TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
S. No.
SENATE 
1280
Senate
cf t!jr si-'t'-ftarp
25 AUG 27 PI ^5
miCElVEDBV:
Introduced by SENATOR CAMILLE 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
The 1987 Philippine Constitution, specificaily Article XV, Section 3, 
subparagraph 2, provides that the State shall defend the right of children to assistance, 
including proper care and nutrition, and special protection from all forms of neglect, 
abuse, cruelty, exploitation, and other conditions prejudicial to their development.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability caused by 
differences in the brain. People with ASD often have problems with social 
communication and interaction, and restricted or repetitive behaviors or interests. 
People with ASD may also have different ways of learning, moving, or paying attention. 
Notably, some people without ASD may also have some of these symptoms. But for 
people with ASD, these characteristics can make life very challenging.1
Autism is a lifelong condition that can make it difficult for a person to 
communicate, socialize, and adjust to their surroundings. In the Philippines, about 1
1https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/signs.html#:~:text=Autism%20spectrum%20disorder%20(ASD)%20is,%2
C%20moving%2C%20or%20paying%20attention.


in every 100 people is on the autism spectrum, which means around 1.12 million 
Filipinos are living with autism today.2
This bill endeavors to institutionalize 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 for persons with autism (PWA). PWAs shall 
be treated as persons with disability and as such shall be entitled to all the rights, 
privileges, and benefits provided for persons with disabilities under the law.
This bill will likewise increase awareness relating to causes, early detection, 
management, and treatment of ASD; empower service providers to become more 
responsive, sensitive, and compassionate in the delivery of services to PWAs and their 
families; protect PWAs from discrimination in learning institutions; and provide them 
with equal opportunities for employment, among others.
As such, the approval of this measure is urgently sought.
CAMILLE A. VILLAR
http;//www.autismsocietyphilippines.org/p/autism-is-lifelong-developmental.html


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S. No. 1280
Senate
25 AUG 27 PI :45
RECEIVED BV:
Introduced by SENATOR CAMILLE A. VILLAR
AN ACT
INSTITUTING A COMPREHENSIVE NATIONAL CARE PLAN TO ENCOURAGE 
COOPERATION, ACOUNTABILITY 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:
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Section 1. Short Title. —This Act shall be known as the "Autism Cooperation, 
Accountability, Research, Education and Support {UKRES) 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.


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Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. — As used in this Act, the following terms shall
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mean:
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a.) Autism —refers to a neurological condition characterized by challenges with
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social skills, repetitive behaviors, communication, as well as by unique
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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 Disability. — 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, Accountability 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
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. Epidemioiogicai 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 and the Philippine Council for 
Health Research and Development (PCHRD) are mandated, in coordination with local 
and international mental health institutions, to promote, create, develop, and adopt
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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 covered by the National Health Insurance 
Program of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth). 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 PhilHealth, 
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 and detection programs, 
as one of the available benefits of its members. 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.


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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. Reasonabie Accommodation in Legai 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, victims of, or 
witnesses to crimes.
Sec. 16. The Autism CARES Pian. —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 (ACP), 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 in the annual general appropriations of the DOH.


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Sec. 18. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or 
unconstitutional, the provisions not affected thereby shail continue to be in fuii 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,