Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE PM VARGAS 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING A HEALTH AND EDUCATION GRANT PROGRAM 
RELATED TO AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution mandates the State to protect and promote the right 
to health of the people and endeavor to make health services available to all 
people at affordable cost. Article 13, Section 11 of the 1987 Constitution 
provides that:  
“The State shall adopt an integrated and comprehensive 
approach to health development which shall endeavor to 
make essential goods, health and other social services 
available to all the people at affordable cost. There shall be 
priority for the needs of the under-privileged, sick, elderly, 
disabled, women, and children. The State shall endeavor to 
provide free medical care to paupers.” 
Autism is a highly variable neurodevelopmental disorder that first 
appears during infancy or childhood, and generally follows a steady course 
without remission. Experts estimate that 3 to 6 children out of every 1,000 
have autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In the Philippines, it is estimated that 
one out of every 500 Filipinos suffer from ASD or approximately 200,000 
Filipinos out of a 100 million total population. 
Autism is a developmental disability that has yet to be fully known and 
understood in the Philippines. The prevalence of autism in developing 
countries is rising rapidly, and health and education systems in these 
countries, like the Philippines, are particularly ill-equipped to deal with these 
issues.  There currently exists a shortage of trained and highly-skilled 
August 18, 2025
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educators and health providers in the country to handle and cater to the 
needs of children and adults with autism. Many families are not even aware 
that their children have autism; hence, their children do not get the 
appropriate treatment and intervention. 
This bill seeks to establish a health and education grant program 
related to autism spectrum disorders in order to promote awareness and 
alleviate the plight of thousands of families struggling with the costs for its 
detection and treatment. It is the hope of this measure that the country will 
take an active role in addressing autism and take that leap in supporting 
Filipinos with autism spectrum disorders. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly 
sought. 
REP. PM VARGAS  
Fifth District, Quezon City 


Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE PM VARGAS 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING A HEALTH AND EDUCATION GRANT PROGRAM 
RELATED TO AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS 
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 “Autism Assistance 
Act”. 
SECTION 2. Definition of Terms. − For purposes of this Act, the term 
a) ‘‘Autism’’ refers to all conditions consistent with autism spectrum
disorders or the condition of children whose behaviors were consistent
with the DSM–IV–TR criteria for Autistic Disorder, Asperger Disorder,
and Pervasive Developmental Disorder − Not Otherwise Specified (PDD–
NOS);
b) “Secretary” refers to the Secretary of the Department of Health.
SECTION 3. Autism Assistance Program. − 
a)
Establishment and Purpose. − The Secretary of Health shall
establish and administer a health and education grant program to
be known as the “Global Autism Assistance Program” to:
1)
support activities under subsection (c)(2) by nongovernmental
organizations and other service providers, including advocacy
groups, focused on autism in the provinces; and
2)
establish a “teach the teachers” program under subsection (d)
to train health and education professionals working with
children with autism in the provinces.
b)
Designation of Eligible Provinces. − Not later than 120 days after the
date of the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of Health, in
consultation with knowledgeable autism organizations, shall
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designate not fewer than two provinces in the country that are 
determined to:   
1) 
require assistance in dealing with autism; and  
2) 
have sufficient familiarity with issues related to autism to make 
effective use of the Global Autism Assistance Program.  
 
c) 
Selection of Implementing Non-Governmental Organization (NGO). −  
1) 
In General. − Not later than 180 days after the designation of 
eligible provinces pursuant to subsection (b), the Secretary of 
Health shall select and award a grant under this section to a 
nongovernmental organization with experience in autism-
related issues to implement the Global Autism Assistance 
Program through selection and awarding of grants to local 
service providers and advocacy groups focused on autism.  
2) 
Activities. − A local service provider or advocacy group that 
receives a grant under paragraph (1) may use such grant to 
carry out any of the following activities (including, as 
appropriate, the translation into local languages of relevant 
English-language publications):  
i. 
Education and Outreach to the Public. − Use public service 
announcements and other public media to help the public 
become more aware of the signs of autism so that children with 
autism can be diagnosed and treated earlier.  
ii. 
Support to Families. − Development of resources for families, 
such as online web resource centers in local languages, 
dissemination of materials to parents of newly diagnosed 
children, or other suitable alternatives, and dissemination of 
educational aids and guides to help parents with their 
children’s development.  
iii. 
Support to Educational Institutions. − Funding for schools or 
other educational institutions, focusing on teachers of the 
youngest students, and including the distribution of equipment 
or of the materials referred to in subparagraph (ii).  
iv. 
Support to Clinics and Medical Centers. − Provision of funding 
to clinics and medical centers with proven records in 
addressing autism to assist with operating expenses, including 
personnel, equipment supplies, and facilities, development of 
assessment testing for autism, and acquisition of specialized 
equipment, such as augmentative communication devices.  
 
