THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANUEL B. VILLAR JR. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Policies and Guidelines for Special Education, as contained in DECS Order No. 117, 
s. 1987, identified persons who have sensory impairment as special education clientele. This bill 
seeks to concretize the constitutional mandate which provides that the State shall “promote the 
right of all citizens to quality education . . . and to make such education accessible to all.” 
It should be recognized that deaf-mute and blind children have different needs compared 
to their physically able peers which merit careful attention. The Congressional Commission on 
Education (EDCOM) in its report prepared in 1991-92 has revealed the inadequacy of programs 
and the poor access to special education (SPED) brought about by the limited number of special 
schools and SPED center in the country. 
In light of the foregoing, this bill is relevant for it addresses the problem of limited SPED 
facilities. This bill aims to establish Municipal Special Education Centers for deaf-mute and 
blind children to ensure accessibility of the latter to such institutions in every municipality. Early 
passage of this bill is therefore earnestly solicited. 
MANUEL B. V LLAR, JR. 
9 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S. NO. 
533 
: . ‘  
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANUEL B. VILLAR JR. 
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 
Assem bled: 
SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. It is hereby declared the policy of the State to 
establish, maintain and support Municipal Special Education Centers (hereafter “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 Educatibn Centers; Creation and Purpose. There 
shall be created in every municipality throughout the country Municipal Special Education 
Centers which shall assist the Department of Education 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, Culture and Sports to Give 
Grants to, or Enter into Cooperative Arrangements for the Creation of Municipal Special 
Education Center. The Secretary of Education, Culture and Sports 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; 
(0 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, 
Culture and Sports (DECS), by itself or in association with such organizations or institutions as 
are determined by the Secretary of DECS 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 Department of Education, 
Culture and sports 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 DECS 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 Education; Examination of 
Numbers and Services and Revision of Numbers; Annual Report to Congress; Summary of 
Data. (a) Centers established, created or supported under the Act as well as public or non-profit 
private agencies or organizations which are recipients of a grant shall report annually to the 
Secretary of the DECS 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 
DECS 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 
The Secretary of the DECS shall 
summarize the data for submission in its annual report to the Congress. 
(c) 
SECTION 7. Dissemination of Materials and Information Concerning Working 
Practices with Deaf-Mute and Blind Children. The Secretary of the DECS, 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 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 Department of Education, Culture and Sports 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 Department of Education and Culture and Sports. 
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 instnyAion, 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,