Akbayan Files National Autism Care Plan Bill

Akbayan Files National Autism Care Plan Bill

Lawmakers from the Akbayan party-list have introduced a bill to establish a national autism care plan. The proposed legislation aims to strengthen early detection, education, and support systems for Filipinos with autism spectrum disorder.

Akbayan representatives Percival Cendaña, Chel Diokno, and Dadah Karim Ismula, together with Dinagat Islands Rep. Kaka Bag-ao, filed House Bill No. 3198, known as the National Autism Care Plan Act. The bill seeks to create a Sub-Committee on Autism under the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) tasked with developing and implementing the National Autism Care Plan (NACP).

Functions of the Sub-Committee on Autism

The NCDA’s autism sub-committee will serve as a multi-sectoral and inter-agency body to coordinate policies and programs. Its responsibilities include designing a comprehensive roadmap to meet the needs of persons on the autism spectrum and their families, covering health, education, and employment.

  • Coordinate and monitor the implementation of the NACP while ensuring the protection of rights for persons with autism.
  • Launch public awareness campaigns to foster acceptance, accommodation, and appreciation of individuals on the spectrum.
  • Conduct collaborative research with private and public institutions to better understand autism in the Philippines.
  • Enhance government programs and services nationwide to support persons with autism and their families.
  • Assist both public and private sectors in creating and delivering support initiatives.
  • Develop capacity-building efforts, incentives, and awards to help persons with autism become independent and productive.
  • Build networks with organizations and professionals advocating for autism-related policies and family support.

“We want to include persons with autism: in our schools, the workplace, especially in our healthcare system. They deserve care, compassion, and support that always meets them where they are,” Cendaña emphasized. “The Autism Care Act allows them to be independent, to self-actualize, and to realize their full potential.”

Expanding PhilHealth Coverage

The bill also calls for enhanced Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) benefits specifically for individuals with spectrum disorders. Lawmakers urge PhilHealth to sustain support beyond childhood to provide lifelong, accessible, and dependable care.

“We are calling on Philhealth to continue supporting children with autism. We need to support them as they grow up. To offer them lifelong care is to offer them lifelong dignity — one that is available, dependable, and accessible to them every step of their way,” a source said.

Role of Local Government Units

Aside from national agencies, the bill encourages local government units to engage in partnerships with national bodies and organizations advocating for persons on the autism spectrum. These collaborations aim to explore livelihood opportunities and strengthen support networks.

The subcommittee is also mandated to conduct wide consultations with government and non-government stakeholders to ensure the program’s effectiveness and inclusivity.

Context and Importance

Back in 2019, the Commission on Human Rights highlighted the need for more opportunities in education, employment, and healthcare for Filipinos with autism spectrum disorder. Currently, data estimates that about 1.2 million Filipinos, or one in every 100, live with autism. This rate is lower than countries with advanced detection programs, such as the United States, where one in every 58 children is diagnosed with autism. This suggests underdiagnosis in the Philippines.

For more news and updates on national autism care plan, visit Filipinokami.com.

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