Senate as Office of the Abccretary TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 25 SEP 30 P4:17 REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session RECEIVED BY: SENATE S. No. 1430 Introduced by Senator Raffy T. Tulfo AN ACT INSTITUTING A COMPREHENSIVE NATIONAL CARE TO ENCOURAGE COOPERATION, ACCOUNTABILITY AND RESEARCH FOR THE EDUCATION AND SUPPORT TO PERSONS WITH AUTISM AND FOR OTHER PUSPOSES EXPLANATORY NOTE Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) refers to a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills and repetitive behaviors. In some cases, ASD can be linked to genetic factors, while in many others, the exact cause remains unknown. Autism looks different for everyone and each person within the spectrum has a distinct set of strengths and challenges. Republic Act No. 7277, or the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons, has provided the blueprint foundation for the government's mandate to recognize and protect the rights of persons with disabilities, including persons with autism. Furthermore, Republic Act No. 10754, or An Act Expanding the Benefits and Privileges of Persons with Disability (PWD), has extended additional benefits to the PWD sector in recent years. Nevertheless, despite these initiatives, significant gaps remain in addressing the unique and diverse needs of Filipinos on the autism spectrum. Considering the broad range of challenges associated with autism, it is imperative to enhance policies and programs that raise awareness, promote proper understanding, ensure timely and accurate diagnosis, expand access to education, employment, and essential services, and provide adequate support for independent living within communities. At the same time, efforts must aim to eliminate discrimination and encourage active participation from the private sector in delivering relevant services.
Hence, there is a pressing need for the government to establish a comprehensive and integrated national plan on autism-one that equips parents, educators, healthcare professionals, volunteers, and the wider Filipino community with the knowledge, skills, and compassion necessary to respond effectively to the needs of persons with autism. In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. RAFFY T. TULFO
Senate collier of the sectreaty TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 25 SEP 30 P4:17 REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session RECEIVED BY: SENATE s. No. 1430 Introduced by Senator Raffy T. Tulfo AN ACT INSTITUTING A COMPREHENSIVE NATIONAL CARE TO ENCOURAGE COOPERATION, ACCOUNTABILITY AND RESEARCH FOR THE EDUCATION AND SUPPORT TO PERSONS WITH AUTISM AND FOR OTHER PUSPOSES 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,
2 Accountability, Research, Education and Support (A-CARES) Act of 2025".
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State hereby affirms its role in protecting and
4 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 (PWAs) 7 and commits itself to institutionalizing adequate policies and programs that shall increase 8 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 PWAs 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.
Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. As used in this Act, the following terms shall mean:
a) Autism- or Autism Spectrum Disorder refers to a neurological condition characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, communication,
as well as by unique strength, as defined in the latest version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. b) Diagnosis- refers to necessary assessments, including but not limited to neuro- psychological evaluations, genetic testing MRIs, hearing tests, psychometric tests to diagnose or discount autism and/or developmental disabilities individuals. c) Intervention- refers to interceding action undertaken to help improve the autism prognosis. Intervention in autism may take the form of medical, pharmacologic, therapeutic, educational, and non-traditional habilitative care. d) Epidemiology- refers to the study and analysis of the distribution and determinants of health conditions. Like autism in define populations.
Sec. 4. Treatment as Persons with Disability. - In accordance with Republic Act No.
7277, as amended, all PWAs shall be treated as Persons with Disability. They shall likewise be entitled to all the rights, privileges, and benefits provided for persons with disabilities under Republic Act 10754 and other related laws.
Sec. 5. Inter-Agency Cooperation, Accountability and Research. - The Department
of Health (DOH), in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Education (DepEd), the Philippine Council for Mental Health (PCMH), other academic institutions and non-governmental organizations, is hereby mandated to establish and evaluate activities to: Inform and educate on such disabilities to increase awareness relating to causes, early detection, management, treatment as well as developmental milestones; Promote research into the development and validation of reliable screening tools for such disabilities; Develop a curriculum for continuing education to assist individuals in recognizing the need for, and using, valid and reliable screening tools; Promote early screening of children and individuals at higher risk for such disabilities; Promote research to determine evidence-based practices for interventions, develop guidelines for those interventions and disseminate information related to such research and guidelines; Encourage public participation in decisions relating to such disabilities.
