TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S. No. 1225
of ll)i’ &i'cn‘!,irp
25 AUG 20 P3 36
RHCEIVED BY;
Introduced by Senator Raffy T. Tulfo
AN ACT
INSTITUTING A COMPREHENSIVE NATIONAL CARE AND SUPPORT PLAN 
FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, PROVIDING FOR THEIR RIGHTS 
AND WELFARE, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The proposed Philippine Care and Support Plan for Children with Special Needs 
Act seeks to address the systemic challenges faced by children with special needs 
(CWSNs) in the Philippines, including those with autism, Down syndrome, cerebral 
palsy, and other developmental disabilities. Despite existing laws like RA 7277 (Magna 
Carta for Persons with Disabilities) and RA 11650 (Inclusive Education Act), significant 
gaps remain in healthcare access, education, and social inclusion. Many CWSNs lack 
affordable therapies, diagnostic services, and specialized education, while stigma and 
discrimination persist in communities and workplaces. This bill aims to create a 
comprehensive national care plan to unify and strengthen support systems for CWSNs, 
ensuring their rights and needs are fully met.
The bill's primary objectives include establishing a holistic support system that 
integrates early intervention, education, and healthcare services. It mandates inter­
agency collaboration among the DOH, DepEd, DSWD, and LGUs to streamline efforts 
and eliminate fragmentation in service delivery. Additionally, it introduces measures 
to combat discrimination through public awareness campaigns and stricter 
enforcement of anti-discrimination policies. Key provisions of the bill include a 
centralized registry of CWSNs under the DSWD to ensure targeted aid, expanded 
Special Education (SPED) programs with trained teachers and adapted curricula, and 
PhilHealth coverage for developmental screenings, therapies, and assistive devices.


The bill also penalizes schools and workplaces that deny equal opportunities to CWSNs 
and requires sensitivity training for public service providers, including transport 
personnel and law enforcement.
The proposed legislation is grounded in both national and international 
frameworks, including RA 7277 (as amended by RA 10754), which guarantees the 
rights of persons with disabilities, and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons 
with Disabilities (CRPD), which the Philippines ratified in 2008. By harmonizing these 
laws into a single, actionable plan, the bill ensures that CWSNs receive the support 
they need to thrive. The expected impact includes early intervention to reduce long­
term costs for families and the government, greater social inclusion for CWSNs in 
education and employment, and economic empowerment for their families through 
subsidies and livelihood programs.
The urgency of this bill cannot be overstated. With 1 in 100 Filipino children 
diagnosed with autism (DOH, 2023) and 70% of CWSNs lacking access to essential 
therapies, the need for a unified, nationwide care plan is clear. This legislation 
represents a moral and practical imperative to uplift CWSNs and their families, 
ensuring they can participate fully in society. Immediate passage of this bill will pave 
the way for a more inclusive and equitable Philippines, where no child with special 
needs is left behind.
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
fytttulfo


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
I'fl S’Eiitite
<j{ tin’
25 AUG 20 P3:36
SENATE
S. No. 3 225
RECEIVED BV;
Introduced by Senator Raffy T. Tulfo
AN ACT
INSTITUTING A COMPREHENSIVE NATIONAL CARE AND SUPPORT PLAN 
FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, PROVIDING FOR THEIR RIGHTS 
AND WELFARE, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Philippine Care and
2 
Support Plan for Children with Special Needs Act."
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State affirms its paramount role in protecting
4 
and upholding the rights of all children with special needs. It is committed to fostering
5 
their well-being and ensuring their full integration into mainstream society. To achieve
6 
this, the State recognizes the imperative to legislate for the unique needs of these
7 
children. It commits to institutionalize comprehensive policies and programs that will:
8 
a) Increase public awareness and understanding of special needs.
9 
b) Develop clear and consistent pathways for early detection and diagnosis.
10 
c) Provide access to quality education and meaningful employment
11 
opportunities, enabling children with special needs to live independently
12 
within their communities.
13 
d) Minimize and ultimately eradicate discrimination.
14 
e) Enable the private sector to offer vital services that complement
15 
government initiatives.
16 
Sec. 3. Definition of Terms.- As used in this Act, the following terms are defined:
17 
a. "Children" refers to individuals below eighteen (18) years of age, or


