Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL No.  9807 
Introduced by Representative 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, specifically 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
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 (PW A). PW As 
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 
1https://www.cdc.gov/ ncbddd/ autism/ signs.html#:~:text=Autism %20spectrum %20disordcr%20(ASD) %20is, %2C%20movin 
g%2C%20or%20paying%20attention. 
January 22, 2024
4:26 pm




Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL No.  9807 
Introduced by Representative 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 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Autism Cooperation, 
AccountabilihJ, Research, Education and Support (CARES) Act of 2023". 
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 (PW As) 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 PW As 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.