SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
S.B.No. 2428 
'14 
OCT -9 P 1 :22 
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING AN ACCESSIBLE EDUCATION CENTER IN EVERY STATE 
UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREOF 
EXPLANATORY NOTE. 
In 1992, Republic Act (KA.) 7277 or the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons was 
enacted. This law provides, among others, the right and privileges of disabled persons 
to education. Nevertheless, more than a decade after KA. 7277, there is still a need to 
improve legislation for disabled persons, specifically less privileged disabled persons. 
A 2009 study on persons with disabilities in Metro Manila found that there is a large 
variation among persons with disabilities when it comes to income and education. This 
means that persons with disabilities with lower incomes have a lower level of 
education. Thus, it is important to provide free auxiliary aids and services for less 
privileged disabled persons who have the academic capacity to study in state 
universities and colleges in order to make education accessible and available to them. 
This bill aims to address this need by establishing Accessible Education Centers 
in every state university and college; such centers will not only provide free auxiliary 
aids and services but will also render the necessary support for all persons with 
disabilities who are enrolled in these institutions of higher education. This is with the 
end in view of enabling them to finish their college degrees, and equipping them for 
better paying jobs. As such, the immediate passage of this bill is therefore requested. 
A( ) 
f'MCZU;;;" M. LAPI.I2. 
,~ 
Senator 
;-


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
S.B. No. 2428 
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid 
AN ACT 
" 
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'14 
OCT -9 Pi :22 
ESTABLISHING AN ACCESSIBLE EDUCATION CENTER IN EVERY STATE 
UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREOF 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
1 
SECTION 1. TITLE. - This act shall be known as the "Accessible Education 
2 
Center Act 0/2014" 
3 
4 
SECTION 2. DECLARATION OF POLICY. - The Constitution recognizes the 
5 
key role of education in society. As such, the State shall protect and promote the right 
6 
of all citizens to quality education at all levels, and shall take appropriate steps to make 
7 
such education accessible to all including persons with disabilities. 
8 
9 
SECTION 3. DEFINITION OF TERMS. - The following terms used in this Act are, 
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herby defined: 
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a. A state university or college refers to any public institution of higher learning 
12 
that was created by law; 
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b. A disabled person refers to one who is suffering from restriction or different 
14 
abilities, as a result of a mental, psychological, physical or sensory impairment, 
15 
to perform an activity in the manner or within the range considered normal for a 
16 
human being; 
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c. An impairment is any loss, diminution, or aberration of psychological, 
18 
physiological, or anatomical structure or function; 
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d. A disability shall mean 
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1 
1) a physical, mental, or psychological impairment that substantially limits one 
2 
or more psychological, physiological, or anatomical function of an individual 
3 
or activities of such individual, 
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2) a record of such an impairment, or 
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3) being regarded as having such an impairment.: 
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e. A qualified disabled student refers to a disabled person who meets the academic 
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and technical standards requisite to admission and participation in the education 
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program of a state university or college; 
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f. 
Auxiliary aids and services refer to: 
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1) certified sign language interpreters or other effective methods of delivering 
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materials to individuals with hearing impairments; 
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2) qualified readers, taped tests, or other effective methods of delivering 
13 
materials to individuals with visual impairments; 
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3) typists, door-to-door transportation, or other effective methods of delivering 
15 
materials to individuals with manual impairments; 
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4) acquisition or modification of equipment or devices, and 
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5) other similar services and actions, or all types of aids and services that 
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facilitate the learning process of people with disability. 
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g. Reasonable accommodation includes: 
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1) Improvement of existing facilities used by students, faculty, and staff in order 
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to render these readily accessible to and usable by qualified disabled' 
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students; 
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2) Modifications to the course program or educational requirements that are 
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necessary and appropriate so that such requirements do not discriminate or 
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have the effect of discriminating on the basis of disability, provided that these 
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modifications do not fundamentally alter the essential nature of a course or 
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academic program; 
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3) Modifications to university or college policies, rules, and regulations that 
29 
discriminate or have the effect of discriminating on the basis of ability against 
30 
qualified disabled students; 
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4) Adjustment of class schedules, acquisition or alteration of equipment or 
32 
devices, appropriate adjustments or modifications of examinations, class 
33 
materials, and the provision of auxiliary aids· and services, and other simfur 
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accommodations for qualified disabled students. 
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2 


1 
SECTION 4. ACCESSIBLE EDUCATION CENTER. - There shall be established an 
2 
accessible education center in every state university and college. 
The accessible 
3 
education center shall: 
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a. Review existing infrastructure, academic and non-academic policies, rules and 
5 
regulations to see if it discriminates or have the effect of discriminating on the 
6 
basis of ability against qualified disabled students; 
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b. Submit the aforementioned review as well as recommendations to the proper 
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university or college official or office for appropriate action in order to improve 
9 
infrastructure, academic and non-academic policies, rules and regulations to 
10 
cater to qualified disabled students; 
II 
c. Inform and train teachers and staff regularly on academic and non-academic 
12 
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policies, rules and regulations, reasonable accommodation, and auxiliary aids 
and services for qualified disabled students; 
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,d. Provide auxiliary aids and services to qualified disabled students such as but not 
15 
limited to certified sign language interpreters, qualified readers, note-takers, 
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Brailled or large print materials, mobility training for students with visual 
17 
impairments, typists for students with manual impairments, and door-to-door 
18 
transportation, for the purpose of attending lecture and laboratory classes, taking 
19 
examinations, taking part in activities outside the classroom that are required for 
20 
the course, and meeting professors for academic purposes; 
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e. Determine at the start of every academic year the number of qualified disabled 
22 
students, and coordinate and customize the number of resources offered by the 
23 
center to accommodate a wide range of disabilities, specifically the disabilities of 
24 
qualified disabled students; 
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f. 
Receive complaints on discrimination against qualified disabled students by 
26 
faculty, staff, and students, and refer these complaints to the proper university or 
27 
college official or office for appropriate action; 
28 
g. Conduct regular consultations with qualified disabled students, faculty, staff and 
29 
students on how to improve reasonable accommodation, infrastructure, and 
30 
services for qualified disabled students; 
31 
32 
SECTION 5. IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS. - The Commission' 
33 
on Higher Education and the National Council on Disability Affairs shall jointly 
34 
promulgate rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions under this law. 
3 


, , 
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SECTION 6. APPROPRIATIONS. - The amount necessary to carry out the 
2 
provisions of this Act shall be included in the General Appropriations Act of the year 
3 
following its enactment into law and thereafter. 
4 
5 
SECTION 7. SEPARABILITY CLAUSE. - Should any provisions of this Act be 
6 
found unconstitutional by a court of law, such provisions shall be severed from the' 
7 
remainder of this Act, and such action shall not affect the enforceability of the 
8 
remaining provisions of this Act. 
9 
10 
SECTION 8. REPEALING ,CLAUSE. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive 
11 
orders and rules and regulations inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
, 
12 
repealed or modified accordingly. 
13 
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SECTION 9. EFFECTIVITY CLAUSE. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
15 
after its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two newspapers of general 
16 
circulation. 
Approved, 
4