1 
those over eighteen (18) years of age but are incapable of taking care
2 
of themselves or protecting themselves from abuse, neglect, cruelty,
3 
exploitation, or discrimination because of a physical or mental
4 
disability or condition.
5 
b. "Special Needs" refers to a range of conditions primarily characterized
6 
by challenges in social skills, repetitive behaviors, and communication,
7 
alongside unique strengths, as defined in the latest edition of the
8 
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
9 
c. "Diagnosis" means the necessary assessments, including but not
10 
limited to neuro-psychological evaluations, genetic testing, MRIs,
11 
hearing tests, and psychometric tests, conducted to identify or rule
12 
out special needs and/or developmental disabilities.
13 
d. "Intervention" means any interceding action taken to improve the
14 
prognosis of special needs. This may include medical, pharmacologic,
15 
therapeutic, educational, and non-traditional habilitative care.
16 
e. "Epidemiology" refers to the scientific study and analysis of the
17 
distribution and determinants of health conditions, such as special
18 
needs, within defined populations.
19 
Sec. 4. Treatment as Persons with Disability. - Consistent with Republic Act No.
20 
7217, as amended, all children with special needs shall be recognized and treated as
21 
Persons with Disability. They shall therefore be fully entitled to all the rights, privileges,
22 
and benefits extended to persons with disabilities under Republic Act No. 10754 and
23 
other relevant laws.
24 
Sec. 5. Inter-Agency Cooperation, Accountability, and Research.- The
25 
Department of Health (DOH), in close coordination with the Department of Social
26 
Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Education (DepEd), the Philippine
27 
Council for Mental Health (PCMH), other academic institutions, and non-governmental
28 
organizations, is hereby mandated to establish and evaluate activities that will:
29 
a) Inform and educate the public on such disabilities, increasing
30 
awareness regarding their causes, early detection, management.


1 
treatment, and developmental milestones.
2 
b) Promote research for the development and validation of reliable
3 
screening tools for these disabilities.
4 
c) Develop a comprehensive curriculum for continuing education to
5 
assist professionals in recognizing the need for and effectively using
6 
valid and reliable screening tools.
7 
d) Promote early screening of children and individuals identified as
8 
higher risk for such disabilities.
9 
e) Advance research to determine evidence-based practices for
10 
interventions, develop robust guidelines for these interventions, and
11 
widely disseminate related research and guidelines.
12 
f) Encourage public participation in decisions affecting individuals with
13 
such disabilities.
14 
Sec. 6. Continuing Education and Training for Pubiic Service Providers.- All
15 
officers and staff providing public services, including but not limited to personnel from
16 
the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Social Welfare and Development
17 
(DSWD), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Labor and Employment
18 
(DOLE), Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Transportation (DOTr),
19 
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department of Science and
20 
Technology (DOST), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Technical Education and
21 
Skills Development Authority (TESDA), National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA),
22 
Persons with Disabilities Affairs Offices (PDAOs) at the Local Government Units (LGUs),
23 
and Public Safety Units (military, police, firemen, and other first responders), shall
24 
undergo mandatory continuing education. This training aims to empower service
25 
providers to be more responsive, sensitive, and compassionate in delivering services to
26 
children with special needs and their families.
27 
Sec. 7. Epidemiological Surveillance Programs.- The Department of Health
28 
(DOH), in coordination with various academic institutions and non-governmental
29 
organizations, is hereby mandated to conduct an annual epidemiological survey to
30 
determine the national prevalence of special needs. The data collected from these
31 
surveys shall be provided to government agencies and the private sector to facilitate
32 
the provision of necessary services to children with special needs and their families.


