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

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 1 0943

Introduced by Representative Crispin Diego “Ping” D. Remulla

PROVIDING FOR A COMPREHENSIVE "ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE
EARLY DETECTION AND TIMELY INTERVENTION SERVICES FOR
CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS:

EXPLANATORY NOTE

A study conducted by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) stated that there
are approximately 1.6 million children with disabilities in the country. In addition, the Costs of
Raising Children with Disabilities in the Philippines (CRCWD) study found that a child with
disabilities needs an expenditure that is 40-80% higher than children without disabilities. This
higher expense is often made worse by the lack of early detection and intervention services.
This can lead to missed opportunities for the development of the children, Therefore,
identifying disabilities early is crucial for providing the right support to these children in order
for them to reach their full potential. Furthermore, timely interventions, such as therapy, can

improve their development and reduce future costs for families and the society.

This measure aims to ensure accessible and affordable early detection and timely

intervention services for children with special needs through the establishment of special needs


centers offering early intervention and transition programs. These centers shall also provide
programs and services that will prepare special needs children for activities in mainstream

society.

In view of the foregoing, the approval of this measure is earnestly sought.

CRISPIN DIEGO “PING” D. REMULLA


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

N

TEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 10943

Introduced by Representative Crispin Diego “Ping” D. Remulla

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR A COMPREHENSIVE ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE
EARLY DETECTION AND TIMELY INTERVENTION SERVICES FOR
CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. Title. This Act shall be known as “Early Detection and Intervention
Services Act.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. It is the policy of the State to adopt an integrated and
comprehensive approach to health development, which shall endeavor to make essential goods,
health, and other social services available to all the people at an affordable cost.

SEC. 3. Defi

ion of Terms. ~ The following terms shall mean:
a. Special needs shall mean a variety of conditions, difficulties, and impairments,
including but not limited to chronic and terminal illnesses, physical impairments,
behavioral, cognitive, or psychiatric issues, and learning disability that causes an
individual to require additional or specialized services or accommodations such as
education or recreation. A special needs child may have a life-threatening condition

or they may have severe learning disabilities.


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b. Intervention shall mean educational methods and positive behavioral support
strategies designed to improve the condition of a child suffering from a mental
disorder.

SEC. 4. Early Detection and Timely Intervention Services. — The Department of
Education (DepEd), the Department of Health (DOH), and the Department of Interior and
Local Government (DILG) shall undertake to develop a program providing comprehensive
accessible, and affordable early detection and timely intervention services for children with
special needs. The objectives of this program include but are not limited to the following:

a. To increase awareness, reduce barriers to screening and diagnosis, promote and
evidence-based interventions for children with special needs or other
developmental disabilities.

b. To build a qualified and adequately trained workforce prepared to provide special
needs services for children and their families.

c. To conduct a comprehensive, multi-faceted public awareness campaign to educate
families, the general public, and other key audiences about the benefits of children’s
social and emotional development, and how to access services.

4. To create a quality-driven children’s special needs system with shared
accountability among agencies and programs that conducts ongoing needs
assessments, uses outcome indicators and benchmarks to measure progress, and
implements a quality data tracking and reporting system.

SEC. 5. Special Needs Centers. — All local government units shall endeavor to

establish special needs centers offering early intervention and transition programs and shall
provide programs and services that will prepare special needs children for activities in

mainstream society.


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SEC. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The DepEd and the DOH, in
coordination with the Department of Interior and Local Government, and in consultation with
the relevant private sector practitioners and representatives of the academic community, shall
promulgate the necessary implementing rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this
Act, within ninety (90) days from its effecitivity.

SEC. 7. Appropriations. — The amount necessary for the implementation of this Act
shall be charged to the appropriations or funds of the implementing agencies and concerned
local government units.

SEC. 8. Separability Clause. — If any part, section or provision of this Act is held
invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force and
effect.

SEC. 9. Repealing Clause. ~ All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or parts
thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

SEC. 10. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,