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' THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
"04 JUhl 30 P 9 3 9  
First Regular Session 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANUEL B. VILLAR, JR. 
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EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The differently-abled have long been deprived of attention by a society pre- 
occupied with so many other concerns. 
This proposed measure aims to push for more programs and policies for the 
differently- abled, in order to integrate this important sector into the social, political, 
economic and cultural mainstream of our society, by providing free education for them 
during their formative years. 
The government is hereby tasked to take the lead in providing educational 
services for free, especially to the impoverished who do not have the means to pay for 
specialized education of differently-abled children. 
By orienting these children of their potentials at an early age, they shall be able 
to overcome their handicap and boost their self-esteem. 
In view of the foregoing, passage of this measure is fervently sought. 
MANUEL B. VI LAR, JR. 
F. 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
,I 
S. No. 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANUEL B. VILLAR, JR. 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FREE AND SUITABLE PUBLIC EDUCATION FOR 
HANDICAPPED CHILDREN AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFORE 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. It is the declared policy of the State to protect and promote the 
right of all citizens to quality education at all levels of education and to make 
appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all. It shall promote 
non-formal, informal, and indigenous and out of school study programs particularly 
those that respond to community needs, the disabled and the handicapped. Towards 
this end, the State shall provide a free and suitable public education for 
differently-abled children under a special education program with the end in view of 
insuring 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; 
Provide full financial and educational assistance to differently-abled 
children of the country; and 
Help the development and rehabilitation of differently-abled children 
through said special education program. 
b) 
c) 
SECTION 3. For purposes of this Act the following shall mean: 
a) 
A differently-abled child is one who has not yet reached the age of 
majority, not gainfully employed and suffering from severe physical, 
mental or psychological defect as determined by the Department of 
Education, Culture and Sports (DECS) or the Department of Social 
Welfare and Development (DSWD); 


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b) 
A suitable public education refers to a course, profession, skill or 
program prescribed by the DECS 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 pre-elementary and 
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 child 
shall include tuition fees, textbook allowance, transportation allowance, and 
ambulatory equipment or devices as may be necessary. Special services such as 
note-takers and readers for the blind, sign interpreters for the deaf and tutorial 
instruction shall also be offered. 
SECTION 6. A Special Education Development Fund is hereby established with 
an initial capital outlay of Fifty Million Pesos (P50,000,000) to be taken from the 
appropriations for the Department of Education, Culture, and Sports under the 
current General Appropriations Act. Thereafter such sum as may be necessary for its 
continued operations and maintenance shall be included in the annual General 
Appropriations Act. 
SECTION 7. The Department of Education, Culture and Sports 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. All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, rules and 
regulations which are contrary to the provision of this Act are hereby repealed, 
amended and modified accordingly. 
SECTION 9. If any part or provision of this Act shall be held to be 
unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or provisions hereof which are not affected 
thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
SECTION 10. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in 
the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,