detection of developmental delays and disabilities as well 
as handling and management of children in the homes. 
4.5 Information, Education and Advocacy Campaign. Publication of reading materials 
and dissemination of IEAC on early detection, prevention and management of disability in 
early childhood shall be made regularly. 
Section 5. Epidemiological Surveillance Programs. - The National Institutes of Health 
(NIH) is hereby mandated to conduct an annual epidemiological survey to determine the 
extent and total incidence and prevalence of persons with developmental delays and 
disabilities in the country in order for the government to provide the necessary and 
appropriate interventions to address the needs faced by children with developmental delays 
and disabilities. 
The NIH is further mandated, in coordination with the Department of Health {DOH), 
to strengthen its research focus on developmental delays and disabilities; to renew its 
investment into basic and clinical research; to expand its research into the link between 
environmental factors and developmental delays and disabilities; and to continue 
investigations into causation, diagnosis, early detection, and treatment of developmental 
delays and disabilities. 
Sec. 6 . Developmental Delays and Disability Detection Council of the Philippines. -
There is hereby created an Early Detection Council of the Philippines {"Council") under the 


DOH which shall serve as an inter-agency and multi-sectoral mechanism tasked to undertake 
the overall implementation, monitoring and periodic evaluation of the Program. 
Section 7. Composition of the Developmental Delays and Disability Detection Council 
of the Philippines. The Council shall be headed by the Secretary of Health as the Chairperson. 
It shall be composed of the following members, or their representative; 
a. The Secretary of Social Welfare and Development; 
b. The Secretary of Education; 
c. The Secretary of Labor and Employment; 
d. The Chairperson of the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC); 
e. The Chairperson of the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA); 
f. The Head of the NIH; 
g. Representative from an accredited NGO working with Persons with Disabilities or 
Children; 
Section 8. Function. The Developmental Delays and Disability Detection Council of the 
Philippines shall endeavor to: 
8.1 Institute implementation, monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to ensure the 
effective and sustained implementation of the Early Detection Program; 
8.2 Provide referral services to patients with developmental delays and disabilities and 
identify the appropriate educational and medical expertise and facilities suited to their needs; 
8.3 Ensure that all children, as part of the health, nutrition and early childhood 
education program of the Program are monitored for delays and disabilities from when they 
are born until the age of 5 years; 
8.4 Promote public awareness, education, and information on issues concerning 
developmental delays and disabilities; 
8.5 Establish sustainable networks of support groups for families of children and 
adults with developmental delays and disabilities; 
8.6 Undertake research and/or collaborate with other entities on research activities 
regarding developmental delays and disabilities in the Philippines; 
8. 7 Coordinate with schools in formulating individualized programs for school children 
and young students with developmental delays and disabilities; 
8.8 Receive donations and grants from international donor institutions, foundations, 
and multilateral and bilateral foreign donor agencies involved in the prevention, cure and 
rehabilitation of persons with developmental delays and disabilities; 
8.9 Promote the advocacy against bias and stereo-typing against persons with 
developmental delays and 
disabilities thereby eliminating discrimination and/or 
misconceptions of the notion of being developmentally disabled with the end in view of 
opening the doors of productive economic opportunities to persons with developmental 
delays and disabilities; 
8.10 Provide the avenue for exchange of information, exchange programs and sharing 
of best practices on issues relating to the early detection, prevention, cure, treatment, and 
rehabilitation of persons with developmental delay and disabilities; 


8.11 Network with other organizations, institutions and professionals working for the 
promotion of legislation and public programs for persons with developmental delays and 
disabilities; 
8.11 Establish and implement capacity-based training, employment, and livelihood 
programs for persons with developmental delays and disabilities; 
8.12 Assist in the creation of appropriate programs for persons with developmental 
delays and disabilities; and 
8.13 Ensure policy development and develop models that can further improve the 
