Autism Cooperation, Accountability, Research, Education and Support (Cares) Act of 2022
Filed on December 17, 2025, and referred to the Committees on Health and Demography, Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality, and Finance; it was substituted by SBN-1822 on February 10, 2026, and has since been consolidated in the committee report.
The bill addresses the needs of a significant population of individuals with autism in the Philippines.
The bill responds to the urgent need for better support and resources for individuals with autism.
Autism Cooperation, Accountability, Research, Education and Support (Cares) Act of 2022
The Autism Cooperation, Accountability, Research, Education and Support (CARES) Act of 2022 aims to create a comprehensive national care plan for individuals with autism, focusing on education, support, and research.
Compared with current law:
No comprehensive national care plan for autism exists.
Establishes a national care plan to support individuals with autism.
Limited awareness and support for autism in education and employment.
Mandates inclusive policies in education and equal employment opportunities.
No standardized early detection programs for autism.
Requires the DOH to implement early screening and detection programs.
The Autism CARES Act aims to create a comprehensive national care plan to support individuals with autism through education, healthcare, and employment opportunities.
Source · full text✦ Dashed tags are AI-suggested nuance; solid tags follow the committee taxonomy.
Stalled: the bill was substituted by SBN-1822 shortly after its first reading on January 26, 2026, and has not progressed since then, indicating a lack of further action for several months.
No floor deliberations yet — this measure has not reached plenary. Its committee-stage actions appear under Legislative history above.
• benatt Cline al law Secretary TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) First Regular Session REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 0E6 17 P6:14 SENATE 1642 REGEIVED Ar: S. No. Introduced by Senator MARK 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 EXPLANATORY NOTE Autism or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a term used to describe a wide variety of disorders marked by difficulties with social skills, repetitive activities, speech, and nonverbal communication. It is also categorized as a lifelong mental challenge. It is estimated by the World Health Organization (WHO) that about 1 in 100 children worldwide has autism. This estimate represents only an average figure and may still vary substantially on other studies. 1 In the Philippines, it was estimated by the experts and advocates that there are close to 1,000,000 people with autism. However, the Autism Society of the Philippines estimates that only 10% of Filipinos with autism are diagnosed and only 5% are receiving appropriate interventions. To help people with ASD, the government must ensure that there are available mechanisms for diagnosis of this condition, enable access to hospitals for therapies, and educate the public about the realities of those living with autism. Thus, this bill seeks to increase public awareness about this disorder and to provide government support for ASD research and treatment. This bill likewise mandates the Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to 1 Autism. (2022, March 30). Autism. Retrieved January 5, 2023, from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact- sheets/detail/autism- spectrumtext=It%20is%20estimated%20that%20worldwide.prevalence%20varies%20substantially%20across%20studies.. 2 Magno Veluz, M et al. Primer on Autism in the Philippines, Autism Society of the Philippines
formulate or update policies and protocols in ensuring that all educational institutions shall be inclusive to learners with autism, such as, acceptance to academic or training programs, instructional supports, and behavior management. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Civil Service Commission (CSC) shall also formulate policies to ensure that people with ASD are provided for equal opportunities for gainful employment and apprenticeship in the private and public sectors. This bill also provides that all persons with autism shall be covered by the National Health Insurance Program of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation. Thus, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought. MARK A. VILLAR RIC
line of the seecretarg TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) First Regular Session DEC 17 P6:14 SENATE RECEIVED EY 1642 S. No. _ Introduced by Senator MARK 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 Be it enacted by the Senate and 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 (CARES) Act of 2022".
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State hereby affirms its role in protecting
4 and upholding the rights of all disabled persons, by giving full support to the 5 improvement of their well-being and their integration into mainstream society. To this 6 end, the State recognizes the need to legislate for the distinctive needs of persons 7 with autism (PWAs) and commits itself to institutionalizing adequate policies and 8 programs that shall increase awareness and proper understanding of autism, to 9 develop a clear and consistent pathway to early detection and diagnosis, provide 10 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 strengths, 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 in 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 study and analysis of the distribution and determinants of health conditions, like autism, in define populations.
Sec. 4. Treatment as Persons with Disability. — All PWAs shall be treated as
persons with disability, as defined under Republic Act No. 7277, as amended. They shall 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 Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Education (DepEd), the Philippine Council for Mental Health (PCMH), other academic institutions and non-governmental organization, is hereby mandated to establish and evaluate activities: Inform and educate on such disabilities to increase awareness relating to causes, early detection, management, treatment as well as development 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 Providers. — All
officers and staff in charge of providing services to the public, including but not limited
1 to the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Social Welfare and Development 2 (DSWD), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Labor and Employment 3 (DOLE), Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Transportation (DOTr), 4 Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department of National Defense (DND), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Commission on 6 Higher Education (CHED), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority 7 (TESDA), National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA), Persons with Disabilities Affairs 8 Offices (PDAOs) at the Local Government Units (LGUs), Public Safety Units (military, 9 police, firemen and other first 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. - The Department of Health, in
coordination with different academic institutions and non-governmental organization 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, 22 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 is 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 32 or training programs, instructional supports, and behavior management.
Sec. 11. Provision for Equal Opportunities for Employment. - The DOLE and
2 the Civil Service Commission (CSC) shall formulate policies and programs to ensure 3 that PWAs are provided equal opportunities for gainful employment and apprenticeship opportunities in the private and public sector.
Sec. 12. Mandatory Insurance Coverage and Prohibition Against Discrimination
thereof. — All persons with autism shall be covered by the National Health Insurance Program of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHIC). Funds necessary to 8 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 10 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. The Department of Finance (DOF) shall likewise issue guidelines 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. 13. 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 behavioral and communication challenges, in times of disasters, calamities and other emergencies.
Sec. 14. 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 provided over land, sea and air.
Sec. 15. Reasonable Accommodation in Legal Proceedings. - The DOJ shall
formulate the necessary policies and protocols to ensure criminal justice agencies and professionals shall provide the necessary accommodations and protections to PWAs in behavioral and communication challenges, who may be accused of victims of or witnesses to crimes.
Sec. 16. 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 government agencies and stakeholders, shall develop, regularly update and
1 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 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. 17. Appropriation. - The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of
this Act shall be included and incorporated in the annual general appropriations of the DOH.
Sec. 18. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or
11 unconstitutional, the provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force 12 and effect.
Sec. 19. 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. 20. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
18 publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. Approved,
Reproduced from the Senate document. The official PDF is the authoritative version.