Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL No. _______ 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Introduced by HONORABLE ERNESTO “ERNIX” M. DIONISIO, JR. 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR ACCESSIBLE EARLY IDENTIFICATION AND INTERVENTION 
SERVICES FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The 1987 Constitution provides that the State shall “recognize the vital role of 
the youth in nation-building and shall promote and protect their physical, moral, 
intellectual, and social well-being.” In compliance with this mandate of the 
Constitution, Republic Act 11650 was passed for children with disabilities. However, 
there is still a need to enact measures to ensure that children with special needs 
access the type of education that will help them reach their full potential.  
Early detection of disabilities among children is imperative to maximize their 
development potential and achieve inclusive education. According to the Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention in the United States, “the connections in a child’s 
brain are most adaptable during the first three years of life.”1 This means that as 
children grow older, the effectiveness of interventions might be compromised, hence, 
early identification and intervention are needed.  
This proposed measure endeavors to make early identification and intervention 
services for special needs children become accessible to all sectors of society. This 
is to ensure that no child is left behind. 
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is highly sought. 
1 https://online.utpb.edu/about-us/articles/education/the-importance-of-early-intervention-in-education/ 
October 6, 2022
1:14 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL No. _______ 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Introduced by HONORABLE ERNESTO “ERNIX” M. DIONISIO, JR. 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR ACCESSIBLE EARLY IDENTIFICATION AND INTERVENTION 
SERVICES FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS 
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 Identification 
and Intervention for Children with Special Needs Act." 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. -- It is hereby the declared policy of the 
State to ensure the healthy growth and development of children. Towards this end, 
the State shall adopt measures to deliver accessible health and social services to 
children. 
SECTION 3. Definition of Children with Special Needs. – Children with 
special needs refer to those persons eighteen (18) years old and below who are gifted 
or are fast learners; and those who are disabled, impaired, and handicapped and in 
need of special education as well as services for rehabilitation. They differ from the 
average children in mental characteristics, sensory abilities, neuro-muscular or 
physical characteristics, and social attributes, to such an extent that requires the use 
of modified school practices or special education services to develop them to 
maximum capability. 
SECTION 4. The Program - The Department of Education (DepEd) and the 
Department of Health (DOH) shall develop a program providing comprehensive 
accessible and affordable early identification and intervention services for children with 
special needs. 
SECTION 5. Objectives. - The objective of this program includes but not limited 
to the following: 
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a. To increase awareness, reduce barriers to screening and diagnosis, promote 
evidence-based interventions for CSNS 
b. To build a qualified and adequately trained workforce prepared to provide 
special needs services for children and their families; 
c. To conduct a comprehensive, multi-faceted public awareness campaign to 
educate families, the general public, and other key audiences about the benefits 
of children's social and emotional development, and how to access services; 
d. To create a quality-driven children's special needs system with shared 
accountability among agencies and programs assessments, use outcome 
indicators and benchmarks to measure progress, and implements a quality data 
tracking and reporting system. 
 
SECTION 6. Role of Local Government Units. – All local government units 
shall endeavor to establish special needs centers offering early intervention and 
transition programs and shall provide programs and services that will prepare special 
needs children for activities in mainstream society. Local government units shall 
support existing programs and services catering to special needs children within their 
jurisdiction and shall conduct an information campaign within their jurisdiction 
regarding the availability of these programs and services. 
 
SECTION 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations - The DepEd and DOH in 
coordination with the Department of Interior and Local Government and in consultation 
with the relevant private sector, practitioners, and representatives of the academic 
community shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to carry out the 
provisions of this Act. 
 
SECTION 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. 
 
 
SECTION 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 30 
amended accordingly. 
 
SECTION 10. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its complete publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general 
circulation, whichever comes earlier. 
 
Approved,