Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
‘SECOND REGULAR SESSION

6934

Introduced by AKBAYAN Party-List Representative Tomasito S. Villarin

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or Autism is an organic disorder of the
neural development of the brain, and starts from early infancy. It is a lifelong
developmental condition that affects how a person communicates with, and
relates to, other people. It is characterized by repetitive motor movements,
inflexible adherence to routines, ritualized patterns of behavior, fixations,
hyper- or hypo-reactivity to sensory input. Autism may occur together with
other developmental, psychiatric, neurologic, chromosomal, and genetic
diagnoses.

Autism affects between one percent to two percent of populations!, according
to recent studies in countries in North America, Europe and Asia --
translating to approximately 1.2 million Filipinos with autism. It is
considered the fastest growing developmental disability? today. The Autism
Society Philippines estimates that only 10% of Filipinos with autism are
diagnosed and only 5% are receiving appropriate intervention. In 2017, the
cost for intervention for school children with autism averages P180,000
annually’.

Evidence-based studies have shown that early intervention, availability of
services and inclusive policies result in improved functioning and quality of
life for persons with autism over their lifetime.

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and
the Magna Carta of Persons with Disabilities (RA 7277) have laid the

‘Summary of Autism Spectrum Disorder Prevalence Studies". Atlanta: Center for Disease
Control, 2016. http://bit-ly/2CPXpoA. 07 Jan 2018.

2*Facts and Statistics". Bethesda: Autism Society of America, 2018. http://bit.ly/1anBUsN.
7 January 2018.

® Magno-Veluz, Mona et al. "Primer on Autism in the Philippines". Quezon City: Autism
Society Philippines, 2018. Print.


groundwork for social development. While we observe reduced stigma against
and improved opportunities for PWAs, through the efforts of family advocacy
groups and professional organizations, the government needs to provide
improved and more accessible specialized services and ‘supports for this
growing disability community.

This proposed measure defines the roadmap towards addressing the needs of
Filipino families who live with autism - through awareness, intervention,
education, training, employment, livelihood - throughout the lifetime of the
PWA.

In view of the foregoing, the early passage of this bill is ¢:



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
SECOND REGULAR SESSION

6934

House Bill No.

Introduced by AKBAYAN Party-List Representative Tomasito S. Villarin

AN ACT
INSTITUTING A PHILIPPINE NATIONAL AUTISM CARE PLAN FOR THE
SUPPORT OF PERSONS WITH AUTISM AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "National Autism
Care Plan Act".

\o the establishment of institutional and social mechanisms to support PWAs
throughout their lifetime, responsive to their needs, empowering and
providing them quality of life.

Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. — As used in this Act, the following terms shall
mean:

(a) “Autism” or Autism Spectrum Disorder refers to a neurological condition
characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors,
communication, as well as by unique strengths, as defined in the latest
version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders!

a
e_Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders". Arlington, Virginia: American Psychiatric
Association, 2013. Print.


(b) "Diagnosis" refers to necessary assessments, including but not limited to
neuro-psychological evaluations, genetic testing, MRIs, hearing tests,
Psychometric tests to diagnose or discount autism and/or developmental
disabilities in individuals.

(c) "Intervention" refers to interceding action undertaken to help improve the
autism prognosis. Intervention in autism may take the form of medical,
pharmacological, therapeutic, educational, and non-traditional
habilitative care.

(d) "Epidemiology" refers to the study and analysis of the distribution and
determinants of health conditions, like autism, in defined populations.

Sec. 4. Treatment as Persons with Disability. — All PWAs shall be treated
as persons with disability, as defined under Republic Act No. 7277, as
amended. They shall be entitled to all the rights, privileges and benefits
Provided for persons with disabilities under existing laws.

