FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
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S.B.No. 1427 
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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 1, Article XIII of the Philippine Constitution mandates that Congress give the 
highest priority to the enactment of measures that protect and enhance the right of all 
people to human dignity, and reduce social, economic, and political inequalities. 
Section 13, Article XIII of the same organic law 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." 
The 2000 Census by the National Statistics Office reported that a total of 942,098 persons 
or 1.23 percent of the total population in the country had disabilities. In a paper 
presented before the World Bank, Venus !lagan, President of Disabled Peoples' 
International, estimates that thirty to forty percent (30%-40%) of the total disability 
population in the Philippines are composed of children. 
There are currently 94 special education institutions (including The Philippine National 
School for the Blind, National School for the Deaf and other private institutions), 14 
special education centers which are set up within existing schools, 19 boarding schools, 
2 hospital schools and 4,292 special education classes in public schools. There are 23 
schools that have an integrated education program and in areas where Community-
based Rehabilitation (CBR) services are provided schools have integrated education (as 
of 1993). Those persons with disabilities whom receive education in educational 
facilities are limited. It is shocking that only 2% of persons with disabilities of school 
age are enrolled in formal educational institutions, according to the United Nations 
Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). 
Socio-econo'mic conditions and the lack of capacities to help children with disabilities 
are main causes of the continued poor conditions they experience. Because most of 
these children come from impoverished families they certainly do not have the means 
to attain specialized education; many of them are kept hidden and their families forbid 
social interaction with other members of the community - to the detriment of the 
growth and development of the disabled child. 
It is therefore imperative that the State provide them with free facilities for growth and 
development, to give them opportunities for 1:?etter integration into society. This bill 


aims to provide 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 them. 
In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
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Senator 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
) 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S.B. No. 1427 
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Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 
AN ACT 
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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 
all citizens to quality education at all levels 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 responq 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; 
b) Provide full financial and educational assistance to handicapped children of the 
country; and 
c) Help the development and rehabilitation of handicapped children through said 
special edu<;ation program. 
S~c. 3. For purposes of this Act the following shall mean: 
a) Child with Disability is one who has not reached the age of majority, is not gainfully 
employed and is 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); 
b) 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. 
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 
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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, textbook 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 
appropriations 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. All 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 
thereby shall continue in full force and effect. 
Sec. 10. 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, 
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