Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

3824

HOUSE BILL NO:

Introduced by HONORABLE STRIKE B. REVILLA

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The right to education is a universally recognized right of any citizen. At all levels,
access to quality education shall be guaranteed. The State shall promote non-formal,
informal, indigenous and out-of-school study programs especially those that address the
needs of community, and of the disabled and the handicapped.

This proposed measure seeks to provide free and suitable public education for
differently-abled children. This shall be under a special education program with the goal
of ensuring the survival and advancement of these children. With this proposal, we wish
to make them productive partners for national development.

In this regard, passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

REP. J IKE B. REVILLA

2nd District of Cavite


wehon

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No.38824

Introduced by HONORABLE STRIKE B. REVILLA

AN ACT
PROVIDING FREE AND SUITABLE PUBLIC EDUCATION FOR HANDICAPPED
CHILDREN AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy — It is hereby declared the policy of the State
to protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels and to
make appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all. It shall promote non-
formal, informal, indigenous and out-of-school study programs particularly those that
respond to the needs of the community, and of the disabled and the handicapped.
Towards this end, the State shall provide free and suitable public education for
differently-abled children under a special education program with the end in view of
ensuring their survival and advancement and making them productive partners for

national development.
SECTION 2. It shall be the purposes of this Act to:

a) Establish a special education program that shall cater to the needs of the
differently-abled and the mentally and physically handicapped children.

b) Provide full financial and educational assistance to differently-abled children
of the country.

c) Help in the development and rehabilitation of differently-abled children
through special education program.

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms — For the purpose of this Act, the following terms

shall mean:

a) A differently-abled child is one who has not yet reached the age of eighteen
(18) years old;


b) A suitable public education refers to a course, profession, skill or program
prescribed by the Department of Education to a differently-abled child taking
into consideration the child’s aptitude handicap and talents.

SECTION 4. A special education center shall, whenever possible, be
established in the provincial, city and municipal levels for this purpose. Said special
education center shall, as much as possible provide for elementary levels of education
with maximum opportunities for integration with non-handicapped peers.

SECTION 5. The benefits that will be given to qualified differently-abled shall
include tuition fees, textbook allowance, and ambulatory equipment or devices that may
be necessary. Special services such as note-takers and readers for the blind, sign
interpreters for the deaf and tutorial institution shall also be offered.

SECTION 6. A Special Education Development Fund is hereby established with
an initial capital of Fifty Million Pesos (P50,000,000.00) to be taken from the
appropriations for the Department of Education under the current General
Appropriations Act. Thereafter, such sum as may be necessary for this continued
operations and maintenance shall be included in the annual General Appropriation Act.

SECTION 7. The Department of the Education, in coordination with the
Department of Social Welfare and Development, shall promulgate the necessary rules
and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.

SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. ~ All laws, decrees, orders, issuances,
ordinances, rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this
Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 9. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason, any provision of this Act or
part thereof is declared unconstitutional or invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction,
the other provisions or parts hereof not affected shall remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 10. Effectivity Clause, - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days

after its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general
circulation.

Approved,