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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
Second Regular Session 
1 
9 
FEE 23 111 $4 
S E N A T E  
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Article 13, Section 12 of the 1987 Constitution provides that the State shall 
undertake appropriate health manpower development and research, responsive to the 
country's health needs and problems. 
One of the areas which needs a comprehensive research is the disease called 
Asperger's syndrome. Asperger's syndrome is a developmental disorder that affects a 
child's ability to socialize and communicate effectively with others. Children with 
Asperger's syndrome typically exhibit social awkwardness and an all-absorbing interest 
in specific topics. Conservative estimates indicate that two out of every 10,000 children 
have Asperger's syndrome, and boys are three to four times as likely as girls to have 
the disorder. While there is no cure for Asperger's syndrome, treatment can help 
children learn how to interact more successfully with their peers. 
Asperger's syndrome is also called Asperger's disorder, Asperger's or AS. It is 
characterized by difficulties in social interaction and restricted, stereotyped patterns of 
behavior and interests. Asperger syndrome is distinguished by a pattern of symptoms 
rather than a single symptom. It is characterized by qualitative impairment in social 
interaction, by stereotyped and restricted patterns of behavior, activities and interests, 
and by no clinically significant delay in cognitive development or general delay in 
language. Intense preoccupation with a narrow subject, one-sided verbosity, restricted 
prosody, and physical clumsiness are typical of the condition, but are not required for 
diagnosis. 
Asperger's syndrome is named after Austrian pediatrician Hans Asperger who, in 
1944, described children in his practice who lacked nonverbal communication skills, 
demonstrated limited empathy with their peers, and were physically clumsy. There is no 
single treatment for Asperger syndrome, and the effectiveness of particular 
interventions is supported by only limited data. 
The mainstay of management is 
behavioral therapy, focusing on specific deficits to address poor communication skills, 
obsessive or repetitive routines, and physical clumsiness. 
This proposed measure seeks to provide a comprehensive program for health 
research on Asperger's syndrome in the country and provide a national comprehensive 
information and education drive to inform the general public of the disorder. 
In view of the foregoing, early passage of this bill is earnest1 
MA 
Senator 


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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
Second Regular Session 
1 
9 FEE 23 F’; :44 
S E N A T E  
Introduced by Senator Manuel “Lito” M. Lapid 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING A COMPREHENSIVE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
PROGRAM ON ASPERGER’S SYNDROME, APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSE 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled: 
SECTION I. 
Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Asperger’s 
Syndrome Research and Development Act of 2009. ’‘ 
SEC. 2. 
Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the 
State to protect and promote the right to health of the people to full, healthy and holistic 
development and the right to self-determination. As such, the State shall promote an 
environment conducive to the development of all its citizens to become, to the best of 
their potentials, independent, self-reliant and productive members of society. 
Towards this end, the State commits itself to the establishment of institutional 
mechanisms to provide quantitative and qualitative research on Asperger’s Syndrome. 
SEC. 3. 
Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following terms 
shall be defined as follows: 
(a) “Asperger’s Syndrome” is an autism spectrum disorder in which there is no 
general delay in language or cognitive development but is characterized by difficulties in 
social interaction and restricted, stereotyped patterns of behavior and interests. 
Asperger’s syndrome is also called Asperger’s disorder, Asperger’s or AS. It is 
characterized by difficulties in social interaction and restricted, stereotyped patterns of 
behavior and interests. Asperger’s syndrome is distinguished by a pattern of symptoms 
rather than a single symptom. It is characterized by qualitative impairment in social 
interaction, by stereotyped and restricted patterns of behavior, activities and interests, 
and by no clinically significant delay in cognitive development or general delay in 
language. 


