SIXTI':I':NIII CON(iRI':SS (W Till': RI':I'UI3L1C 
) 
01' TilL 1'llIl.Il'l'INLS 
) 
fiirst Rcgular Session 
) 
·13 
NOV 26 P 2 :,1 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Dcrensor Santiago 
I,XPI,ANATORY NOTE 
The Policics and Cfuidclines Jell' Special I \ducation, as contained in D ECS Order No. 117, 
s. 1')X7, identilied pcrsons who have sensory impairment as special edueationclientclc. This bill 
sceks to conercliz.c thc constitutional mandate which provides that the State shall "promote the 
right 01' all citizens to quality education ... and to make such cciucation accessible to all." 
It should be recognized that dcaJ~mutc ami blind ehildrcn havcdiffcrcnt needs compared 
to tlleir physically able pecrs, which merit carcl'ul attention. The Congressional Commission on 
cducation (l':I)COM) ll<ls revealed the inadequacy 01' programs and the poor access to special 
education (SPI \I) brought about by the limited number of special schools and SPED center in 
thc country. In light oj' the l()regoing, this bill is relevant for it addresses the problem of limited 
SPI'Il {;Icilities. 
This bill allllS to establish special education centers 111 cities and municipalities for 
dil'lcrently abled childrclI.' 
• This bill was origill<l!!Y riled durinp, the Thirteenth COllgrcss, Pirs! Regular Session. 


SIXI'I':LNTI I CON(]RI\SS OF TI 11\ REPlJIlLIC 
) 
01; TIII\ PIIILII'I'INI':S 
) 
I;irst Regular Scssion 
) 
"13 
NOV 26 P 2 :51 
SFNATI': 
S. No. 194i 
....... RI~C~I\'Ef) BY; 
Introduced by Scnator Miriam Dcfensor Santiago 
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AN ACT 
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I'ROVIIlIN( i FOI{ 1'111'; CRI-:ATION OF SPI';CIAL EDUCATION CENTERS IN CInES AND 
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MlJNICII';\LITII\S FOR Dll;F!\RENTLY Allum C[]JLDREN 
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/Ie ii ('Iii/deli hy ihe Sen(fie ond the JIouse oj'Representatives ollhe Philippines in 
( 'ongress IIssemhled: 
SI-:CTION I. /)eelomiion olPolicy. 
It is hereby declared the policy of the State to 
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establish, maintain, Hlld support SpceiHI t(clucHtion Centers (hereafter "Centers") in every eity 
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and lllunicipality f(ll' dcal~mllte and blind children in consonance with the Constitutional mandate 
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I()r "the Statc to takc appropriate stcps to makc education accessible to all." 
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SI\CTION 2. ,)/Jeciallc'c/ucalio/l Cenlers; Creation and i'Ulpose.·· There shall be created 
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in every city and municipality throughout thc country Special Education Centers which shall 
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assist thc J)epartmcnt oj' I ':Clueatioll in: 
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(A) 
Providing deal~lllutc and blind children special quality cducation and related 
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services as well <IS vocational and transitional services; and 
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(Il) 
Providing dcal~mutc and blind children currently in school or who rccently left 
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school programs and service to assist them in the transition to independent livin~, vocational 
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training, and eompctitivc clllploymcnl. 
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SI':C'TION 3. 
AlIiiJorily o(fhe Seael(/I'Y or Fdlicaiion to Give Granis 10, or Fnter into 
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C(}()j}(?l'IIiil'c Armngcmenls .Ii,,' ihe ereaiion oj; ,)/Jecial Fducatiol1 Cenier.\'.· The Secretary of 
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I':ducatioll is hereby uuthorizcd to give grants to~ or enter into cooperative arrangcrncnt or 
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contracts with public or private non-profit agencies, institutions, or orgmlizations, for the 


establishment or creation 01; Special hiucation Centers Illr deaj:mute and blind childrcn and 
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youth; Provided, thal a gnmt rnade pursuant lo this section may be made only jill' the Ic)liowing 
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or similar pmgrallls: 
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(i\ ) 
Technical assistance to Cenlcrs providing educational scrvices to de[ll~mute and 
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blind children; 
(Il) 
Pre-service or in-service training of professionals or related servICcs personnel 
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prcparing to serve or serving deal~l1lule and blind children; 
(e) 
I{eplication or successful innovative approaches to providing educational or 
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related serviccs to dear-mute and blind children or children at risk of bein!!, certified deaf-mute 
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Hlld blind; 
II 
(I)) 
Consultative, counseling, and training services for the families of deaf-mute and 
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blind children; and 
(I ,) 
I:mniliarization of thc municipality to be served by a center with the problems and 
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potcntialities or such childrcn. 
