TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and 
Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr. 
House Bill No.  _____ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Throughout the Philippines, thousands of families wake up every morning to the 
special joys and challenges of living with a loved one on the autism spectrum. For them, this 
can mean traveling through a labyrinth of therapy appointments, fighting to find accepting 
schools, facing discrimination in the workplace, and suffering from social stigma — while trying 
to offer the best quality of life for their child, brother or sister, or family member. 
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a persistent neurological disorder that impacts 
communication, social interaction, and behavior. It is referred to as a "spectrum" because no 
two people are alike — some need substantial daily support, yet others function successfully 
with or without support and are accomplished in specialized areas. What never changes is 
that every individual with autism deserves respect, understanding, and access to opportunities 
that enable them to flourish. 
Sadly, even with greater awareness in recent times, the access to necessary services 
for people with autism (PWAs) is still unequal and in many instances, not affordable. Families 
are too often left to bear the financial and emotional cost by themselves, with little government 
assistance. This translates to wasted potential — for the person, for their families, and for 
society. 
This new measure — the Autism Cooperation, Accountability, Research, Education, 
and Support (CARES) Act — works to alter that. The legislation establishes a coordinated 
national policy for ensuring early identification, access to evidence-based treatments, 
education in inclusive settings, job integration, and legal safeguards for PWAs. The bill 
requires interagency coordination, ongoing appropriations, and national programs responsive 
to changing needs of the autism community. It also authorizes the development of the National 
Autism CARES Plan, a unified blueprint to inform policy, research, and program 
implementation.  
By enacting this legislation, we send a clear message: individuals with autism are 
valued members of our country. They are not to be isolated or left behind. With the proper 
support, they can live productive, meaningful lives and make significant contributions to our 
collective future. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
RUFUS B. RODRIGUEZ 
  MAXIMO B. RODRIGUEZ, JR. 
MAXIMO B. RODRIGUEZ, JR. 
August 18, 2025
3:16 pm
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TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and 
Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr. 
House Bill No.  _____ 
AN ACT 
INSTITUTING A COMPREHENSIVE NATIONAL CARE PLAN TO ENCOURAGE 
COOPERATION, ACCOUNTABILITY AND RESEARCH FOR THE EDUCATION AND 
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 "Autism Cooperation, Accountability, 
Research, Education and Support (CARES) Act". 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State hereby affirms its role in protecting and upholding 
the rights of all persons with disability, by giving full support to the improvement of their well-
being and their integration into mainstream society. To this end, the State recognizes the need 
to legislate for the distinctive needs of persons with autism (PWAs) and commits itself to 
institutionalizing adequate policies and programs that shall increase awareness and proper 
understanding of autism, to develop a clear and consistent pathway to early detection and 
diagnosis, provide access to quality education and employment opportunities such that PWAs 
may live independently within the community, to minimize or completely eradicate 
discrimination and to enable the private sector to extend relevant services that will complement 
the government's programs.  
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. -- As used in this Act, the following terms shall mean: 
a.) Autism - 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;  
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 
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 Republic Act 
No. 10754 and other related laws.  
SEC. 5. Inter-Agency Cooperation, Accountability and Research. - The Department of 
Health (DOH), in coordination with Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), 
National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA), Department of Education (DepEd), the 
Philippine Council for Mental Health (PCMH), other academic institutions and non-
governmental organization, is hereby mandated to establish and evaluate the following 
activities:  
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a.) Inform and educate on such disabilities to increase awareness relating to causes, 
early detection, management, treatment as well as development milestones;  
b.) Promote research into the development and validation of reliable screening tools 
for such disabilities;  
c.) Develop a curriculum for continuing education to assist individuals in recognizing 
the need for, and using, valid and reliable screening tools;  
d.) Promote early screening of children and individuals at higher risk for such 
disabilities;  
e.) Promote research to determine evidence-based practices for interventions, develop 
guidelines for those interventions and disseminate information related to such research 
and guidelines; and  
f.) Encourage public participation in decisions relating to such disabilities. 
 
SEC. 6. Continuing Education and Training on Autism for Public 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 (DOTr), Department of Interior 
and Local Government (DILG), the Department of National Defense (DND), Department of 
Science and Technology (DOST), 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 
education and training to empower service providers to become more responsive, sensitive, 
and compassionate in the delivery of services to PWAs and their families. 
 
SEC. 7. Epidemiological Surveillance. - The Department of Health, in coordination with 
different academic institutions and non-governmental organization is hereby mandated to 
annually conduct an epidemiological survey to determine the prevalence of autism in the 
country to provide data to government agencies and the private sector, and to make necessary 
services available to PWAs and their families.  
 
SEC. 8. Evidence-based Research. - The DOH, the Philippine Council for Health Research 
and Development (PCHRD), and the National Institute of Health (NIH) are mandated, in 
coordination with local and international mental health institutions, to promote, create, develop, 
and adopt research and strategic plans that will continue to determine and establish evidence-
based practices for interventions in the treatment, care and integration into society of PWAs.  
 
SEC. 9. 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 is updated accordingly.  
 
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 support, and behavior management. 
 
SEC. 11. Provision for Equal Opportunities for Employment. - The DOLE and the Civil 
Service Commission (CSC) shall formulate policies and programs to ensure that PWAs are 
provided equal opportunities for gainful employment and apprenticeship opportunities in the 
private and public sector.  
 


SEC. 12. Mandatory Insurance Coverage and Prohibition Against Discrimination 
thereof. - All persons with autism shall be automatically covered by the National Health 
Insurance Program of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHIC) as provided under 
Republic Act No. 11228. Funds necessary to ensure the enrolment of PWAs, who are 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, detection programs, and 
maintenance medical procedures such as therapies as part of the available benefits of its 
members. The DOH shall coordinate with the PHIC to ensure that insurance packages are 
available to PWAs. The Department of Finance (DOF) shall likewise issue guidelines 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. 13. Protection in Cases of Disaster and Emergencies. - The DILG, DSWD and the 
DND shall formulate the necessary policies and protocols to ensure that 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, in times of 
disasters, calamities and other emergencies.  
 
SEC. 14. 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. 15. Reasonable Accommodation in Legal Proceedings. — The DOJ shall formulate 
the necessary policies and protocols to ensure criminal justice agencies and professionals 
shall provide the necessary accommodation and protection to PWAs in behavioral and 
communication challenges, who may be accused of, or become victims of, or witnesses to 
crimes. 
 
SEC. 16. The National Autism CARES Plan. - The Philippine Council for Mental Health 
(PCMH), a multi-sector body established by the Mental Health Act, in coordination with other 
government agencies and stakeholders, shall develop, regularly update and monitor the 
implementation of the Autism Cares Plan (AСР), a holistic medium-term plan that shall 
embody the provisions of this Act, in order to respond to the needs of PWAs and their families 
for the guidance of the stakeholders in public and private sector. The PCMH shall likewise 
coordinate the development and implementation of necessary policies and programs to 
operationalize the ACP and to ensure the needs of PWAs are served.  
 
SEC. 17. Appropriation. - The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act shall 
be included and incorporated in the annual general appropriations of the DОН.  
 
SEC. 18. 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. 19. 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. 20. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the 
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.  
 
 
Approved,