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THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 1 
First Regular Session 
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17: .“, 
Senate Bill No. 
Introduced by Senator Madrigal 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Acknowledging the vital role of education in the growth and development of each 
and every person and the direct relationship thereof to the development of the State itself, 
the illustrious framers of the Constitution thus enshrined the people’s “right to education” in 
Article xn/ Section 1 of the 1987 Constitution which was crafted to read as follows - 
The State shall protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality 
education at all levels of education and shall take appropriate steps to 
make such education accessible to all. 
In light thereto, it must be noted that the “right to education” is a right that is 
afforded to all persons, with no qualifications whatsoever. Afortiori an equal treatment must 
be imparted to each and every person invoking their right to quality education regardless of 
their social standing, level of intelligence, race, beliefs or physical disabilities inter alia. 
Further, as important may the State’s duty to protect and promote the rights of all 
citizens to quality education is, of greater importance is its concurrent duty to - “take 
appropriate steps ro make such education accessible to all.” 
The raison d’etre being that the first prescribed duty presupposes that such citizens 
are, at the very least, already receiving education. On the other hand, the second prescribed 
duty presupposes the absolute absence of education such that to make “accessible” must be 
understood to mean to make “available.” Thus, its greater importance may be taken from the 
principle of social justice underlying our Constitution which provides that - to a person who 
has less in life, more should be afforded in law. 
Prescinding therefrom, it would appear that the State has been untrue to its 
constitutional mandate by far. For as a matter of glaring and lamentable fact, public 
educational centers for the disabled may only be found in Metro Manila. 
Thus, disabled individuals residing in the provinces would then have to vavel all the 
way to the Capitol just to receive a decent education. Further, as a natural consequence to 
their arrival, not only would such disabled individuals have to subject themselves to the 
hazards of the Metro but likewise, they have to carry the burden of meeting the significantly 
higher attendant costs. 


Moreover, in light of the premise that most disabled persons in the provinces are 
likewise underprivileged and cannot &ord the said mentioned expenses of the city, they are 
thus left with no other option but to either stay in their respective regions and be left 
wanting of education; or to go to some isolated non-government institution that are usually 
lacking in space, teachers, and support service facilities - that is, if such even exists at all. 
Apropos to the foregoing, no other conclusion may be had save that there exists a 
blatant failure on the part of the State to provide for the educational needs of such disabled 
and likewise unprivileged persons whose ”right to education” can be deemed violated. 
Hence, as the prevailing need for the government to properly address and attend to 
the educational needs of such disabled individuals is long past overdue - it is about time that 
the cloud of unconstitutionality be lifted and what is due such persons be finally conferred. 
For as it should be recalled, such disabled individuals have, as they have done so many times 
in the past - proven that they too can be productive citizens who can significantly contribute 
to our country’s economic growth and development. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly recommended. 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES } 
First Regular Session 
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Introduced by Senator Madrigal 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING REGIONAL EDUCATION CENTERS FOR THE 
DISABLED AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assem bled. 
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SECTION 1. State Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to 
foster the mental and physical development of disabled individuals through the 
establishment of appropriate educational institutions in every region of the country 
under the control and supervision of the Department of Education. 
SEC. 2. Division for the Education of the Disabled. - There is hereby created a 
separate Division for the Education of the Disabled in each and every Regional Office 
of the Department of Education which shall be specially tasked to ensure and 
enhance the education of disabled individuals in both elementary and high school 
levels: Provided, That such division shall be subject to the supervision of the Secretary 
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of Education. 
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SEC. 3. Regional Educational Centers for the Disabled. - The Secretary of 
Education shall establish Regional Educational Centers for the Disabled within one 
year from the effectivity of this Act, as far as it may be practicable to do so: Provided, 
That the Secretaiy of Education should, periodically or immediately upon request, 


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furnish a report as to the status of each and every said regional center to the President 
and the appropriate Committees of both Houses of Congress. 
SEC. 4. Subsidy to Non-Government Organizations - Pending the completion 
or establishment of a particular region’s Regional Educational Center for the Disabled 
referred to in the immediate preceding section and should the situation warrant, the 
Secretary of Education may designate any existing and qualified Non-Government 
Organization (NGO) to operate a school for the disabled in such region as a 
participating unit entitled to governmental subsidies. 
SEC. 5. Supervision and Monitoring of NGOs. - NGOs given subsidies, as 
referred to in the immediate preceding section, shall be subject to the Department of 
Education’s inspection and supervision and shall be under strict monitoring by the 
Division for the Education of the Disabled created under Section 2 of this Act. 
SEC. 6. Non-Discrimination Clause. - Graduates of such Regional Educational 
Center for the Disabled shall be eligible for entry into any college or university duly 
accredited by the Department of Education, and any discrimination against such an 
applicant shall subject the particular learning institution to disciplinary measures such 
as, but not limited to, the revocation of its permit to operate. 
SEC. 7. Employee Benejts. - Faculty and service support personnel of such 
Regional Educational Center for the Disabled shall be entitled to all the benefits of 
DECS personnel, subject to.civil service laws and regulations. 
SEC. 8. Implementing Rules. - The Secretary of the Education shall 
promulgate the appropriate rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this 
Act: Provided That the effectivity of sure rules which the Secretary of Education shall 
promulgate shall be subject to the approval of Congress. 
SEC. 9. Construction of this Act. - In the construction and application of the 
provisions of this Act and its implementing rules, the interpretation that would be 
beneficial or favorable to the disabled shall be accordingly pursued. 


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SEC. 10. Funding. - The funds necessary for the implementation of this Act 
shall be charged to the current fiscal year of the Department of Education and, 
thereafter, in succeeding General Appropriation Acts. 
SEC. 11. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations, 
policies, programs or parts thereof, that are inconsistent with any of the provisions of 
this Act, are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 12. Separabilitj Clause. - If for any reason, any section or provisions of 
this Act is declared to be unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions 
hereof, which are not affected hereby, shall continue in full force and effect. 
SEC. 13. Effectivity. -This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its 
publication in the OjTciuL Guzette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,