implementation of the Early Detection Program as new outcomes in child development and 
disability arise; 
Section 9. Local Early Detection Team (LED). A Local Early Detection Team shall be 
created in each city and municipality of the Province. The Team shall be composed of the 
representatives from the following offices: 
a. Municipal Mayor - Chairperson 
b. SP/SB Chairperson of the Committee on Women, Children and Family 
c. SP/SB Chairperson of the Committee on Health 
d. Rural Health Unit/City Health Office 
e. Municipal/City Social Welfare Office 
f. Municipal/City Nutrition Office 
g. City/Municipal Persons with Disabilities Affairs Office 
h. City/Municipal Gender and Development Office 
i. Barangay Health Worker City/Municipal Federation President 
j. Child Development Workers City/Municipal Federation President 
k. Barangay Nutrition Scholars City/Municipal Federation President 
I. Representative from an accredited NGO working with Persons with Disabilities or 
Children 
m. Representative from the local Department of Education (DepEd) Office, preferably 
the Coordinator of Kindergarten Education 
Section 10. Functions of the Local Early Detection Team. The LED shall: 
a. Ensure proper and timely conduct of screening and monitoring processes of 
children 0-5 years old in each city or municipality based on the mechanism guidelines set by 
the Developmental Delays and Disability Detection Council of the Philippines. 
b. Make certain that all children who are identified to have disabilities, chronic medical 
impairments or significant developmental delays are referred to the Rural Health Nurse/ 
Midwife for Developmental Screening and then to the Municipal or City Health Officer 
for assessment or referral to other clinical experts; 
c. Implement an active and functioning referral process for diagnosis, early 
intervention services and provision of appropriate devices in the respective city or 
municipality, if necessary, either through private, government or community-based service 
providers; 
d. Conduct awareness and learning sessions for parents on facilitating optimum child 
development as well as handling strategies for parents of those identified to have disabilities 
and impairments; 


e. Coordinate with churches/religious institutions, NGOs and other government 
offices to increase awareness about causes and prevention of disability possibly through 
inclusion of topics on disability prevention in pre-wedding seminars; 
f. Monitor the implementation of the early detection program at the LGU level; 
g. Make certain that one Focal Person from each barangay in the respective 
City/Municipality is appointed to facilitate communication and information dissemination; 
h. Collect data from the agencies concerned on children who were screened;. 
i. Maintain a database on children with significant developmental delays, disabilities 
and medical impairments and shares this with the Council; 
j. May conduct mass screening for developmental delays and disabilities at the 
barangay level, if warranted. 
SECTION 11. BARANGAY EARLY DETECTION TEAM (BED). There shall be created a 
Barangay Early Detection Team that shall be under the Barangay Council for the Protection of 
Children. It shall be composed of the following: 
a. Punong Barangay - Chairperson 
b. Barangay Health Worker 
c. Child Development Worker 
d. Barangay Nutrition Scholar, all of whom have undergone the training on early 
detection conducted by the Early Detection and Education Team (EDE) 
e. Either a PWD or an SK member 
f. Barangay Committee Chairperson on Women and Children 
g. Barangay Committee Chairperson on Health 
h. Kindergarten teacher from the Local Barangay Elementary School 
Section 12. Functions of the Barangay Early Detection Team. The BED shall: 
a. Ensure that screening and monitoring are conducted for all children 0-5 years old in 
the barangay; 
b. Make sure that should significant developmental delay and/or disability is detected 
in a child during developmental monitoring, the child is referred to the Rural Health Midwife 
or Rural Health Nurse for Developmental Screening, who shall in turn, refer the child to the 
Municipal or City Health Officer for further assessment, diagnosis, or referral to other medical 
specialists, if necessary; 
c .. Ensure that children who are identified to have significant delays or disabilities are 
provided with appropriate support either in terms of family education, community 
acceptance or any support that the barangay deems necessary and within its capacity to 
provide; 
d. Conduct awareness and learning sessions for parents on facilitating optimum child 
development as well as handling strategies for parents of those identified to have disabilities 
and impairments; 
e. Maintain a database of all children identified to have significant developmental 
delays or disability at the barangay level. 
