Parañaque City 2nd district Rep. Brian Yamsuan is urging the House of Representatives to prioritize the passage of a bill providing a comprehensive and affordable framework for early detection and intervention services for children on the autism spectrum and other kids with special needs.

Yamsuan said his cwn House Bill (HB) No. 6309, which he filed for this purpose, also aimed to provide scholarship grants for deserving Filipino students who will pursue degree programs in medicine, special education and other related fields of study necessary to sustain the availability of a special needs-related workforce across the country.

The Senate’s version of its proposed National Autism Care, Support and Inclusion Act has already been approved on third and final reading, Yamsuan noted.

HB No. 6309 remains pending before the House Committee on the Welfare of Children.

“Bawat bata ay may karapatang mamuhay nang may sapat na proteksyon at agarang medical support kung kinakailangan (Every child has the right to live with adequate protection and immediate medical support if necessary)," the Parañaque City lawmaker said.

"But for the parents of kids on the autism spectrum and others with special needs, early screening, therapy and  other intervention services remain financially burdensome, often with limited or no Philhealth support,” he noted.

According to the latest estimates from the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), one out of seven, or 5.1 million, Filipino children are living with disabilities. However, developmental screenings and therapy remain too expensive for most families, costing about P4,000 to P5,000 monthly for therapy interventions, often without PhilHealth support

“The government needs to urgently develop and put in place a national plan of action that would ensure early and accessible screening, diagnosis and intervention services to identify and support children with special needs," Yamsuan said.

Yamsuan said scientific studies have confirmed that early screening and intervention, ideally before preschool age, significantly improve a special-needs child’s communication and social skills, leading to better long-term outcomes.

Early intervention reduces long-term educational costs, minimizes the severity of disabilities and enhances participation in school and community life. 

“This is why the focus of our measure is the implementation of a National Program for Early Detection and Intervention. Our proposal complements the other pending measures in the House of Representatives which aims to institutionalize a National Autism Care, Support and Inclusion Act. Our bill expands the coverage to include other children with special needs,” he said. 

Yamsuan’s proposed national program covers not only children with autism spectrum disorder, but also those diagnosed with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Down Syndrome, cerebral palsy, Global Developmental Delay (GDD), learning disabilities, communication impairments and other developmental conditions.

“We urge our colleagues in the House to swiftly act on our proposed legislation and other similar measures to help build a compassionate, inclusive society where every child is cared for and protected,” said Yamsuan.

Under HB No. 6309, PhilHealth is directed to formulate and implement appropriate benefit packages and reimbursement schemes to ensure accessible, affordable, and quality therapeutic care for children with special needs. 

The Department of Health (DOH), in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and other relevant agencies, is tasked with developing, establishing and implementing a comprehensive and integrated National Program for Early Detection and Intervention to identify, support, and monitor Filipino children with developmental concerns. 

It also includes supporting the capacity building of a trained and competent workforce, conducting public awareness and advocacy campaigns, and collecting and analyzing data and outcomes to further strengthen the initiatives under the program. 

HB No. 6309 also provides for the establishment of early childhood disability identification and intervention service facilities in government hospitals and the barangay-level implementation of health and social welfare services for children with special needs.

The bill also directs the Department of Education (DepEd) to ensure the continuous improvement of all existing Special Education (SPED) Centers in public schools and institutions.