Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Twentieth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 453 5

Introduced by Representative RAYMOND ADRIAN SALCEDA

AN ACT
PROMOTING THE INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT AND WELL-BEING OF
CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, PROVIDING FOR COMPREHENSIVE
SUPPORT SYSTEMS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Constitution mandates the State to protect and promote the right of all children to
proper care and development. It further declares that education shall be accessible to all and
that vulnerable groups shall be provided with appropriate support systems.

Children with special needs represent one of the most underserved and vulnerable
sectors in our society. They face unique developmental, educational, and health challenges that
require continuous therapeutic interventions, specialized education, and supportive
environments. Without proper public support, families of children with special needs often
shoulder the burden of high therapy costs, limited access to appropriate schools, and the social
stigma that isolates both the children and their caregivers.

This bill seeks to establish a comprehensive national framework that will address these
systemic gaps by:
1. Making therapy and education accessible — through the expansion of Special

Education (SPED) schools and centers, subsidies for therapy, and inclusion programs
in regular schools, particularly in underserved areas.

2. Providing financial relief for families — by creating vouchers and grants, offering
targeted tax deductions, and expanding PhilHealth coverage for therapeutic services
and assistive devices.

3. Strengthening public awareness and inclusion — through national campaigns and the
integration of inclusivity and disability rights in curricula, to combat stigma and foster
acceptance.


4, Supporting families and caregivers — by establishing community centers, parent
training, and empowerment programs that will allow families to become active partners
in their children’s development.

5. Creating an inter-agency coordinating mechanism — to harmonize the efforts of the
Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Education, Department
of Health, PhilHealth, and the National Council on Disability Affairs, alongside civil
society and the private sector.

The approach of this measure is systems-based. It not only provides direct services to
children with special needs, but also integrates them into mainstream education and social
participation, while lightening the economic burden on their families. It recognizes that
inclusivity is not a matter of isolated interventions but of sustained and coordinated support
across the entire life cycle of a child.

By enacting this measure, Congress will affirm the principle that every Filipino child—
regardless of disability or developmental condition—has the right to live with dignity, to learn,
to grow, and to be a fully included member of society.

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

RAYMON MTSALCEDA


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City, Metro Manila

‘Twentieth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNO. 4535

Introduced by Representative RAYMOND ADRIAN SALCEDA

AN ACT
PROMOTING THE INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT AND WELL-BEING OF
‘CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, PROVIDING FOR COMPREHENSIVE
SUPPORT SYSTEMS, 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 “Inclusive Development and
Well-Being of Children with Special Needs Act.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. It is hereby declared the policy of the State to protect
and promote the rights of children with special needs, ensuring their full and inclusive
development. The State recognizes that children with special needs possess inherent dignity
and the right to a quality of life that enables them to achieve their fullest potential.

To this end, the State shall:

a) Prioritize and integrate the needs of children with special needs into all relevant
legislative efforts, policies, programs, and services;

b) Ensure access to quality, comprehensive, and appropriate intervention, therapeutic,
and educational services;

©) Alleviate the financial and emotional burdens on families of children with special
needs through various mechanisms;

4) Foster a society that embraces inclusivity, free from stigma and discrimination
against children with special needs and their families; and

e) Strengthen inter-agency collaboration and establish a comprehensive support system
for children with special needs and their families.

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. As used in this Act:


a) Children with Special Needs (CSN) refers to individuals below eighteen (18) years
of age who have developmental delays, disabilities, or conditions that require
specialized interventions, including but not limited to Autism Spectrum Disorder,
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy,
intellectual disability, specific learning disabilities, sensory impairments (visual or
hearing), and speech and language disorders.

b) Early Intervention Services refers to a range of services provided to infants and
toddlers with developmental delays or disabilities and their families to promote
development and minimize the effects of disability.

©) Therapeutic Services refers to professional interventions such as occupational
therapy, physical therapy, speech and language therapy, behavioral therapy, and other
related services.

