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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
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.JUL -3 P 3 :%> 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
Introduced by Senator Rodolfo G. Biazon 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The democratization of access to quality education particularly for children and youth 
with special educational needs such as the gifted, the gifted but physically handicapped, the fast 
learners, the mentally retarded, the visually impaired (blind), the hearing-impaired, the 
orthopedically handicapped, the speech impaired, those with behavior problems, those with 
learning disabilities and those with special health problems and others have not received as much 
attention as it should have. 
The progress of special education has been hampered by various complaints. Besides the 
lack of classrooms, physical facilities and special equipment suitable to the needs of the disabled, 
the dearth of specially trained teachers and school administrators for the various exceptionalities 
has remained a perennial problem. As of 1989, only 1,274 teachers across the country have been 
trained for the abovementioned children and youth with special needs, one reason why only less 
than 2% of the total number of these minors can be served. 
Parent education is an urgent need in the campaign to enhance home-school relationships 
and to maximize their sense of competence and involvement in the education of their 
handicapped and as well as the gifted children. Over the years, the Bureau of Elementary 
Education has worked for the improvement of the delivery system despite and against any 
constraints. These efforts can only be sustained if they are anchored on a legal mandate that fully 
supports and ensures the continuity of long-term programs to help develop the potential of 
handicapped and gifted persons. In this way, self-reliance that has been wanting among the 
handicapped who are potential assets to themselves and to the country could be developed. 
With the advent of the worldwide movement of Education for All (EFA), adequate 
provision for the education of the handicapped and the gifted will contribute to the achievement 
of its objectives which emphasizes the eradication of illiteracy, greater effectiveness of learning 
for all and the acquisition of basic skills, knowledge and attitudes to empower them for a better 
quality of life. 
As an expression of our deep concern to this sector of our society and to give fuller 
meaning to the democratization of education towards their upliftment, this bill is recommended 
for immediate approval. 
RODOLFO GUIAZON 
Senator 


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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
7 JU!. -3 P3 :23 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
1 
SENATE 
S. No. _835 
Introduced by Senator Rodolfo G. Biazon 
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 the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Gifted and Handicapped 
Children and Youth Act.” 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State shall recognize the vital role of the youth in 
nation-building and shall promote and protect their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual and 
social well-being. It shall give priority to education, science and technology, arts, culture and 
ports to foster patriotism and nationalism, accelerate social progress, and promote human 
liberation and development. 
SEC. 3. Special Education Program - Pursuant to the foregoing policy, there shall be 
established in every school division a comprehensive special education program for handicapped 
and gifted children and youth in the pre- elementary, elementary, and secondary levels 
throughout the country with the following essential program components. 
(a) Educational diagnosis and assessment essential to the proper identification of gifted 
and handicapped children and youth. 
(b) Pre-service and 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; 


(d) Continuing research as basis for improvement of instruction at the pre-elementary, 
elementary and secondary levels and in planning and service programming activities 
including the purchase of special facilities and equipment; and 
(e) Parent-education informing them of available services, placement options and other 
relevant information to enable them to make informed decisions. 
SEC. 4. Definitions. - For purposes of this Act, the term 
(a) “GiJed” shall refer to one who shows advanced development and potential for at 
least above average verbal or linguistic intelligence, logical or mathematical intelligence, body or 
kinesthetic intelligence, visual or spatial intelligence, musical or rhythmic intelligence or 
leadership ability. 
(b) “Hundicapped” shall refer to one who has a physical or mental impairment that 
substantially limits one or more of higher psychological, physiological or anatomical functions. 
(c) “Secretary” shall refer to the Secretary of the Department of Education. 
SEC. 5. Organization. - Every public school division throughout the country shall 
organize special classes for gifted and handicapped children and youth in the pre-elementary, 
elementary and secondary levels. The organization of pre-school classes for these children and 
youth shall be strongly encouraged to ensure early educational intervention. 
Every public school division shall also organize special education centers which shall 
include non-formal and outreach programs for out-of school children and youth. 
SEC. 6. Specid 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 within the school 
division with special education classes shall have access to the above services. 
SEC. 7. Provision for Continuing Research to IdentifV Special Needs of 
Giftd and 
Handicapped Children and Youth. - The Special Education Division of the Department of 
Education, by itself or in association with such organizations or institutions as are determined by 
the Secretary to be appropriate, shall undertake continuing research to identify and design a 
comprehensive special educational program that meets the full range of special needs of gifted 
and handicapped children and youth: Provided, That such continuing research shall also be used 