Sec. 5. Continuing Education and Training on Autism for Public Service
Providers. — All officers and staff in charge of providing services to the
Public, including but not limited to the Department of Health (DOH),
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of
Education (DepEd), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE),
Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Transportation (DOT),
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department of
National Defense (DND), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Technical
Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), National Council on
Disability Affairs (NCDA), Persons with Disabilities Affairs Offices (PDAOs) at
the Local Government Units (LGUs), Public Safety Units (military, police,
firemen, and other first responders), shall undergo mandatory continuing
education to sensitize and empower service providers to become effective front
liners in the delivery of services to PWAs and their families.

Sec. 6. Epidemiological Surveillance Programs. — The National Institute
of Health (NIH) is hereby mandated to conduct a bi-annual epidemiological
survey to determine the prevalence of autism in the country, for the purpose
of providing data to government agencies and the private sector, to make
necessary services available to PWAs and their families.

Sec. 7. Evidence-based Research. — The NIH is further mandated, in
coordination with the DOH and local and international educational
institutions, to strengthen its research focus on autism; to invest in clinical
and molecular studies and grants, for the purpose of supporting development
of best practices in autism intervention in the Philippines.


Sec. 8. Early Detection and Intervention of Autism. — The DOH, in
coordination with the DepEd, is hereby mandated to establish a program for
early screening and detection of autism, to provide the appropriate services
to children and toddlers with developmental delays associated with autism,
and to ensure the central PWD registry are updated accordingly.

Sec. 9. Mandatory PhilHealth Coverage. — All persons with autism shall
be covered by the National Health Insurance Program of the Philippine Health
Insurance Corporation (PHIC). Funds necessary to ensure the enrollment of
all PWAs, who are not currently covered under any existing category, shall be
sourced from the National Health Insurance Fund of PHIC, earmarked from
the proceeds of sin tax collections, as provided for in Republic Act No. 10351.
It shall likewise include the cost of early screening and detection programs,
as one of the available benefits of its members.

Sec. 10. Protection against Discrimination in Schools, Colleges,
Universities and Training Institutions. — The DepEd, CHED and TESDA
shall formulate or update policies and protocols to ensure that all educational
institutions shall be inclusive to learners with autism, in matters including,
but not limited to, acceptance to academic or training programs, instructional
supports, and behavior management.

Sec. 11. Protection against Discrimination in Insurance Coverage. — The
Department of Finance shall formulate or update policies and protocols to
ensure that all insurance providers shall provide PWAs access to life
insurance instruments, and shall include allied medical procedures (like
occupational and speech therapies) in health insurance benefits of policy
holders.

Sec. 12. Protection in cases of Disasters and Emergencies. — The DILG
and the DND shall formulate the necessary policies and protocols to ensure
the military, public safety professionals, local government units, and first
responders shall provide the necessary life-saving support to PWAs with
behavioral and communication challenges.

Sec. 13. Access to Transportation. — The DOTr shall formulate the
necessary policies and protocols to ensure PWAs with behavioral and
communication challenges and their families are given reasonable
accommodation in accessing all forms of transportation by service providers
over land, sea and air.

Sec. 14. Reasonable Accommodation in cases of. Legal Action. — The DOJ
shall formulate the necessary policies and protocols to ensure criminal justice

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agencies and professionals shall provide the necessary accommodations and
Protections to PWAs with behavioral and communication challenges, who
may be the accused of, victims of or witnesses to crimes.

Sec. 15. The Autism Council of the Philippines. — There is hereby created
the Autism Council of the Philippines (Council), under the Department of
Health (DOH), which shall serve as an inter-agency and multi-sectoral
mechanism to develop and implement a sustainable, long-term Philippine
National Autism Plan.