4) Special Education (SPED) refers to educational programs designed to meet the
unique needs of CSN, including SPED centers, inclusive classrooms, and home-based

programs.

e) Underserved Areas refers to geographical regions where access to specialized
services is limited or non-existent.

f) Assistive Tools and Medical Care refers to devices, equipment, technologies,
medications, and healthcare services that assist CSN in their daily living,
communication, mobility, and overall health management.

SEC. 4. Accessible Therapy and Education, The State shall ensure that all CSN have
equitable access to therapy and education. To this end, the following shall be implemented:

a) Expansion of SPED Schools and Centers. ~ The Department of Education (DepEd),
in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and
the Department of Health (DOH), shall establish and expand SPED schools and centers
in underserved areas, ensuring adequate facilities and qualified SPED teachers and
therapists.

b) Subsidies for Therapy Services. - The DOH and DSWD, in coordination with the
Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), shall develop and implement a
subsidy program for therapeutic services covering a significant portion of rehabilitation
costs, prioritizing indigent and low-income families.

¢) Inclusion in Regular Schools. ~ The DepEd shall strengthen its inclusion program,
providing training for teachers and learning resources to integrate CSN into mainstream
classrooms wherever appropriate.

SEC. S. Financial Relief for Families. To mitigate financial burdens on families of
CSN, the following measures shall be undertaken:

a) Vouchers and Grants. - The DSWD shall establish vouchers and grants to support
costs of therapy, assistive tools, and specialized education, prioritizing indigent
families.


b) Tax Incentives. — The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) shall recommend tax
incentives for parents or guardians of CSN, including deductions for therapy, medical
care, and specialized educational fees.

©) PhilHealth Coverage Expansion. ~ PhilHealth shall expand coverage to include
therapeutic services, diagnostic procedures, and assistive devices for CSN, with higher
benefit limits and streamlined claims.

SEC. 6. Public Awareness and Acceptance Campaigns. The State shall promote public
awareness and acceptance of CSN to combat stigma through:

a) National Awareness Campaigns. - Led by DepEd, DOH, DSWD, and the Philippine
Information Agency (PIA), focusing on early identification, empathy, and inclusion.

b) Educational Curriculum Integration. - The DepEd shall integrate modules on
inclusivity and disability rights in curricula.

SEC. 7. Support Systems for Families and Caregivers, The State shall establish support
systems for families and caregivers of CSN, including:

a) Community Centers for CSN. - The DSWD and Local Government Units (LGUs)
shall establish or support community centers offering subsidized therapy, parent
training, and emotional support groups.

b) Parental Training and Empowerment Programs. - The DSWD and DOH, in
cooperation with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA),
shall develop training for parents to equip them with skills to support child
development.

SEC. 8. Stronger Policies for Inclusion. The State shall ensure full inclusion of CSN in
all aspects of society by:

a) Inclusion in Schools. — The DepEd shall mandate inclusive education guidelines and
anti-discrimination practices.

b) Accessibility in Public Spaces. ~ All government and private establishments must

comply with accessibility laws.

SEC. 9. Inter-Agency Coordinating Council. There is hereby created an Inter-Agency
Coordinating Council for Children with Special Needs (IACCSN), composed of
representatives from the DSWD, DOH, DepEd, National Council on Disability Affairs
(NCDA), PhilHealth, and two (2) private sector representatives. The Council shall:

a) Formulate and oversee a comprehensive national plan for CSN welfare;

b) Coordinate programs of government and non-government organizations;
©) Evaluate program effectiveness and recommend improvements; and

d) Recommend legislative and policy reforms.


SEC. 10. Appropriations. The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act
shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. Within ninety (90) days from the
effectivity of this Act, the DSWD, in coordination with the DOH, DepEd, NCDA, PhilHealth,
and in consultation with other relevant agencies, shall promulgate the necessary rules and
regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.

SEC. 12. Separability Clause. If any part of this Act is declared unconstitutional, the
remaining provisions shall remain valid.

SEC. 13. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations inconsistent
with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 14. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,