to develop instructional techniques for use by special education centers that will improve the 
acquisition by handicapped children and youth of skills necessary for transition to independent 
living, vocational training, or competitive employment; Provided, jnully, That such continuing 
research shall further be used to design physical education and therapeutic recreation program 
for use by special education centers to increase the potential of handicapped children and youth 
for community participation. 
SEC. 8. Skills training. - Vocational education and training shall be provided and 
strengthened to render handicapped children and youth more skillful and competitive. 
SEC. 9. Teacher's Item. - Wherever requirements are met, the salary grade of teachers 
handling special education classes shall be two grades higher than that of a regular teacher and 
their present items shall be reclassified to special education teacher items. Items for special 
education supervisor in each public school division and head teachers of special education 
centers shall be created for effective administration and supervision of the comprehensive special 
education program. 
SEC. 10. Provision for Training of Personnel. - The Department of Education, in 
collaboration with the Commission on Higher Education and the Technical Education and Skills 
Development Authority, shall develop special education courses for adoption and 
implementation by accredited higher education institutions; Provided, That such courses shall 
include subjects on: (a) special education and adaptive physical education; (b) special education 
supervision and administration; and (c) special education research; Provided, finally, That the 
Secretary may make grants, which may include scholarships with necessary stipends and 
allowances, to institutions of higher education and universities which already offer such or 
similar courses. 
SEC. 11. Teacher Training. - All teacher training institutions, public or private, offering 
Bachelor's degree in Education shall include Special Education subjects as basic knowledge to 
students in teacher education. 
SEC. 12. Authority ofthe Secretary of Education. - The Secretary of Education, Culture 
and Sports is charged with the administration and enforcement of the provisions of this Act and 
shall promulgate and issue the necessary implementing rules and regulations within sixty (60) 


days from the effectivity of this Act. A copy of such rules and regulations shall furnish the 
Congress of the Philippines. 
He/She is hereby authorized to organize a group under higher office to intensify the 
supervision and development efforts on special education at the elementary and secondary levels, 
including out-of-school children and youth. 
SEC. 13. Dissemination of Materials and Information Concerning Working Practices 
with Gifted and Handicapped Children and Youth. The Secretary, in collaboration with the 
Secretary of Health and Secretary of Labor and Employment, shall disseminate materials and 
information concerning effective practices in working with, training and educating giHed and 
handicapped children and youth. 
SEC. 14. Appropriation. - The initial amount of Fifty Million Pesos (P50,000,000.00) is 
hereby authorized to be appropriated out of the President's Organization Adjustment Fund to 
carry out the provisions of this Act on the year of its approval. Thereafter, such 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, Culture and Sports in the General Appropriations Act. 
SEC. 15. lncentives for Private lndividuals/Entities. - Donations, gifts, bequests in the 
form of cash, building, land or improvements thereon, from private entities as well as private 
corporations, which shall be made to the Department of Education for the purposes of this Act, 
shall constitute allowable deduction from the income of the donor for income tax purposes and 
shall be exempted form donor's tax, subject to such conditions as provided under the National 
Internal Revenue Code. 
SEC. 16. Repealing Clause. - Any law, act, decree, order, proclamation or regulation or 
part thereof inconsistent with this Act is hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 17. Separability Cluuse. - In the event that any provision of this Act, or part 
thereof, it is hereby declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining provisions thereof shall 
be considered valid and binding. 
SEC. 18. Effecfvity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days from its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
Approved,