Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNo. __ 3665

Introduced by Rep. TEDDY A. CASINO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

According to the 2000 Census of Population and Housing in the Philippines, there are 942,098
persons with disabilities (PWD) or about 1.23 percent of the total population in the country. It is
estimated that one in 20 houscholds has at least one member that has a disability, half of whom are
not able to attend and finish elementary education. Compared to people without disabilities, PWDs
are three times more likely not to attend school or to have finished any grade level. More than 40
percent of PWDs are also not gainfully employed.

‘The State affirms and mandates the rehabilitation, self-development and integration of PWDs into
mainstream society through the Magna Carta for Persons with Disabilities and other related laws and
progtams. In 2008, the Philippines ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons
with Disabilities as a re-affirmation of government’s mandate to promote the rights and uplift the
living conditions of the PWDs.

While there have been numerous moves to expand projects that assist PWDs, whether through the
installation of facilities and devices that give them more mobility in public and other places or the
entitlement of privileges, discounts and incentives, little has been done by the government to offer
services that directly address their need for physical and social rehabilitation,

While some PWDs experience lifelong disabilities, others are able to overcome some mobility
problems, but only when they benefit from rehabilitation programs, Children and young adults benefit
most from these activities because of early intervention. This is made more significant considering
that of the almost one million PWDs, 20% are children. More than half of these disabilities are
acquired and can be prevented.

However, poor families are unable to avail of these special therapy sessions because of their high cost
and/or lack of nearby facilities. A child with disability needs wo (2) to three (3) treatment sessions a
week with each session costing from PhP 300 to 500. This is still apart from other medical needs
required for the full rehabilitation,

Fortunately, for the last 15 years, a non-government organization initiative “Breaking Barriers for
Children and Young Adults with Disabilities” (BBCY), implemented in the Philippines by the
Katipunan ng Maykapansanan sa Pilipinas, Inc. (KAMPI) and the Danish Society of Polio and
“Accident Victims, has shown the way in addressing this urgent need. They have established 138


Stimulation and Therapeutic Activity Centers (STAC) for children with disabilities (CWD). Through
the centers, many CWDs are able to improve their mobility and skills, and have become empowered
and productive members of society. Because of the positive outcomes and the success of the project,
a large number of these STACs have been turned over to local government units, non-government
agencies and even organizations set up by parents such as Ang Pederasjon ng mga Magulang na May mga
Anak na Maykapansanan sa Pilipinas, Inc. (AMAMM). BBCY has also expanded their services to include
young adults with disabilities. To date, they are now serving more than 15,000 CWDs in different
‘municipalities

‘The success of the BBCY project is testament that the needs of an especially marginalized sector such
as CWDs can be addressed. Under the project, the centers provide free evaluation, physical and
occupational therapy and socialization activities for the PWDs and their families, Other activities
include educational assistance, supplemental feeding, parents’ taining, teachers’ training and barangay
health workers training for the eventual turnover of centers to the local government units.

Through this proposed bill, similar centers will be established in all cities and municipalities to
empower children and young adults with disabilities as well as the communities they live in. ‘The
centers will be run by the local government units in cooperation with the National Council on
Disability Affairs, Department of Social Welfare, Department of Health, and non-government
organizations and volunteers.

In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this mea:

sought.
Approved,
Ta? A Gores

EDDY A. CASINO
Bayan Muna Party-list


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

8665

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Rep. TEDDY A. CASINO

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF CITY AND MUNICIPAL
REHABILITATION CENTERS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS WITH
DISABILITIES

Be tt enavted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled

SECTION 1. Short Title. ~ This Act shall be known as the “Youth with Disabilities Empowerment
Act of 2010.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of policy. — Ics the government's concern and responsibility to facilitate
the rehabilitation of persons with disabilities as provided by Republic Act No. 7277 or the “Magna

1 for Persons with Disabilities” and the “United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons
with Disabilities.” The State shall therefore provide for the rehabilitation and training of children and
young adults with disabilities to ensure their right to live freely and independently and to achieve a
mote meaningful, productive and satisfying life.

SECTION 3. Definition. For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall mean:

Person with disabilities ~ a person who has a restriction of limitation in personal mobility,
communications, development and others resulting from the interaction between person with
impairments and attitudinal and environmental barriers that hinders his/her full and effective
participation in society on equal basis with others;

b, Disability — an activity limitation or restriction as a result of the interaction between persons
with impairments and attitudinal and environmental barriers that hinders theis full and
effective participation in society on equal basis with others;

¢. Impairment - any loss, diminution or aberration of psychological, physiological, or anatomical
structure or function;


Rehabilitation — an integrated approach to physical, social, cultural, spiritual, educational and
vocational measures that create conditions for the individual to attain the highest possible
level of functionality available;

Social Barriers — any legal, economic or cultural aspect of society that limirs the fullest possible
participation of persons with disabilities. These include negative attitudes chat single out and
exclude those with disabilities;

Children with disabilities — persons under 14 years old who have disabilities, hereinafter referred

toas CWDs;

Young adult with dis
referred to as YA\

wbilities— persons who are 15-35 years old with disabilities, hereinafter
Ds;

Center ~ a government-run facility that offers free comprehensive rehabilitation services to

8 D € com
poor children and young adults with disabilities, including but not limited to stimulation and
therapeutic activity centers (STACS);

SECTION 4. Establishment of Centers. — Centers for children and young adults with disabilities

shall be established in eves

‘ity and municipality under direct supervision of the National Council on

Disability Affairs (NCDA), hereinafter referred to as the Council, in collaboration with the

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DS)

SECTION 5. Functions of the Centei
tasked to provide comprehensive rebabilit

1D) and the local government unit concerned.

