FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S. No. 2510 
) 
) 
) 
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
We are amazed at how gifted children, in contrast to their contemporaries, 
learn so much faster during the early stages of infancy. They discover new 
things, even without the guidance of their elders. Subsequently however, there is 
uncertainty as to whether their endowments will be fully harnessed and their 
rapid development sustained. 
On the other hand, children with disabilities, whether physical, mental or 
emotional are often objects of pity. Their chances of survival in the cutthroat 
competition of this world are likewise fraught with uncertainty. While being polar 
opposites, these two classes of children are related with regards to a single 
consideration - their need for special attention which becomes most apparent at 
school age. 
This bill aims to establish a comprehensive educational program for 
children and youth the special educational needs. Its essential components 
include educational diagnosis and assessment; teacher education to ensure staff 
competence; expanded curriculum development, and evaluation and continuing 
research. 
Though they constitute a minority, special children are by no means the 
least among the country's human resources. It is the duty of the state to provide 
institutions. for their development. 
10 view of the ,",egolog, early pa=ge of th/-~es 
MANUEL "LITO" M. LAPID 
Senator 
rr,; 
, 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S. No. 2510 
) 
) 
) 
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid 
AN ACT 
TO EXPAND AND REVITALIZE THE SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR 
GIFTED 
AND 
HANDICAPPED 
CHILDREN 
AND 
YOUTH 
IN 
THE 
PHILIPPINES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives (~f the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. 
Declaration of Policy. -
There shall be established a 
comprehensive educational program for children and youth with special needs in the 
pre-elementary, elementary, secondary and post secondary levels throughout the 
country with the following essential program components: 
a) 
Educational 
diagnosis 
and 
assessment 
essential 
in 
the 
proper 
identification of these minors; 
b) 
Teacher-education (pre-service and a continuing in-service training) for 
teaching and non teaching personnel to ensure staff competence; 
c) 
Expanded curriculum development and evaluation to meet the diversified 
needs of the clientele; and 
d) 
Continuing research as basis for the improvement of instruction at all 
levels and' in planning and service programming activities including the purchase of 
special facilities and equipment 
SEC. 2. 
Definition of Terms. - For the purpose of this bill, the following 
terms are operationally defined: 
a) 
Children with behavior problems - those who cannot adjust to the socially 
accepted norms of behavior and, consequently, disrupt their academic progress, the 
learning efforts of their classmates, and interpersonal relations. The two categories of 
children with behavior problems are: 
1) 
The socially maladjusted - they are chronic juvenile offenders who 
regularly disregard broader social values and rules as a matter of 
course, substituting in their stead and values and rules of their peer 
group. Their accepted code of conduct is truancy, fighting, and 
defiance against constituted authority. 
1 


2) 
The emotionally disturbed - those who, although not afflicted with 
insanity of mental defect, are unable to maintain typical social 
relations with others and the community, in general, due to 
emotional problems or complexes. 
b) 
Children and Youth - persons below eighteen years of age except those 
emancipated in accordance with law. 
c) 
capacity. 
Fast learner - one who is endowed with an above average intellectual 
d) 
Handicap -
a disadvantage of a given individual resulting from an 
impairment or disability. 
e) 
Handicapped individual - any individual who has a physical or mental 
disability which for such individual constitutes or results in a substantial handicap to 
employment and can reasonably be expected to profit from training or vocational 
rehabilitation. 
f) 
Hearing impaired - one who is deaf or hard-of-hearing. The deaf person is 
one whose hearing is non-functional for ordinary purposes of life. The hard-of-hearing 
has a sense of hearing which, although defective, is functional with or without a hearing 
aid. 
g) 
Learning di·sability - a disorder in one or more of the basic psychological 
processes involved in understanding or in using language, spoken or written, which may 
manifest itself in an imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell or to do 
mathematical calculations. The term includes such conditions as perceptual handicaps, 
brain injury, minimal brain dysfunction, dyslexia and development aphasia. The term 
does not include children who have learning problems which are primarily the result of 
visual, hearing, or motor handicaps, of mental retardation, or of enVironmental, cultural, 
or economic disadvantage. 
h) 
Mentally gifted and talented - one who is identified at the preschool, 
elementary', or secondary level as possessing demonstrated or potential abilities that 
give evidence of high performance capability in areas such as intellectual, creative, 
specific academic, or leadership ability, or in the performing and visual arts, and who by 
reason thereof, require services or activities not ordinarily provided by the school 
i) 
Mentally retarded - one who possesses significantly sub-average general 
intellectual functioning existing concurrently with impairments in adaptive behavior and 
manifested during the development period. 
j) 
Orthopedically handicapped -
one whose impairment permanently or 
temporarily interferes with the normal functions of the joints, muscles or limbs. 
k) 
Special education - the education of persons who are physically, mentally, 
emotionally, or culturally different from the so-called "normal" individuals such that they 
require modification of school practices and services to develop them to their maximum 
capabilities. 
