NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S. NO. 1731
o{ tl>f
23 JAN 23 P3:39
RECEIVED BV;
Introduced by Senator MARK A. VILLAR
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
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Autism or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a term used to describe a wide 
variety of disorders marked by difficulties with social skills, repetitive activities, speech, 
and nonverbal communication. It is also categorized as a lifelong mental challenge.
It is estimated by the World Health Organization that about one in 100 children 
worldwide has autism. This estimate represents only an average figure and may still 
vary substantially on other studies.1 In the Philippines, it was estimated by the experts 
and advocates that there are close to 1,000,000 people with autism. However, the 
Autism Society of the Philippines estimates that only 10% of Filipinos with autism are 
diagnosed and only 5% are receiving appropriate interventions.2
To help people with ASD, the government must ensure that there are available 
mechanisms which can diagnose the condition, enable access to hospitals for 
therapies, and educate the public about the realities of those living with autism.
Thus, this bill seeks to increase public awareness about this disorder and to 
provide government support for ASD research and treatment. This bill likewise 
mandates Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education and Technical
'Autism. (2022, March 30). Autism. Retrieved January 5, 2023, I'rom httDs://www.who.int/ncws-room/fact- 
shcets/dctail/autism-
spectrumtext=lt%20is%20estimated%20that%20worldwide.prevalenee%20varics%20substantiallv%20across%20studics.. 
2 Magno Veluz, M ct al. Primer on Autism in the Philippines, Autism Society of the Philippines


Education and Skills Development Authority formulate or update policies and protocols 
in ensuring that all educational institutions shall be inclusive to learners with autism, 
such as, acceptance to academic or training programs, instructional supports, and 
behavior management. The Department of Labor and Employment and the Civil 
Service Commission shall also formulate policies to ensure that people with ASD are 
provided for equal opportunities for gainful employment and apprenticeship in the 
private and public sector. This bill also provides that all persons with autism shall be 
covered by the National Health Insurance Program of the Philippine Health Insurance 
Corporation.
Thus, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
MARK A. VILLAR


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NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
I ?5)cnair
o( tliP ^•I'fiPlai’p
23 JAN 23 P 3 -39
SENATE 
S. No. 1*731
RECEIVED BY;
Introduced by Senator MARK A. VILLAR
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 of2023".
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. —The State hereby affirms its role in protecting 
and upholding the rights of all disabled persons, 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
a.) Autism — refers to a neurological condition characterized by challenges with 
social skills, repetitive behaviors, communication, as well as by unique
mean:


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strengths, as defined in the latest version of the Diagnostic and Statistical
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Manual of Mental Disorders;
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b.) Diagnosis — refers to necessary assessments, including but not limited to
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neuro-psychological evaluations, genetic testing, MRIs, hearing tests,
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psychometric tests to diagnose or discount autism and/or developmental
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disabilities in individuals.
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c.) Intervention — refers to interceding action undertaken to help improve the
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autism prognosis. Intervention in autism may take the form of medical,
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pharmacologic, therapeutic, educational, and non-traditional habilitative
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care;
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d.) Epidemioiogy — refers to study and analysis of the distribution and
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determinants of health conditions, like autism, in defined populations.
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Sec. 4. Treatment as Persons with Disabiiity. — All PWAs shall be treated as
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persons with disability, as defined under Republic Act No. 7277, as amended. They
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shall be entitled to all the rights, privileges, and benefits provided for persons with
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disabilities under Republic Act No. 10754 and other related laws.
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Sec. 5. Inter-Agency Cooperation, Accountabiiity and Research. — The
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Department of Health (DOH), in coordination with Department of Social Welfare and
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Development (DSWD), Department of Education (DepEd), the Philippine Council for
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Mental Health (PCMH), other academic institutions and non-governmental
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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
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causes, early detection, management, treatment as well as development
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milestones;
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b.) Promote research into the development and validation of reliable screening
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tools for such disabilities;
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c.) Develop a curriculum for continuing education to assist individuals in
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recognizing the need for, and using, valid and reliable screening tools;
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d.) Promote early screening of children and individuals at higher risk for such
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disabilitiaes;