— The Centers will be managed and operated by teams
jon, social and educational services to the children and

young adults with disabilities. hey shall carry out the following functions:

a

Physical Rehabilitation — children and young adults with disabilities, whether in joint or
sep ions, shall undergo regular physical and/or occupational therapy sessions. to
improve their physical condition, mobility and cognitive skills. Parents and other volunteers
will also be trained 10 do basic exercises that will ensure the continued rehabilitation of
children in their own homes,

Social Rehabilitation ~ the

nter will provide for regular counseling and social enhancement
activities. Young adults may be grouped together and provided with organizational
development trainings for the formation of their own advocacy association for persons with
disabilities.

Education Component ~ Basic and advanced special education sessions are conducted in
centers to prepare children with disabilities for schooling and to assist in-school beneficiaries
to cope with regular school. Young adults with disabilities will also be given appropriate
sessions from basic literacy training to placement in school or training fucilities, Teachers in
nearby public schools may also be tained on inclusive education for children and young
adults with disabilities.

Psycho-social Component — these include personality development activities, career
development, job and internship coaching and orientation for potential employ
Information and Resource Center — it will also serve as an information center for the tights
and incentives accorded to persons with disabilities. Disability related documents, materials
and data are also to be made available in accessible formats.



SECTION 6. Center Workers and Volunteers. — The local government unit (LGU through the
‘Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office and Municipal Health Office shall designate social
workers and health workers as staff members for the centers. The local government unit may appoint
other personnel who possess the necessary professional qualifications to work efficiently with the
volunteers of the community. The LGU may also call upon responsible members of the community
to provide medical, educational and other services and facilities for the beneficiaries
Each Center will be composed of the following people:
a. Physical Therapist (at least one) who will be or is trained in occupational therapy;
b. Social Workers who will identify, assess and provide social services to the CWDs, YAWDs
and their families. They are also responsible for organizing and empowering the associations
of the parents and YAWDs;
Special education teacher; and
d. Barangay Health Workers who will be or are trained for basic rehabilitation. They will assist in
the identification of benefici id their disabilities and the execution of rehabilitation
activities

A volunteer rehabilitation doctor or a rehabilitation doctor from a nearby public hospital should
evaluate the beneficiaries and provide initial rehabilitation plans to guide the team. Also, other
personnel such as speech therapists, psychologists and other specialists and trained volunteers may be
employed to provide services in the centers.

SECTION ?. Fiscal Incentive

— The following fiscal incentives shall be provided for under this
Act

a, ‘The Centers shall be exempted from the payment of customs duties, taxes and tariffs on the
importation of equipment and supplies used actually, directly: and exclusively by the Centers
pursuant co this Act, including those donated to the Centers.

b, All grants, endowments, donations, or contributions used actually, dire
the Centers shall be exempt from donor's or gift tax and are likewise ta

ly and exclusively for
deductible.

SECTION 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations, ~ Ve Council, in coordination with the
Department of Interior and Local Government (DIG), DSWD, Department of Health (DOH) and
organizations advocating the rights of persons with disabilities such as Ang Pederasyon ng mga Magulang
na May mga Anak na Maykapansanan sa Pilipinas, Inc. (AMAMI) shall promulgate the necessary
implementing rules and regulations within sixty (60) day’ after this Act takes effect. The stid agencies
and groups will assist in the effective implementation of this Act and provide the necessary support
services for such.

SECTION 10. Appropriations. - First, second and third class municipalitics shall provide funding
for the operation and maintenance of their Centers. The sum necessary for the continuous operation
of fourth and fifth class municipality centers shall be subsidized in part by the national government
and in part by the local government units concerned; provided that, for the initial year of
implementation, the sam of five hundred million pesos (P500,000,000.00) is hereby authorized to be
charged against the savings from the current appropriations of the DILG, DSWD and DOH;
provided further that thereafter, such amount as may be necessary for the implementation of this Act
shall be included in the General Appropriations Act.



SECTION 11. Constitutionality. — Should any provision of this Act be declared invalid or
unconstitutional, the validity or constitutionality of the other provisions shall not be affected thereby.

SECTION 12. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, letters of instructions, resolutions, orders,
ordinances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are here
repealed, amended, or modified accordingly

SECTION 13. Effectivity. ~ This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in two
(2) newspapers of general circulation.

Ipproved,