It is special Service over and above the regular school program to meet the 
unique needs of a handicapped child. 
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I) 
Special 
Education 
Center 
is 
an 
administrative 
unit 
serving 
children/youths with special needs which: 
1) 
serves two or more types of children with special needs; 
2) 
is administered by a SPED trained principal/head or any qualified 
staff; 
3) 
provides special education services. 
m) 
Special education teacher - any teacher who handles a class of children 
with special needs or renders special education services whether he is formally trained 
or trained through in-service training, seminars, and workshops. 
n) 
Special health problems - refer to such health conditions that tend to keep 
children out of school; chronic and/or debilitating illness like cardiac (heart) diseases, 
asthma, diabetes, TB and other respiratory ailments, carcinoma allergy, epilepsy, 
malnutrition, and others. 
0) 
Special Schools - an educational unit that: 
1. 
serves only one exceptionally 
2. 
mayor may not be residential 
3. 
has its own appropriation 
p) 
Speech defective/handicapped - one whose speech differs from the 
average so far as to draw unfavorable attention to the manner of speaking rather than to 
the though conveyed. 
q) 
Visually impaired - one who is blind or partially sighted. A person is blind if 
he has a visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye after maximum special 
correction. The partially seeing person retains a relatively low degree of vision and can 
read only enlarged print or who has some remaining vision thereby making it possible 
for him to read limited amounts of regular print under very special condition. 
SEC. 3. 
Organizations. - Every school division shall organized special 
classes for gifted and handicapped children and youth. The organization of preschool 
classes for these minors shall be strongly encouraged to ensure early educational 
intervention. 
Every school division shall also organize special education centers which 
shall include non-formal and outreach program for out-of-school youth. 
SEC. 4. 
Special Services. - Special schools and special education centers 
shall offer a range of special services which shall include medical, psychological and 
social services, diagnostic counseling, vocational and recreational services. Regular 
schools with special education classes shall likewise provide and above services, 
among other services. 
SEC. 5. 
Secondary Education. - Special schools shall provide continuing 
or post secondary education services and programs for the gifted and handicapped 
especially for those who cannot avail of educational opportunities in regular colleges 
and universities. 
SEC. 6. 
Skills Training. -
Vocational education and training shall be 
provided and strengthened to render the handicapped children and youth more skilful 
and competitive in the labor market. 


SEC. 7. 
Teacher Items. - The present items of teachers now handling 
special education classes shall be reclassified to special education teachers items 
whenever requirements are met. Items for special education supervisor in each school 
division and each regional office, and principal of Special Education Centers shall be 
created for effective administration and supervision of the special education program. 
SEC. 8. 
Teacher Training. - All teacher training institutions, public or 
private, offering Bachelors degree in Education shall offer Special Education courses as 
basic knowledge to students in teacher education. 
SEC. 9. 
Authority of the Secretary of Education. - The Secretary of 
Education is charged with the administration and enforcement of the provisions of this 
Act and shall promulgate and issue the necessary implementing rules and regulations. 
He/she is hereby authorized to adopt an ad hoc structure under his office to 
intensify the supervision and development efforts in special education at all levels, 
including out-of-school children and youth. Such structure will remain until the DepEd 
can afford to establish a more permanent structure. 
SEC. 10. 
Appropriation. 
The 
sum 
of 
Twenty 
million 
pesos 
(Php20,OOO,OOO.OO) is hereby authorized to be appropriated our of the funds in the 
National Treasury not otherwise appropriated, to carry out the provisions of this Act. 
Thereafter, adequate sums as may be necessary to sustain and maintain the program 
mandated in this Act shall be included in the budget of the Department of Education in 
the General Appropriations Act. 
SEC. 11. 
Separability Clause. - In the event that any provision of this Act, or 
a part or parts thereof is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining provisions or 
parts thereof shall be considered valid and binding for the purposes of this Act 
SEC. 12. 
Repealing Clause. - Any law, act, decree, order, proclamation or 
regulation or part or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby 
repealed. 
SEC. 13. 
Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) 
days from its publication in the OffiCial Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
: 
. 
Approved, 
4