Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No8471_

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F, VILLAFUERTE, JR.

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE CREATION OF MUNICIPAL SPECIAL EDUCATION CENTERS
FOR THE DEAF-MUTE AND BLIND CHILDREN APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFOR

This bill seeks to concretize the constitutional mandate which provides that the State
shall “promote the right of all citizens to quality education ... and to make such education
accessible to all.”

It should be recognized that deaf-mute and blind children have different needs compared
to their physically able peers which merit careful attention. There is a glaring inadequacy
of programs and lack of access to special education (SPED) brought about by the limited
number of special schools and SPED center in the country. In light of the foregoing, this
bill is relevant for it addresses the problem of limited SPED facilities.

This bill aims to establish Municipal Special Education Centers for deaf-mute and blind
children to ensure accessibility of the latter to such institutions in every municipality.

ll Al

LUIS RAYM| 'LRAY” F{ VILLAFUERTE, JR.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL no.8471

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE CREATION OF MUNICIPAL SPECIAL EDUCATION CENTERS
FOR THE DEAF-MUTE AND BLIND CHILDREN APPROPRIATING FUNDS.
THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. — It is hereby declared the policy of the state to
establish, maintain and support Municipal Special Education Centers (hereafter
“Centers") for deaf-mute and blind children in consonance with the Constitutional
mandate for “the State to take appropriate steps to make education accessible to all.”

SECTION 2. Municipal Special Education Centers; Creation and Purpose. — There shall
be created in every municipality throughout the country Municipal Education Centers
which shall assist the Department of Education in:

(A) Providing deaf-mute and blind children special quality education and related
services as well as vocational and transitional services; and

(B) Providing deaf-mute and blind children currently in school or who recently left school
programs and service to assist them in the transition to independent living,
vocational training, and competitive employment.

SECTION 3. Authority of the Secretary of Education to Give Grants to, or Enter into
Cooperative Arrangements for the Creation of, Municipal Special Education Centers. —
The Secretary of Education is hereby authorized to give grants to, or enter into
cooperative arrangement or contracts with public or private non-profit agencies,
institutions, or organizations for the establishment or creation of, Municipal Special
Education Centers for deaf-mute and blind children and youth; Provided, that a grant
made pursuant to this section may be made only for the following or similar programs:


(A) Technical assistance to Centers providing educational services to deaf-mute and
blind children;

(B) Pre-service or in-service training of professionals or related services personnel
preparing to serve or serving deaf-mute and blind children;

(C) Replication of successful innovative approaches to providing educational or related
services to deaf-mute and blind children at risk of being certified deaf-mute and
blind;

(D) Consultative, counseling and training services for the families of deaf-mute and blind
children; and

(E) Familiarization of the municipality to be served by a center with the problems and
potentialities of such children.

SECTION 4. Provision for Continuing Research to Identify Special Needs of Deaf-mute
and Blind Children. — The Special Education Division of the Department of Education by
itself or in association with such organizations or institutions as are determined by the
Secretary of the Department of Education to be appropriate, shall undertake continuing
research to identify and design programs that meet the full range of special needs of
deaf-mute and blind children; Provided, that such continuing research shall also be used
to develop instructional techniques for use by the Centers that will improve deaf-mute
and blind children’s acquisition of the skills necessary for transition to independent living,
vocational training, or competitive employment; Provided, finally that such continuing
research shall further be used to design physical education and therapeutic recreation
program for use by the Centers to increase the potential of deaf-mute and blind children
for community participation.

SECTION 5. Provision for Training of Personnel. — The Department of Education, Culture
and Sports shall develop special education courses for adoption and implementation by
accredited institutions of higher education and universities; Provided, That such courses
shall include subjects on special education, and adaptive physical education; special
education supervision and administration; and special education research; Provided,
finally, That the Secretary of the Department of Education may make grants, which may
include scholarships with necessary stipends and allowances, to institutions of higher
education and/or universities which already offer such or similar courses.

SECTION 6. Annual report to the Secretary of Education; Examination of Numbers and
Services and Revision of Numbers: Annual Report to Congress; Summary of Data. —
Centers established, created or supported under the Act as well as public or non-profit
private agencies or organizations which are recipients of a grants shall report annually to.
the Secretary of the Department of Education on:

(A) The number of recipients, by age, severity, and nature of deaf-muteness and
blindness;

(B) The number of professionals and family members directly served by, or serving in,
each Center; and

(C) The types of services provided.


The Secretary of the Department of Education shall examine the number of deaf-mute
and blind children and youth so reported and, together with the Secretary of the
Department of Health, shall create and annually revise a Deaf-Mute and Blind Children
National Registry.

The Secretary of the Department of Education shall summarize the date for submission
in its annual report to the Congress

SECTION 7. Dissemination of Materials and Information Concerning Working Practices
with Deaf-mute and Blind Children. - The Secretary of the DECS, in collaboration with
the Secretary of Health and Secretary of Labor and Employment, shall disseminate
materials and information concerning effective practices in working with, training, and
educating deaf-mute and blind children.

SECTION 8. Deaf-mute and Blind Children Defined. — For purposes of this Act, the term
“deaf-mute and blind children” shalll include the hearing, speech, and eyesight impaired
children from birth to eighteen years of age.

SECTION 9. Implementing Guidelines for the Establishment of Municipal Education
Centers. - The Department of Education, in collaboration with the Department of Health
and the Department of Public Works and Highways, shall promulgate and issue the
necessary implementing guidelines for the creation and operation of Municipal Special
Education Centers within sixty (60) days after the effectivity of this Act.

SECTION 10. Fund for the Establishment and Initial Operation of the Centers. - Such
sums as may be necessary are hereby authorized to be appropriated from the National
Treasury. Thereafter, the sums necessary for the continuous operation of the Centers
shall be included in the annual appropriations of the Department of Education.

SECTION 11. Separability Clause. — If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or provision not otherwise affected shall
remain valid and subsisting.

SECTION 12. Repealing Clause. — Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or
inconsistent with the provision of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended
accordingly.

SECTION 13. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,