d) 
Support 
and 
Assistance 
from 
Implementing 
NGO. 
− 
The 
implementing 
non-governmental 
organization 
shall 
provide, 
contract for, and coordinate technical assistance in support of its 
mission in meeting the goals and purposes of this Act. 
 
e) 
Teach the Teachers. − The implementing non-governmental 
organization, acting on behalf of the Secretary of Health, in 
consultation with the Project Advisory Board, shall establish a 
program, to be known as the “Teach the Teachers Program”, to:  


1) 
identify health and education professionals to receive 
specialized training for teaching and working with youth with 
autism, including training conducted in two- or three-day 
workshops at locations within one of the two provinces 
designated pursuant to subsection (b); and  
2) 
conduct training through two- or three-day biomedical 
conferences in the two provinces designated pursuant to 
subsection (b), including bringing medical and psychological 
specialists to train and educate parents and health 
professionals who deal with autism, including training related 
to biomedical interventions that can affect autism, how 
nutrition and various metabolic issues can impact behavior, 
the role of applied behavioral analysis, and various 
occupational and speech therapies in fighting autism. 
 
SECTION 4. Application for Grants. − 
a) 
Submission of Applications. − To be eligible to receive a grant from 
the implementing nongovernmental organization, a local service 
provider or advocacy group shall submit to such implementing 
nongovernmental organization an application at such time, in such 
manner, and containing such information as such implementing 
nongovernmental organization may require. 
 
b) 
Establishment of Screening Board. −  
1) 
In General. − The implementing nongovernmental organization 
responsible for implementing the Global Autism Assistance 
Program shall establish a screening board to be known as the 
“Project 
Advisory 
Board” 
to 
review 
for 
content 
and 
appropriateness applications from local service providers or 
advocacy groups submitted in accordance with subsection (a).  
2) 
Membership. − The members of the Project Advisory Board shall 
be 
appointed 
by 
the 
implementing 
nongovernmental 
organization, in consultation with the Secretary of Health, and 
in accordance with the following provisions:  
i. 
Each member shall serve for a term of one year and each 
member may serve as many as three consecutive terms.  
ii. 
A member of the Project Advisory Board may continue to serve 
after the expiration of the term of such member until such time 
as a successor is appointed.  
iii. 
Membership of the Project Advisory Board shall include at least 
seven voting members who are members of autism advocacy 
groups, professionals working with autism, or otherwise 
associated with the autism community. Among the voting 
members of the Board shall be at least two parents from 
different families of individuals with autism, one medical 
professional working with autism, one teacher of individuals 
with autism, and one individual who has autism. Efforts shall 
be made to include on the Project Advisory Board individuals 
with experience working in the developing world.  


iv. 
Membership of the Project Advisory Board shall include non-
voting members as determined appropriate by the Secretary of 
Health.  
v. 
Membership of the Project Advisory Board shall be chosen so 
as to ensure objectivity and balance and to reduce the potential 
for conflicts of interest.  
 
SECTION 5. Appropriations. – To carry out the provisions of this Act, such 
sum as may be necessary is hereby authorized to be appropriated from the 
National Treasury. Thereafter, the sum necessary for the continuous 
operation of the program shall be included in the annual appropriation of the 
Department of Health. 
 
SECTION 6. Separability Clause. – If, for any reason, any provision of this 
Act is declared unconstitutional or invalid, parts or provisions of this Act 
which are not affected shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
 
SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. – All laws, executive orders, presidential 
decrees, Implementing Rules and Regulations inconsistent with this Act are 
hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
 
SECTION 8. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general 
circulation. 
 
Approved,