Quezon City 5th District Rep. Patrick Michael Vargas proposed a bill to the House of Representatives to provide mandatory government support for children with autism and their families.
The measure, labeled as the Autism Assistance Act, sought to allocate funding for government and non-government programs that prioritized the welfare of children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Vargas noted that assistance would be granted to the Teach the Teachers program in order to properly equip educators and health workers with updated training regarding the needs of the vulnerable group.
Aside from the pre-existing initiative, the representative also proposed the creation of the Global Autism Assistance Program through the Department of Health.
“Autism remains a developmental disability that is not yet fully understood in our country, and it is the government’s duty to ensure that these families do not struggle alone,” he said in a statement.
The lawmaker further noted that these provisions would allow for legislative gaps to be addressed, affording families the proper support network to tend to their children’s needs.
Based on data from the Autism Society of the Philippines, approximately 1.2 million Filipinos were living with autism throughout the country.
Vargas expressed that his proposed law would allow for Filipinos with ASD to live their life to the fullest through the support of the national government.
“By partnering with NGOs and the private sector, we can ensure that help reaches those who truly need it,” he said.
In the Senate, a similar bill labeled as the National Autism Care, Support, and Inclusion Act penned by various senators was approved during its third reading last March 9.