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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
'12 
F[B Z3 
P3 :19 
SENATE 
S. No. 3133 
Introduced by Senator Mirimn Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 2, Section 15 provides: 
The State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people and 
instill health consciousness among them. 
Autism is a group of developmental brain disorders, collectively called autism spectrum 
disorder (ASD). The term "spectrum" refers to the wide range of symptoms, skills, and levels of 
impairment or disability that children with ASD can have. Some children are mildly impaired by 
their symptoms, but others are severely disabled. 
Symptoms of ASD vary from one child to the next, but in general, they fall into three 
areas: 
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Social impairment 
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Communication difficulties 
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Repetitive and stereotyped behaviours. 
Children with ASD do not follow typical patterns when developing social and 
communication skills. Pm'ents are usually the first to notice unusual behaviour in their child. 
Often, certain behaviour becomes more noticeable when comparing children of the same age. In 
some cases, babies with ASD may seem different very early in their development. Even before 
their first birthday, some babies become overly focused on certain objects, rarely make eye 
contact, and fail to engage in typical back-and-forth play and babbling with their parents. 
This bill seeks to find ways to help students cope with the detrimental effects of autism 
spectrum disorder. 
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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
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Second Regular Session 
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·12 
FEB 23 P1 :19 
SENATE 
S. No. 3133 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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PROVIDING FOR THE IDENTIFICATION, ASSESSMENT, AND EDUCATION OF 
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CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION I. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Autism Spectrum Disorder 
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Management Act." 
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SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to protect and promote 
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the right to health of the people and instil health consciousness among them. 
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It is also the policy of the State to promote and protect the physical, moral, spiritual, 
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intellectual and social well-being of the youth recognizing their vital role in nation-building. 
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SECTION 3. Definitions. As used in this Act, the following terms shall mean-
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(a) 
"Autism spectrum disorder" is a complex developmental disability that includes 
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Autism, Asperger Syndrome, Pervasive Development Disorder, NOS, Rett Syndrome, and Child 
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Disintegrative Disorder, as diagnosed by a licensed physician; 
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(b) 
"Differently-abled children" are those under the age of eighteen years who have 
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not completed an approved high school program and who, because of mental, physical, 
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emotional or learning problems, including but not limited to autism spectrum disorder as defined 
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in this section, require special educational services; 
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(c) 
"Gifted children" are those under the age of eighteen years who exhibit 
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precocious development of mental capacity and learning potential as determined by competent 
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professional evaluation to the extent that continued educational growth and stimulation could 
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best be served by an academic environment beyond that offered through a standard grade-level 
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curriculum; 
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(d) 
"Special educational services" are programs designed to meet the educational 
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needs of differently-abled children which include, but are not limited to, the provision of 
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diagnostic and evaluation services, student and parent counseling, itinerant, homebound and 
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referral assistance, organized instructional and therapeutic programs, transportation, and 
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corrective and supporting services. 
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SECTION 4. Special Needs Identification and Education Program. - The Special Needs 
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Identification and Education Program shall involve the special needs identification and education 
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training for selected public school teachers. 
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SECTION 5. Autism Ombudsman. - The Secretary of Education shall appoint an autism 
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ombudsman to develop best practice guidelines for the educational assessment and interventions 
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for differently-abled children from three years of age. 
Regional professional development 
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centers must have an autism specialist available. Early childhood education centers shall be 
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established, subject to appropriations, giving priority to regions where there are limited or 
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nonexistent resources and a significant need. 
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SECTION 6. Review of Special Education Services. - The Secretary of Education shall 
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appoint such regional and city advisory committees as he deems necessary to review special 
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educational services to differently-abled children, including children with autism spectrum 
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disorder as defined in this Act and to consider any problems with respect to the provision of 
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educational services to differently-abled children and to give advice thereon. Such committees 
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shall include persons broadly representative of community organizations interested in the 
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differently-abled, professions related to the educational needs of the differently-abled, and the 
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general public. The members of such committees shall serve at the discretion of the Secretary of 
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Education. 
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SECTION 7. Autism Spectrum Disorder Research and Report. - The Department of 
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Health and the Department of Education shall jointly prepare and submit to Congress for its 
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review and consideration a 10-year strategic plan within one (I) year after the effectivity of this 
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Act to address the growing number of persons who need services for autism spectrum disorder. 
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The study shall-
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(a) 
(b) 
determine the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder among students; 
evaluate the extent to which students with autism spectrum disorders are more 
likely to miss school, have delayed rates of development, or have reduced cognitive skills; and 
(c) 
report on current national and local programs to educate the youth about the 
treatment of autism spectrum disorder, as well as evaluate the value of such programs. 
SECTION 8. Funding. - The amount of FIFTY MILLION PESOS (P50,000,000.00) is 
hereby appropriated for the programs established under this Act. This shall be included in the 
annual budget of the Department of Education. 
SECTION 9. 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 10. 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 amended accordingly. 
SECTION 11. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
labg 022312 
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