The Council shall be responsible for:

(a) developing and updating the Philippine National Autism Plan - a holistic
roadmap in addressing the needs of Filipinos with autism and their
families for the guidance of stakeholders in the private and public
sectors; calibrated to meet changing needs of society and developments
in technology;

(b) designing campaigns that promote awareness of autism, and acceptance,
accommodation and appreciation of PWAs;

(c)_ undertaking research and/or collaborating with private and public
entities on research activities regarding autism in the Philippines;

(4) improving capabilities of government to provide nationally-available
services that support PWAs and their families, in areas including, but
not limited to screening, diagnoses, early intervention, education,
training, employment, livelihood;

(¢) assisting the private and public sector in the design and delivery of
appropriate programs for PWAs and their families;

(developing capacity-building programs, incentives and awards, for PWAs
in leadership, science, culture, arts and sports;

(h) networking with other organizations, institutions and professionals

working for the promotion of legislation and public programs for PWAs;

and

receiving donations and grants from international donor institutions,

foundations, and multilateral and bilateral foreign donor agencies,

involved in the transfer of knowledge or direct services for PWAs;

() provide grants to duly accredited non-government organizations involved
in providing direct services to PWAs;

(h)

Sec. 16. Composition of the Autism Council of the Philippines. — The
Council shall be composed of the following:

(a) The DOH Secretary as Chairperson;
(b) The DSWD Secretary as Vice-Chairperson;
(c)_ The DepEd Secretary as Member;


(d) The DILG Secretary as Member;

(e) The DOLE Secretary as Member;

() The NCDA Executive Director as Member;

(g) The NIH Head as Member;

(h) The Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Head as Member;

(i) Three (3) representatives from the Philippine Society of Behavioral and
Developmental Pediatrics; the Philippine Association of Speech
Pathologists and the Philippine Association of Occupational Therapists,
as Members;

G) Two (2) representatives from the Autism Society Philippines, as Members;
and

(k) One (1) individual with autism, as Member.

The members of the Council from the government agencies and institutions
may designate their permanent representatives who shall have a rank not
lower than an assistant secretary as their official representatives in the
meetings of the Council.

The six (6) appointive members of the Council shall be appointed by the
President of the Philippines, from a list of five (5) nominees from each sector,
who shall serve for a term of three (3) years, and renewable for another term;
Provided: the person appointed shall be of good moral character, of
unquestionable integrity; with expertise and experience of a least six (6) years
in the field of autism, service delivery and other related fields; and that in the
event of a vacancy, the successor appointed to fill the same shall serve only
the unexpired portion of the term of the member he/she succeeds to.

The Council shall have a Secretariat which will coordinate the functions and
organize the services as may be required by the Council in the exercise of its
functions. It shalll be headed by an Executive Director to be appointed by the
Council.

All members of the Council shall receive emoluments as may be determined
by the Council, in accordance with existing budget and accounting rules and
regulations.

Sec. 17. Programs and Services of the Autism Council of the Philippines.
— The Council shall design, implement and deliver programs and services,
relevant to children and adults with autism and their families, under the
following areas:

(a) Information campaigns;
(b) Research;

(c) Assessment, diagnosis and intervention;

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(d) Education, sports and arts;

(ce) PWA and family support;

() Employment and livelihood; and
(g) Residential and hospice care.

Sec. 18. Meetings. — The Council shall meet at least once a month upon a
three-day notice signed by the Chairperson, 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 Council shall constitute a quorum in order
for it to conduct its business.

Sec. 19. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within six (6) months from
the date of effectivity of this Act, the Council shall promulgate the necessary
implementing rules and regulations to ensure that abovementioned
government agencies can develop and implement necessary policies and
Protocols for service delivery to PWAs and their families.

The Council shall ensure the timely publication and dissemination of
information of these guidelines and regulations in order to ensure that the
various stakeholders in the welfare of PWAs are adequately informed.

Sec. 20. Appropriation. — The amount necessary to carry out the provisions
of this Act shall be included and incorporated in the annual general
appropriations of the DOH.

Sec. 21. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared invalid
or unconstitutional, the provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be
in full force and effect.

Sec. 22. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, presidential decrees,
presidential proclamations, letters of instruction, rules and regulations or
parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed
or modified accordingly.

Sec. 23. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its
Publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general
circulation in the Philippines.

Approved,