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SI':CTION 4. /'rovisionjiJl' Continuin?, Research to ldcntifj! Special Nceds olf)eafMule 
lCJ 
and JIIind Children 
The Special Education Division of the Department ofUducatioll, by itself 
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or ill association with such organizations or institutions as are determined by theSeeretary of 
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liducation to be appropriate, shall undertake continuing rcseareh to identify and design programs 
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that !\lect thc I'ull range 01' special needs or deal~l11utc and blind children; Provided, that such 
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continuing rcsearch shall also he llsed to develop instructional techniques for use by thc Centers 
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that will improve deal~mute and blind children's acquisition oIthe skills nceessary Ii)!' transition 
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to iudcpcndcnt living, vocational (mining, 01' competitive employment; Provided, linally that 
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such continuing rcsenreh shall lin'lher be used to design physical education and therapeutic 
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recreation program lilr usc by the Centers to increase thc potential of deaf-mute and blincl 
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children ji)r eomnllinity participation. 
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SI':CTION 5. "f'(}visionji)r II'aining o/,I'ersonnel. -- The Department of Ec1ucation shall 
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develop special education cOlil'ses li)r adoption and implementation by accredited institutions of 
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highcr cdllcalion <mel univcrsities; Provided, That such courses shall include subjects on special 
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cducalion, and adaptive physical cducation; special education supcrvision and administration; 
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and spceial education rcsearch; Provided, flnally, That the Secretary or Education may rnake 
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grants, which may include scholarships with necessary stipends and allowances, to institutions or 
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higher education and/or univcrsities which already orrcr such or similar courses, 
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SI':CTION (l. 
/inl1llill IIcporl 10 Ihe SccrCIW)' of liducalion, ~ Centers established, 
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created. 01' supported undel' this Act, as well as public or non-profit private agencies or 
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organi/,ations which me recipients 01' grants under this Act, shall report annually to thc Secretary 
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01' I':ducation on the number oj' recipients, by age, severity, and natlll'e of dcal~mutelless and 
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blindness; the number of prol'cssionals and 1;1111i1y members directly served by, or serving in, 
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each Center; and tile types or services provided, 
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SI·:CTION 7, f)isselllinalion oj'Materials and fnji)},}17alio17 Concerning Working Practices 
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wilh iJearMllle and !!lind Children. 
The Secretary of Education, in collaboration with thc 
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Secretary n I' Ileal t hand Sccrctary of Labor anc! Employmcl1t, shall disseminate materials and 
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inf()rlllatioll concerning c:lTcctivc practices in working with, training, and educating deaf-tnulc 
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lII1d hlind children, 
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SI~CTION X, 
f)eaj-lv/lIle and Jilind Children, f)ejincd. - For purposes of this Act, the 
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terlll '\learmute and blind children" shall includc thc hearing, speech, and eyesight impaired 
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children Croll! birth tn eighteen ycars or age, 
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Sli(TION 9, fll1plernenling Guidelines .fiJI' the Fstahlishment oj'Special He/ucation 
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e'enlas, - The Secretary or Fducalion shall pl'Omulgate and issue the necessary implementing 
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guidelines lill' the ercation and opcration or Spccial Education Centers within sixty (60) days 
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alkr the elTcclivity 01' this Aet. 
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SI':CTION 10. Fllnd/i)j' the I;'stahlishment and Operation of the Centers. - Such sums as 
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Illay be necessary Ii)t· the initial implementation of this Act are hereby authorized to be 
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appropriated li'om the National Treasury. Thereafter, (he sums necessary lor (he continuous 
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openltion of the ('enters shall be included in the annllal appropriations of the Departmcnt of 
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I·:duealion. 
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SI':CTION I I. Sepumhility ('fause. 
[1' any provision or part hereof is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise afreeted shall remain 
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valid and subsisting. 
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SI<:C:TION 12. /(cpea/iI1R Ciallse.- Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
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order, letter or instruction. administrative order, rule, or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
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with the provisions oj' this Aet is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
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SFCTION 13. I\j/ectivily Clause. - This Act shall take effect lifteen CIS) days aner its 
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publication in allcast two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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