1 
Sec. 8. Evidence-based Research.-The. DOH, the Philippine Council for Health
2 
Research and Development (PCHRD), and the National Institute of Health (NIH) are
3 
mandated, in coordination with local and international mental health institutions, to
4 
promote, create, develop, and adopt research and strategic plans. These efforts shall
5 
continually determine and establish evidence-based practices for interventions in the
6 
treatment, care, and societal integration of children with special needs.
7 
Sec. 9. Early Detection and Intervention of Special Needs.- The DOH, in
8 
coordination with the DepEd, is hereby mandated to establish a comprehensive
9 
program for early screening and detection of special needs. This program shall provide
10 
appropriate services to infants and toddlers with developmental delays associated with
11 
special needs and ensure the central PWD registry is accurately and timely updated.
12 
Sec. 10. Protection Against Discrimination in Education.-The DepEd, CHED, and
13 
TESDA shall formulate or update policies and protocols to ensure that all educational
14 
institutions are truly inclusive for learners with special needs. This inclusivity shall cover,
15 
but not be limited to, acceptance into academic or training programs, provision of
16 
instructional supports, and appropriate behavior management.
17 
Sec. 11. Provision of Equal Opportunities for Employment -The DOLE and the
18 
Civil Service Commission (CSC) shall formulate policies and programs to ensure that
19 
children with special needs are provided equal opportunities for gainful employment
20 
and apprenticeship in both the private and public sectors.
21 
Sec. 12. Mandatory Insurance Coverage and Prohibition Against Discrimination
22 
Thereof - All children with special needs shall be covered by the National Health
23 
Insurance Program of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHIC). Necessary
24 
funds to ensure the enrollment of children with special needs, who may not be covered
25 
under existing categories, shall be sourced from the National Health Insurance Fund of
26 
PHIC, specifically earmarked from the proceeds of sin tax collections, as stipulated in
27 
Republic Act No. 10351. This coverage shall also include the cost of early screening
28 
and detection programs as an available benefit to its members. Furthermore, the
29 
Department of Finance (DOF) shall issue guidelines to ensure that all insurance
30 
providers offer children with speciai needs access to life insurance instruments and
31 
include allied medical procedures (such as occupational and speech therapies) in the
32 
heaith insurance benefits of policyholders.


1 
Sec. 13. Protection in Cases of Disaster and Emergencies.- The DILG, DSWD,
2 
and the DND shall formulate the necessary policies and protocols to ensure that the
3 
military, public safety professionals, local government units, and first responders
4 
provide essential life-saving support to children with special needs, particularly those
5 
with behavioral and communication challenges, during disasters, calamities, and other
6 
emergencies.
7 
Sec. 14. Access to Transportation.- The DOTr shall formulate the necessary
8 
policies and protocols to ensure that children with special needs, especially those with
9 
behavioral and communication challenges, and their families are given reasonable
10 
accommodation in accessing all forms of transportation by service providers over land,
11 
sea, and air.
12 
Sec. 15. Reasonabie Accommodation in Legai Proceedings.- The DOJ shall
13 
formulate the necessary policies and protocols to ensure that criminal justice agencies
14 
and professionals provide essential accommodations and protections to children with
15 
special needs with behavioral and communication challenges, whether they are the
16 
accused, victims, or witnesses in criminal cases.
17 
Sec. 16. The Phiiippine Care and Support Pian. - The Philippine Council for Mental
18 
Health (PCMH), a multi-sector body established by the Mental Health Act, in
19 
coordination with other government agencies and stakeholders, shall develop, regularly
20 
update, and meticulously monitor the implementation of the Philippine Care and
21 
Support Plan (PCSP). This PCSP shall serve as a holistic medium-term plan embodying
22 
the provisions of this Act, designed to effectively respond to the needs of children with
23 
special needs and their families, providing essential guidance for stakeholders in both
24 
public and private sectors. The PCMH shall also coordinate the development and
25 
implementation of necessary policies and programs to fully operationalize all PCSPs and
26 
ensure the comprehensive needs of children with special needs are met.
27 
Sec. 17. Appropriations.-The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of
28 
this Act shall be included and incorporated in the annual General Appropriations Act for
29 
the Department of Health (DOH), the Department of Social Welfare and Development
30 
(DSWD), the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and the Philippine Health
31 
Insurance Corporation (PHIC). Furthermore, financial assistance shall be provided to
32 
Local Government Units (LGUs) to support the implementation of programs and


1 
services for children with special needs at the grassroots level, the funding for which
2 
shall also be incorporated in the annual General Appropriations Act.
3 
Sec. 18. Separability Clause. - Should any provision of this Act be declared invalid
4 
or unconstitutional, the remaining provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be
5 
in full force and effect.
6 
Sec. 19. Repealing Clause.- All laws, executive orders, presidential decrees,
7 
presidential proclamations, letters of instruction, rules and regulations or parts thereof
8 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
9 
Sec. 20. Effectivity.- This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
10 publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,