Senators on Monday pushed for the passage of the bill instituting services and programs for students with disabilities in an effort to make the country’s education system truly accessible and inclusive to all.
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, chair of the Senate Basic Education, Arts and Culture committee, and sponsor of Senate Bill No. 1907, said it is imperative that the government provides additional support and adaptative pedagogic methods to students with disabilities to help them study despite their long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments.
Gatchalian pointed out that while the Department of Education (DepEd) has estimated the number of students with disabilities in the country that are enrolled to be at 439,700 during the previous year, “there are many more who have not.”
The senator said the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) estimated that 5 million Filipino children are living with disabilities.
“Thus, it appears that the right to education of Filipino students with disabilities has been impaired by the exclusive and inequitable status quo in the basic education sector,” Gatchalian said in his sponsorship speech during the Senate’s session.
“This bill seeks to provide learners with disabilities access to the general formal education system by providing support services and programs to cater to their special needs,” he said.
“The end goal is for learners with disabilities to enjoy full participation in the general education system, thus, preparing them for adult living and community life as full-fledged members of Philippine society,” Gatchalian stressed.
Sen. Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, chair of the Senate finance panel, also pushed for the immediate enactment of the measure, saying that while it’s an established edict that education should be made available to all, “in reality, it’s practice is where it’s wanting.”
“I just want to share that one of the great shortages in our health system is the lack of development pediatricians, Mr. President,” Angara said in his co-sponsorship speech.
“If a parent wanted to bring their child who is on the spectrum of autism, they would have to wait many months, Your Honor, before getting an appointment with a development pediatrician,” he also noted.
Angara said he hopes that the Senate Committees on Health and Women and Children could “dovetail” to Senate Bill No. 1520 or the proposed “Doktor Para sa Bayan Act” or the medical scholarship bill to ensure the continuity of the program for learners with disabilities once it is rolled out.
“I remember, in the debates on the medical scholarships, it’s not just the doctors but (we) also (need) the technicians, the medical technologists, and the nurses…Pero yung (But the) development pediatrician, is a great, great need,” he stressed.
Sen. Pia Cayetano also expressed her full support for the passage of the bill, but reiterated its implementation is going to be “a herculean task.”
“Because as it was pointed out…we don’t have enough personnel even for those children without learning disabilities,” Cayetano explained.
“I fully support the rights of these children to be integrated, to have playmates, to attend school with their friends, with kids their age,” she stressed.
“But it is also the right of the child to be assisted in their integration. And unless we are ready and prepared to pour funds for this, I know that our teachers already have their hands full as it is,” she said.