Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 4447

Introduced by Honorable GINA P. DE VENECIA

EXPLANATORY NOTE

It has been the primordial poticy of the State to look after the welfare of
children especially those with special needs such as children with autism
and those with hearing and speech impairment. Other disabilities, while
equally important, are already addressed through various measures and
other initiatives. The proponent believes that it is imperative to focus and
address treatment of children with special needs.

No single treatment of autism and hearing and speech impairment is best
and treatment is typically tailored to each child's needs. Families and the
educational system are the main resources for treatment. However, many of
children with special needs come from poor families who cannot afford the
time and specialized treatment these children need. Poor families are unable
to avail of special therapy sessions or interventions because of their high
cost or lack of government centers or facilities.

Through this proposed bill, centers for children with special needs will be
established in every province, and eventually in every congressional district,
to empower these children and their families. These centers will provide free
evaluation, physical and occupational therapy and socialization activities.
Other activities will include educational assistance, parents’ training and
community training in order to uplift the lives of these children.

With much help, these children with special needs can live freely and

independently and achieve a more meaningful, productive and satisfying life.
In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this measure is sought.

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h District, Pangasinan


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. £4

Introduced by Honorable GINA P. DE VENECIA

AN ACT

PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF CENTERS
FOR CHILDREN WITH AUTISM AND

THOSE WITH HEARING AND SPEECH IMPAIRMENT

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 “Empowerment: of
Children with Special Needs Act”.

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. — Under Section 13, Article II of the
1987 Constitution, the State shall promote and protect the physical, moral,
spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being of the youth. In view of this
policy, the State must enable its children, particularly those with special
needs such as autism and hearing and speech impairment, to deal with
present and future realities. Under Republic Act No. 7277 or the “Magna
Carta for Persons with Disabilities” and the “United Nations Convention on
the Rights of Persons with Disabilities”, it is the government’s concern and
responsibility to facilitate the rehabilitation of children with special needs.
The State shall therefore provide for the rehabilitation and training of
children with special needs to ensure their right to live freely and
independently and to achieve a more meaningful, productive and satisfying
life.

SECTION 3, Definition. - For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall
mean:

a. Children with special needs — refers to those persons aged below 14
years old who have a condition of autism and hearing and speech
impairment; ,

b. Autism ~ refers to the condition of a disorder of neural development
characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and
by restricted and repetitive behaviour;

c. Hearing and Speech Impairment — refers to loss, diminution or
aberration of psychological, physiological or anatomic structure or
function of the ear and speech;


d. Rehabilitation — refers to an integrated approach of physical, social,
cultural, spiritual, educational and vocational measures that create
conditions for the individual to attain the highest possible level of
functionality available;

¢. Social Barriers — refers to any legal, economic, or cultural aspect of
society that limits the fullest possible participation of children with
special needs. These include negative attitudes that single out and
exclude those with special needs;

f. Center for Children with Special Needs ~ refers to a government-run
facility that offers free comprehensive rehabilitation service to poor
children with special needs, including but not limited to stimulation
and therapeutic activity centers;

SECTION 4. Establishment of Centers for Children with Special Needs. —
Centers for children with special needs shall be established in every
province, and eventually in every congressional district, under the direct
supervision of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

SECTION 5. Functions of Centers for Children with Special Needs. - The
Centers for Children with Special Needs shall be managed and operated by
teams tasked to provide comprehensive rehabilitation, social and
educational services to the youth with special needs. They shall carry out
the following functions:

a. Physical rehabilitation ~ the Centers will provide children with special
needs with regular physical and occupational therapy sessions to
improve their physical condition, mobility and cognitive skills. Parents
and other volunteers will also be trained to do basic exercises that
will ensure the continued rehabilitation of children with special needs
in their own homes;

b. Social rehabilitation - the Centers will provide for regutar counselling,
and social enhancement activities;

©, Education component - the Centers will provide basic and advanced
special education sessions to prepare children with special needs.
Children with autism shall be provided with preschool-based
programs that include a variety of behavioral, social, and skill-
building treatments. Children with hearing and speech impairment
shall be provided with programs to improve their communication
skills such as, but not limited to, sign language, cued speech,
interpretative communication and other related communication
programs; s

d. Psycho-social component - the Centers will provide personality
development activities and basic social and personal skills required
for independent living of children with special needs;

e. information and Resource Center — the Centers shall serve as an
information center for the rights and incentives accorded to children
with special needs. Special needs-related documents, materials and
data may also be made available in accessible formats.


SECTION 6. Center Workers and Volunteers. - The DSWD shall designate

social workers and health workers as staif members for the Centers and

other personnel who possess the necessary professional qualifications to

work efficiently with volunteers. Each Center will be composed of the

following, people:

Physical Therapist;

Occupational Therapist;

Speech Therapist;

Social workers who will identify, assess and provide social services to

children with special needs and their families;

Special education teacher, who is adept in sign language

communication; and

f. Provincial health workers who will be or are trained for basic
rehabilitation. They will assist in the identification of beneficiaries and
their disabilities and the execution of rehabilitation activities.

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A volunteer rehabilitation doctor or a rehabilitation doctor from the
provincial hospital shall evaluate the beneficiaries and provide initial
rehabilitation plans to guide the team. Also, other personnel such as speech
therapists, psychologists and other specialists and trained volunteers may
be employed to provide services in the Centers.

SECTION 7. Fiscal Incentives. - The following fiscal incentives shall be
provided for under this Act:

a. The Centers shall be exempted from the payment of customs duties,
taxes and tariffs on the importation of equipment and supplies used
actually, directly and exclusively by the Centers pursuant to this Act,
including those donated to the Centers;

b. All grants, endowments, donations, or contributions used actually,
directly and exclusively for the Centers shall be exempt from donors
or gift tax are likewise tax deductible.

SECTION 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The DSWD, in
coordination with the Department of Health (DOH), National Council for
Disability Affairs (NCDA), organizations specializing on children with special
needs and other groups advocating the rights of persons with disabilities
shall promulgate the necessary implementing rules and regulations of this
Act within ninety (90) days from its effectivity. The said agencies and groups
will assist in the effective implementation of this Act and provide the
necessary support services for such.

SECTION 9. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the
provisions of this Act shall be included in the General Appropriations Act of
the year following its enactment into law and thereafter. An initial amount of
One Hundred Twenty Million Pesos (P120,000,000.00) shall be allocated for
the first year of its implementation. Such sum shall be included in the
special projects allocation of DSWD.

SECTION 10. Repealing Clause. — Any law, presidential decree, issuance,
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule and


regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is
hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly.

SECTION 11. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is held
invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected hereby shall
remain valid and subsisting.

SECTION 12. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shal] take effect fifteen (15)
days following its complete publication in two (2) newspapers of general
circulations and in the Official Gazette.

Approved,