Sec. 6. Continuing Education and Training on Autism for Public Service Providers.-
30 All officers and staff in charge of providing services to the public, including but not limited
to the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Transportation (DOTr), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department of National Defense (DND), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Commission on Higher Education 6 (CHED), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), National Council 7 on Disability Affairs (NCDA), Persons with Disabilities Affairs Offices (PDAOs) at the Local 8 Government Units (LGUS), Public Safety Units (military, police, firemen and other first 9 responders), shall undergo mandatory continuing education to empower service providers to become more responsive, sensitive, and compassionate in the delivery of services to PWAs and their families.
Sec. 7. Epidemiological Surveillance Programs.- The Department of Health, in
coordination with different academic institution and non-governmental organizations is hereby mandated to conduct an epidemiological survey to determine the prevalence of autism in the country annually to provide data to government agencies and the private sector, to make necessary services available to PWAs and their families.
Sec. 8. Evidence-based Research.- The DOH, the Philippine Council for Health
Research and Development (PCHRD), and the National Institute of Health (NIH) are mandated, in coordination with local and international mental health institutions, to promote, create, develop, and adopt research and strategic plans that will continue to determine and establish evidence-based practices for interventions in the treatment, care and integration into society of PWAs.
Sec. 9. Early Detection and Intervention of Autism.- The DOH in coordination with
the DepEd, is hereby mandated to establish a program for early screening and detection of autism, to provide the appropriate services to children and toddlers with developmental delays associated with autism, and to ensure the central PWD registry are updated accordingly.
Sec. 10. Protection Against Discrimination in Schools, Colleges, Universities and
Training Institutions. - The DepEd, CHED, and TESDA shall formulate or update policies and protocols to ensure that all educational institutions shall be inclusive to learners with
autism, in matters including, but not limited to, acceptance to academic or training programs, instructional supports, and behavior management.
Sec. 11. Provision for Equal Opportunities for Employment.- The DOLE and the
Civil Service Commission (CSC) shall formulate policies and programs to ensure that PWAs 5 are provided equal opportunities for gainful employment and apprenticeship opportunities in the private public sector.
Sec. 12. Mandatory PhilHealth Coverage. - All persons with autism shall be covered
8 by the National Health Insurance Program of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation 9 (PHIC). Funds necessary to ensure the enrolment of PWAs, who are currently covered under any existing category, shall be sourced from the National Health Insurance Fund of PHIC, earmarked from the proceeds of sin tax collections, as provided for in Republic Act No. 10351. It shall likewise include the cost of early screening and detection programs, as one of the available benefits of its members.
Sec. 13. Protection against Discrimination in Insurance Coverage. - The
Department of Finance shall formulate or update policies and protocols to ensure that all insurance providers shall provide PWAs access to life insurance instruments and shall include allied medical procedures (like occupational and speech therapies) in health insurance benefits of policy holders.
Sec. 14. Protection in cases of Disaster and Emergencies.- The DILG, DSWD and
the DND shall formulate the necessary policies and protocols to ensure that the military, public safety professionals, local government units, and first responders shall provide the necessary life-saving support to PWAs with behavior and communication challenges, in time of disasters, calamities and other emergencies.
Sec. 15. Access to Transportation. - The DOTr shall formulate the necessary policies
and protocols to ensure PWAs with behavioral and communication challenges and their families are given reasonable accommodation in accessing all forms of transportation by service provides over land, sea and air.
Sec. 16. Reasonable Accommodation in Legal Proceedings. - The DOJ shall
formulate the necessary policies and protocols to ensure criminal justice agencies and 30 professionals shall provide the necessary accommodations and protections to PWAs in
1 behavioral and communication challenges, who may be the accused of victims of or witnesses to crimes.
Sec. 17. The Autism CARES Plan - The Philippine Council for Mental Health (PCMH),
a multi-sector body established by the Mental Health Act, in coordination with other 5 government agencies and stakeholders, shall develop, regularly update and monitor the implementation of the Autism Cares Plan (ACP), a holistic medium-term plan that shall embody the provisions of this Act, in order to respond to the needs of PWAs and their families for the guidance of the stakeholders in public and private sector. The PCMH shall 9 likewise coordinate the development and implementation of necessary policies and programs to operationalize the ACP and to ensure the needs of PWAs are served.
Sec. 18. Appropriation. - The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this
12 Act shall be included and incorporated in the annual general appropriations of the DOH.
Sec. 19. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or
unconstitutional, the provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.
Sec. 20. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, presidential decrees,
presidential proclamations, letter of instruction, rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
Sec. 21. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
20 in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. Approved,