Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRE:

First Regular Session

3582

House Bill No.

Introduced by Hon, 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 schoo! administrators for the various exceptionalities has
remained a perennial problem.

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 as well

as their 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 manner,
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 Educat 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 concem 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.

Lone District, Muntinlupa City


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Session

House Bill No.__ 8582

Introduced by Hon. 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:

ION 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.

See. 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) Teacher education (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) “Gifted” 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) “Handicapped” shall refer to one who has a physical or mental impairment that
substantially limits one or more of higher psychological, physiological or anatomical
functions.

(©) “Secretary” shall refer to the Secretary of the Department of Education, Culture
and sports.

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 schoo! division shall also organize special education centers which shall

include non-formal and outreach program for out-of school children and youth.


Sec. 6. Special 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 identify Special Needs of Gifted and

Handicapped Children and Youth, ~ The Special Education Division of the Department of

Education, Culture and Sports, 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 comprehens

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, finally, 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 Tiraining. ~ 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


See. 10. Provision for Training of Personnel. ~ The Department of Education, Culture
and Sports, 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,

inally, 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,

offe

ing Bachelor's degree in Education shal! include Special Education subjects as basic
knowledge to students in teacher education.

Sec. 12. Authority of the Secretary of Education, Culture and Sports, ~ 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 that 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 gifted 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. Incentives for Private Individual/Emities. ~ Any 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, Culture and Sports
for the purposes of this Act, shall constitute allowable deduction from the income of the
donor for income tax purposes and shall be exempted from donor's tax, subject to such
conditions as provided under the National Internal Revenue Code.

See. 16. Repealing Clause. — Any law, act, decree, order, proclamation or regulation
or part thereof inconsistent with this Act is hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

See. 17. Separability Clause. ~ 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. Effecfivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days from its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation

Approved,