Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE: fi
Quezon City &

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS:
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 3039

Introduced by Representatives
DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL ARROYO and GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE CREATION OF MUNICIPAL SPECIAL EDUCATION
CENTERS FOR DEAF-MUTE AND BLIND CHILDREN APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

In DECS Order No. 117, series of 1987, under Policies and Guidelines governing
Special Education, it categorized and identified those persons who suffer sensory
impairment as special education clientele. Therefore, children who are deaf-mute and
blind fall under such category. This bill proposes to concretize the constitutional
mandate that the State shall "promote the right of all citizens to quality education ... and
to make such education accessible to all.”

As compared to normal children, deaf-mute and blind children have different and
special needs which require careful attention and care. In the early 90's, the
Congressional Commission on Education or EDCOM had already reported the
inadequacy of programs and the poor access to special education (SPED) due to the
limited number of special schools and SPED centers in the country.

In view of the foregoing, this bill is timely and important as it seeks to address the
problem of limited SPED facilities by establishing Municipal Special Education Centers
for deaf-mute and blind children. This is to ensure the ease of accessibility for such
children to SPED facilities in every municipality throughout the country.


It is our fervent hope that our colleagues will ensure the speedy passage of this
bill into law given its far-reaching impact

(|

DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL ARROYO GLO! MACAPAGAL ARROYO.
Second District, Camarines Sur Second District, Pampanga


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS.
First Regular Session

House Bill No. __ 3039

Introduced by Representatives
DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL ARROYO and GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE CREATION OF MUNICIPAL SPECIAL EDUCATION
CENTERS FOR DEAF-MUTE AND BLIND CHILDREN APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines
in Congress Assembled:

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. — \t is hereby declared the policy of the State
to establish, maintain and support Municipal Special Education Centers (hereafter
referred to as "Centers") for deaf-mute and blind children in consonance with the
Constitutional mandate for “the State [to] take appropriate steps to make education
accessible to all."

SECTION 2. Municipal Special Education Centers: Creation and Purpose. —
There shall be created in every municipality throughout the country Municipal Special
Education Centers which shall assist the Department of DepEd in:

(a) Providing deaf-mute and blind children special quality education and related
services as well as vocational and transitional services; and

(b) Providing deaf-mute and blind children currently in school or who recently left
school programs and services to assist them in the transition to independent
living, vocational training, and competitive employment.


SECTION 3. Authority of the Secretary of Education to Give Grants to, or Enter
into Cooperative Arrangements for the Creation of Municipal Special Education Center.
— The Secretary of DepEd is hereby authorized to give grants to, or enter into
cooperative arrangements or contracts with public or private non-profit agencies,
institutions, or organizations for the establishment or creation of Municipal Special
Education Centers for deaf-mute and blind children and youth; Provided, that a grant
made pursuant to this section may be made only for the following or similar programs:

(a) Technical assistance to Centers providing educational services to deaf-mute
and blind children;

(b) Pre-service or in-service training of professionals or related services
personnel preparing to serve or serving deaf-mute and blind children;

(c) Replication of successful innovative approaches to providing educational or
related services to deaf-mute and blind children;

(d) Facilitation of parental involvement in the education of their deaf-mute and
blind children;

(e) Diagnosis and educational evaluation of deaf-mute and blind children at risk
of being certified deaf-mute and blind;

() Consultative, counseling and training services for the families of deaf mute
and blind children; and

(g) Familiarization of the municipality to be served by a Center with the problems
and potentialities of such children

SECTION 4. Provision for Continuing Research to Identify Special Needs of
Deaf-Mute and Blind Children. — The Special Education Division of the Department of
Education (DepEd), by itself or in association with such organizations or institutions as
are determined by the Secretary of DepEd to be appropriate, shall undertake continuing
research to identify and design programs that meet the full range of special needs of
deaf-mute and blind children; Provided, that such continuing research shall also be
used to develop instructional techniques for use by the Centers that will improve deaf-
mute and blind children's acquisition of the 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 the Centers to increase the potential of deaf-mute and
blind children for community participation.

SECTION 5. Provision for Training of Personnel. - The DepEd shall develop
special education courses for adoption and implementation by accredited institutions of
higher education and universities; 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 of the DepEd may make grants, which may include scholarships with
necessary stipends and allowances, to institutions of higher education and/or
universities which already offer such or similar courses.

SECTION 6. Annual Report to the Secretary of DepEd; Examination of Numbers
and Services and Revision of Numbers; Annual Report to Congress; and Summary of
Data. -

(a) Centers established, created or supported under the Act as well as public or
nonprofit private agencies or organizations which are recipients of a grant shall
report annually to the Secretary of the DepEd on: (1) the number of recipients, by
age, severity, and nature of deaf-muteness and blindness; (2) the number of
professionals and family members directly served by, or serving in, each Center;
and (3) the types of services provided;

(b) The Secretary of the DepEd shall examine the number of deaf-mute and blind
children and youth so reported and, together with the Secretary of the
Department of Health, shall create and annually revise a Deaf-Mute and Blind
Children National Registry; and

(c) The Secretary of the DepEd shall summarize the data for submission in its
annual report to the Congress.

SECTION 7. Dissemination of Materials and Information Conceming Working
Practices with Deaf-Mute and Blind Children. —- The Secretary of the DepEd, in
collaboration with the Secretary of Health and Secretary of Labor and Employment,
shall disseminate materials and information conceming effective practices in working
with, training, and educating deaf-mute and blind children.

SECTION 8. Deaf-Mute and Blind Children Defined. — For purposes of this Act,
the term "deaf-mute and blind children” shall include the hearing, speech, and eyesight
impaired children from birth to eighteen years of age.

SECTION 9. Implementing Guideline for the Establishment of Municipal Special
Education Centers. — The DepEd in collaboration with the Department of Health and the
Department of Public Works and Highways, shall promulgate and issue the necessary
implementing guidelines for the creation and operation of Municipal Special Education
Centers within sixty (60) days after the effectivity of this Act.

SECTION 10. Fund for the Establishment and Initial Operation of the Centers. —
Such sum as may be necessary is hereby authorized to be appropriated from the
National Treasury. Thereafter, the sums necessary for the continuous operation of the
Centers shall be included in the annual appropriations of the DepEd.


SECTION 11. Separability Clause. — If any provision, or part hereof, is held
invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision shall remain valid
and subsisting.

SECTION 12. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance,
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to
or inconsistent with, the provision of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended
accordingly

SECTION 13. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation

Approved,