Section 12. SCREENING AND MONITORING. Developmental monitoring shall be 
conducted at each barangay level by Trained Barangay Health Workers, Child Development 
Workers and Barangay Nutrition Scholars and Kindergarten Teachers based on the based on 


the guidelines set by the Developmental Delays and Disability Detection Council of the 
Philippines. 
The newborn screening test, newborn hearing screening test and all other pertinent 
tests that are required for newborns shall be conducted for all children born in any of the 
hospitals in the province, government or private, as well as in the birthing homes. Copies of 
all test results must be provided to the barangay health nurse or midwife by the parents in 
order to form part of the health record of the child as well as to determine the risks of delayed 
development or disability. 
12. 1.1 Newborn Screening. Newborn Screening should be conducted in all newborns 
after 24 hours of life, but not later than 3 days after complete delivery. All newborns who 
have a confirmed diagnosis of a heritable condition prior to discharge from the hospital or 
birthing center shall give a copy of the results and all other instructions from the duly licensed 
physician or medical specialist to the rural health nurse or midwife to ensure continued 
monitoring and medical care, thus preventing complications from the condition. 
For newborns who register positive on the Newborn screening, but who have already 
been discharged from the hospital or birthing center, DOH guidelines on recall and conduct 
of confirmatory testing shall be followed. Copies of all results and instructions from the duly 
licensed physician or medical specialist shall be given to the rural health nurse or 
midwife to ensure that monitoring and treatment are continued. 
The Municipal/City Health Officer shall also be provided with copies of the 
medical records of children who are positive for any of the disorders in the newborn screening 
panel to ensure coordination between all medical professionals and other stakeholders, 
including the family, in the overall management of the child. 
12.1.2 Newborn Hearing Screening Test 
a. All infants born in hospitals or birthing centers in the Province shall be made to 
undergo Newborn Hearing Loss Screening before discharge, unless the parents or legal 
guardians of the newborn object to the screening because of religious or cultural beliefs, in 
which case, a waiver should be executed by the parents which shall form part of the 
newborn's medical records; 
b. Infants who are born in the home or anywhere outside birthing facilities, Hearing 
Loss Screening should be done within the first three months after birth. The attending medical 
worker should see to it that this is done by informing the rural health nurse or midwife or 
directly referring the child to the health officer of the particular city or municipality in which 
the child is born; 
c. In the event of a positive Newborn Hearing Loss Screening result, the newborn shall 
undergo audiologic diagnostic evaluation before the age of 6 months. The audiologic 
diagnostic evaluation shall be performed only by Newborn Hearing Screening Centers in the 
Province that are duly certified by the DOH. Assistance should be provided by the Rural Health 
Unit or the Municipal Social Welfare Office to ensure that the child will have access to this 
service; 
d. Newborns who are confirmed to have congenital hearing loss through the 
audiologic diagnostic evaluation shall be referred back to the respective Municipal/City 


Health Officer, with recommendations for follow-up or intervention. Copies of this shall be 
given to the rural health nurse or midwife of the particular barangay in which the child lives; 
12.2 Barangay Health Workers shall do developmental monitoring of each child from 
0-3 years old, and all other children above 3 years old who are not attending Daycare, using 
the developmental milestones checklist as well as the other prescribed forms, if necessary. 
This shall be incorporated during the periodic weighing and vaccination activities and 
micronutrient supplementation administration. 
