FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
9 JLlL -4 
?,8 :?8 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to provide free special pre-elementary and elementary education 
to minor handicapped children to promote their integration in and realize their great 
potential as productive members of the society. 
Section 13, Article XI11 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution provides that the State 
shall establish a special agency for disabled persons for their rehabilitation, self- 
development and self-reliance, and their integration into the mainstream of society. 
Pursuant to this, Section 1 of the same Article maridales that Congress shall have the 
highest priority to the enactment of measures that protect and enhance the right of all 
people to human dignity, reduce social, economic, and political inequalities. This policy 
of the State is implemented through 
In a paper presented before the World Bank, Disabled Peoples’ lntevnatioanl 
President Venus Ilagan estitmtes that 30 to 40 percent of the total disability population in 
the Philippines are children. Socio-economic conditions and the lack of capacities to 
develop children with disabilities are main causes of the poor conditions they face. 
Poverty conditions such as inadequate natal care, poor nutrition and lack of adequate 
health services cause a majority of disabilities in children. Because most of these 
children belong to the impoverished that certainly do not have the means to give 
specialized education, many of them are hidden and their families forbid social 
interaction with other members of the community, to the detriment of the child’s 
growth and development. 
It is therefore imperative that the State provide them with facilities for growth 
and development for free, to allow them opportunities for integration in the society. 
This bill aims to do just that providing free education for children with 
disabilities during their formative years. Under this proposed measure, a child is a 
person with disability if such child who has not yet reached the age of majority and not 
gainfully employed, is suffering from severe physical, mental or psychological defect as 
determined by the Act’s implementing agencies. Whenever necessary and feasible, a 
Special Education Center shall be established in each and every province, city and 
municipality to provide free specialized pre-elementary and elementary education to 
themm. 
In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
ma 
LOREN LEGARDA 
‘Senator 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
1 JUI. -4 
A8 :5B 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
S.B. No. 
941 
I 
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FREE AND SUITABLE PUBLIC EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN 
WITH DISABILITIES AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
Section 1. It is the declared policy of the State to protect and promote the right of 
a11 citizens to quality education at all level of education and to make appropriate steps 
to make such education accessible to all. It shall promote non-formal, informal, and 
indigenous and out of school study programs particularly those that respond to 
community needs, the disabled and the handicapped. Towards this end, the State shall 
provide a free and suitable public education for handicapped children under a special 
education program with the end in view of insuring their survival and advancement 
and making them productive partners for national development. 
Sec. 2. It shall be the purposes of this Act to: 
a) 
Establish a special education program that shall cater to the needs 
of the disabled, and the mentally and physically handicapped; 
Provide full financial and educational assistance to handicapped 
children of the country; and 
b) 
c) 
Help the development and rehabilitation of handicapped children 
through said special education program. 
Sec. 3. For purposes of this Act the following shall mean: 
a) 
a child with disability is one who has not reached the age of 
majority, not gainfully employed and suffering from severe 
physical, mental or psychological defect as determined by the 
Department of Education (DepEd) or the Department sf Social 
Welfare and Development (DSWD); 
a suitable public education refers to a course, profession, skill or 
program prescribed by the DepEd to a handicapped child taking 
into consideration the child's aptitude handicap and talents. 
b) 


Sec. 4. A special education center shall, whenever possible, be established in the 
provincial, city and municipal levels for this purpose. Said special education center 
shall, as much as possible, provide for pre-elementary and elementary level of 
education with maximum opportunities for integration with non-handicapped peers. 
Sec. 5. The benefits that will be given to qualified handicapped children shall 
include tuition fees, texthok allowance, transportation allowance and ambulatory 
equipment or devices as may be necessary. Special services such as note-takers and 
readers for the blind, sign interpreters for the deaf and tutorial instruction shall also be 
offered. 
Sec. 6. A special Education Development Fund is hereby established with an 
initial capital outlay of Fifty Million Pesos (P 50,000,000.00) to be taken from the 
apprcpriations for the Department of Education under the current General 
Appropriation Act. Thereafter such sum as may be necessary for its continued 
operations and maintenance shall be included in the annual General Appropriations 
Act. 
Sec. 7. The Department of Education in coordination with the Department of 
Social Welfare and Development shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations 
for the effective implementation of this Act. 
Sec. 8. Repealing Clause. AI1 laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, rules 
and regulations are contrary to the provision of this Act are hereby repealed or 
modified accordingly. 
See. 9. Separability Clause. If any part or provision of this Act shall be held to be 
unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or provision hereof which are not affected 
therehy shall continue in full force and effect. 
Sec. IO. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication 
in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation, 
whichever comes first. 
Approved,