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e.) Promote research to determine evidence-based practices for interventions,
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develop guidelines for those interventions and disseminate information
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related to such research and guidelines; and
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f.) Encourage public participation in decisions relating to such disabilities.
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Sec. 6. Continuing Education and Training on Autism for Pubiic Providers. — All
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officers and staff in charge of providing services to the public, including but not limited
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to the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Social Welfare and Development
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(DSWD), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Labor and Employment
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(DOLE), Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Transportation (DOTr),
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Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department of National
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Defense (DND), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Commission on
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Higher Education (CHED), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority
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(TESDA), National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA), Persons with Disabilities Affairs
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Offices (PDAOs) at the Local Government Units (LGUs), Public Safety Units (military,
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police, firemen and other first responders), shall undergo education and training to
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empower service providers to become more responsive, sensitive, and compassionate
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in the delivery of services to PWAs and their families.
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Sec. 7. Epidemioiogicai Surveiiiance. — The Department of Health, in
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coordination with different academic institutions and non-governmental organization
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is hereby mandated to annually conduct an epidemiological survey to determine the
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prevalence of autism in the country to provide data to government agencies and the
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private sector, and to make necessary services available to PWAs and their famiiies.
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Sec. 8. Evidence-based Research. —The DOH, the Philippine Council for Health
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Research and Development (PCHRD), and the National Institute of Health (NIH) are
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mandated, in coordination with local and international mental health institutions, to
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promote, create, develop, and adopt research and strategic plans that will continue to
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determine and establish evidence-based practices for interventions in the treatment,
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care and integration into society of PWAs.
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Sec. 9. Eariy Detection and Intervention of Autism. —The DOH, in coordination
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with the DepEd, is hereby mandated to establish a program for early screening and


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detection of autism, to provide the appropriate services to children and toddlers with
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developmental delays associated with autism, and to ensure the central PWD registry
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is updated accordingly.
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Sec. 10. Protection Against Discrimination in Schools, Coiieges, Universities and
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Training Institutions. — The DepEd, CHED and TESDA shall formulate or update
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policies and protocols to ensure that all educational institutions shall be inclusive to
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learners with autism, in matters including, but not limited to, acceptance to academic
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or training programs, instructional support, and behavior management.
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Sec. 11. Provision for Equal Opportunities for Empioyment —The DOLE and
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the Civil Service Commission (CSC) shall formulate policies and programs to ensure
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that PWAs are provided equal opportunities for gainful employment and
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apprenticeship opportunities in the private and public sector.
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Sec. 12. Mandatory Insurance Coverage and Prohibition Against Discrimination
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thereof —All persons with autism shall be covered by the National Health Insurance
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Program of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHIC). Funds necessary to
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ensure the enrolment of PWAs, who are currently covered under any existing category,
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shall be sourced from the National Health Insurance Fund of PHIC, earmarked from
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the proceeds of sin tax collections, as provided for in Republic Act No. 10351. It shall
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likewise include the cost of early screening and detection programs, as one of the
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available benefits of its members. The Department of Finance (DOF) shall likewise
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issue guidelines to ensure that all insurance providers shall provide PWAs access to
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life insurance instruments and shall include allied medical procedures (like
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occupational and speech therapies) in health insurance benefits of policy holders.
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Sec. 13. Protection in cases of Disaster and Emergencies. —The DILG, DSWD
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and the DND shall formulate the necessary policies and protocols to ensure that the
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military, public safety professionals, local government units, and first responders shall
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provide the necessary life-saving support to PWAs with behavioral and communication
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challenges, in times of disasters, calamities and other emergencies.
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Sec. 14. Access to Transportation. —The DOTr shall formulate the necessary
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policies and protocols to ensure PWAs with behavioral and communication challenges


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and their families are given reasonable accommodation in accessing all forms of
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transportation by service provides over land, sea and air.
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Sec. 15. Reasonable Accommodation in Legal Proceedings. — The DOJ shall
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formulate the necessary policies and protocols to ensure criminal justice agencies and
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professionals shall provide the necessary accommodation and protection to PWAs in
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behavioral and communication challenges, who may be accused of, victims of, or
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witnesses to crimes.
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Sec. 16. The Autism CARES Plan. —The Philippine Council for Mental Health
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(PCMH), a multi-sector body established by the Mental Health Act, in coordination with
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other government agencies and stakeholders, shall develop, regularly update and
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monitor the implementation of the Autism Cares Plan (ACP), a holistic medium-term
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plan that shall embody the provisions of this Act, in order to respond to the needs of
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PWAs and their families for the guidance of the stakeholders in public and private
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sector. The PCMH shall likewise coordinate the development and implementation of
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necessary policies and programs to operationalize the ACP and to ensure the needs of
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PWAs are served.
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Sec. 17. Appropriation. -The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of
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this Act shall be included and incorporated in the annual general appropriations of the
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DOH.
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Sec. 18. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or
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unconstitutional, the provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force
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and effect.
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Sec. 19. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, presidential decrees,
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presidential proclamations, letter of instruction, rules and regulations or parts thereof
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inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified
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accordingly.
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Sec. 20. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
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publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
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Approved,