12.3 The Barangay Nutrition Scholars shall also conduct their developmental 
monitoring specifically for children 0-5 years old who are identified as over nourished, 
undernourished or stunted. This shall be done during regular weight and height monitoring 
activities and home visitation of both pregnant and lactating women and other regular 
activities; 
12.4. Child Development Workers shall conduct developmental monitoring and vision 
screening of children who are enrolled in the Daycare System; 
12.5. Kindergarten teachers shall conduct developmental monitoring, vision and 
hearing screenings and screening for learning disabilities for children who are enrolled in 
Kindergarten; 
12.6. All children who manifest signs of significant developmental delay, 
developmental disability, learning disability, visual impairments or hearing impairments shall 
be referred to the Barangay Midwife or Rural Health Nurse for developmental screening. 
Likewise, all newborns 0-3 months old, who have not undergone the newborn hearing loss 
screening and audiologic diagnostic evaluation shall be referred by the Barangay Health 
Workers to the Barangay Midwife or Rural Health Nurse; 
12.7 All children who screen positive for any impairment or disability in any of the 
screening processes, as well as newborns 0-3 months old who have not been screened for 
hearing loss or audiologic diagnostic evaluation, shall be referred to the Municipal/City Health 
Officer for diagnosis, impression or referral to other specialists and/or closest Newborn 
Hearing Screening Center; 
12.8 Once a diagnosis or impression is made, either by the City/Municipal Health 
Officer or other specialists, child monitoring is continued by the Barangay Health Worker, the 
Barangay Nutrition Scholar and the Child Development Worker to ensure that support or 
interventions, in whatever form, are provided to the child. This will help avoid or minimize 
negative attitude in the family as well as in the community; 
12.9 Timely information about the cause and the implication of the delay, disability 
and/or the medical problem shall be provided to the parents by the Rural Health 
Nurse/Midwife in a simple, empathic yet informative manner in order to assuage the feelings 
of uncertainty and fear, as well as help develop positive attitude around and within the child; 
12.10 Trained health, nutrition and early childhood education workers as well as 
kindergarten teachers can give simple management strategies to the parents to improve the 
child's condition and/or manage behavior; 
12.11 All information gathered shall be treated with confidentiality and submitted to 
the Barangay Early Detection Team (BED) to be incorporated into a databank that shall be 
managed by the Team itself and shared with the Local Early Detection Team and the Council. 


12.12 Community awareness activities shall be conducted at the City/Municipal and 
Barangay levels in order to increase understanding about disability as well as disability in early 
childhood development. 
Section 13. Conduct of Training. Capacity building of pertinent personnel is an 
important factor in the success of the Program and should be treated as such. 
13.1 The Council shall provide regular and mandatory training for disability awareness 
and total understanding of the technicalities and smooth implementation of the Early 
Detection Program at the provincial level; 
13.2 The Council shall conduct regular trainings for the Local Early Detection Team of 
each city and municipality as well as for all Rural Health Nurses and Rural Health Midwifes; 
13.3 The Council shall also train all Barangay Health Workers, Barangay Nutrition 
Scholars, Child Development Workers and kindergarten teachers with special focus on 
strengthening observation skills, as well as conduct of monitoring processes, including the use 
of special monitoring tools; 
13.4 Training of other personnel from the Rural Health Unit/City Health Office and 
other barangay service providers, aside from those mentioned above, although highly 
recommended, shall be upon the discretion of the local government unit; 
13.5 Trainings shall also be conducted for parents on handling strategies in the home 
for children with developmental delays and disabilities; 
Section 14. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this 
Act shall be included and incorporated in the annual general appropriations of the 
Department of Health. 
Section 15. Implementing Rule and Regulations. -Within six (6) months from the date 
of effectivity of this Act, the DOH, in coordination with the oswo, DepED, ewe, NIH, NCDA 
and PIA shall promulgate the necessary implementing rules and regulations to implement the 
provisions of this Act. 
Section 16. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or 
unconstitutional, the provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and 
effect. 
Section 17. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, presidential decrees, 
proclamations, rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this 
Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
Section 18. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect withing fifteen (15) days 
following its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation 
in the Philippines. 
Approved,