(b) 
(c) 
(d) 
“Committee” refers to the Committee on Asperger’s Syndrome Research; 
“Department”shall refer to the Department of Health; 
“Secrefary”shal1 refer to the Secretary of the Department of Health. 
SEC. 4. 
Comprehensive Research on Asperger’s Syndrome. - The 
Secretary of the Department of Health (DOH) is hereby mandated to conduct a 
comprehensive research and information drive on the incidence of Asperger’s 
Syndrome in the country. The Department is also mandated to support medical and 
epidemiological research activities to expand the knowledge and understanding of the 
said disorder in the country. 
The DOH is mandated to strenthen its research focus concerning Asperger 
Syndrome, including a renewed investment into basic and clinical research, expanded 
research into the link between environmental factors and the disease, and continued 
investigations into causation, diagnosis, early detection and treatment for the same. 
Sucb factors that will be studied shall also include, among others, hormones and 
reproductive factors, genetic factors, socio-demographic factors, and others. 
SEC. 5. 
Committee on Asperger’s Syndrome Research. - To assist the 
Secretary in receiving accurate and complete information about Asperger’s Syndrome, 
its symptoms, origin, classification, prevention and treatment, there is hereby 
established a Committee on Asperger’s Syndrome, to ensure the strategic 
management, communication, and oversight of the policy formation, research, and 
activities of the government regarding the disorder. 
The Committee shall endeavor to: 
a) 
promote public awareness, education and information on issues 
concerning the disorder; 
b) 
persons; 
c) 
establish sustainable networks of support groups for families of afflicted 
provide referral services to individuals with the disorder and identify the 
appropriate educational and medical expertise and facilities suited to the needs of the 
patient; 
d) 
combat the spectrum of medical problems related to the syndrome 
through screening, education, early intervention, prompt referrals for treatment and 
services; 
e) 
undertake research andlor collaborate with other entities on research 
activities regarding the prevalence of the disorder in the Philippines; 


9 
receive donations and grants from international donor institutions, 
foundations, and multilateral and bilateral foreign donor agencies involved in research, 
prevention, cure and rehabilitation of persons with the disorder; 
provide the avenue for exchange of information, exchange programs and 
sharing of best practices on issues relating to the early detection, prevention, and 
treatment of afflicted patients; and 
ensure that materials concerning the syndrome are available, up to date, 
and responsive to reports of problems with Asperger’s Syndrome, and that timely 
aggregate data concerning such reports shall be made available to the public upon 
request and consistent with existing confidentiality standards. 
g) 
h) 
SEC. 6. 
Composition- - The Committee on Asperger’s Syndrome Research 
shall be composed of the following members: 
One (1) representative from the Department of Health (DOH); 
One (1) representative from the National Institute of Health (NIH); 
One (1) representative from duly accredited drug and vaccine 
manufacturers and distributors; 
One (1) representative from the duly accredited association of hospitals in 
the Philippines; 
One (1) representative from the duly accredited association of medical 
doctors in the Philippines; and 
One (1) representative from the non-governmental organizations (NGOs) 
involved in the advocacy for the prevention, cure and rehabilitation of 
persons with Asperger’s Syndrome. 
The Secretary of the Department of Health shall seat as the Chairperson for the 
Committee on Asperger’s Syndrome Research. 
SEC. 7. 
Meetings. - The Committee on Asperger’s Syndrome Research 
shall meet at least once a month or as often as necessary upon the written request 
signed by two-thirds (2/3) 
of its members. 
The presence of a majority of the members of the Committee shall constitute a 
quorum in order for it to conduct its business. 
The meetings of the Committee shall be open to the public and shall be given the 
opportunity to speak and make presentations at such meetings. 
concerning the activities conducted by such member. 
Each member shall make a presentation to the full Committee at each meeting 


SEC. 8. 
Early Identification and Intervention for Persons with 
Asperger’s Syndrome. - The Department is hereby mandated to establish a program 
for early identification, screening and detection of persons with Asperger’s Syndrome. 
SEC. 9. 
Prevenfion of Conflict of Interest in the Research Process. - 
Within six (6) month from the date of effectivity of this Act, the Department shall issue 
the necessary standards, guidelines and regulations in order to ensure that there is no 
conflict of interest between the research agenda of the researchers and the drug 
manufacturers or government agencies promoting the widespread usage of a particular 
vaccine or medicine for the treatment and rehabilitation of persons with Asperger’s 
Syndrome. 
It shall ensure the timely publication and dissemination of information of these 
guidelines and regulations in order to ensure that the various health providers and 
stakeholders all over the country are adequately informed. 
’ SEC. I O .  
Appropriations. - To carry out the provisions of this Act, the funds 
necessary to implement the provisions of this Act shall be incorporated in the annual 
general appropriations of the Department of Health. 
SEC. 11. 
Separability Clause - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid 
or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall 
remain valid and subsisting. 
SEC. 12 
Repealling 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. 
SEC. 13. 
Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
from the date of its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) 
newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,