Northern Samar 1st District Rep. Niko Raul S.J. Daza is seeking the support of the administration to consider as a priority a bill that seeks to give more protection and inclusion to the 1.2 million Filipinos with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Daza is referring to House Bill 9131, or "National Autism Framework Act,” which he filed on Tuesday and which has yet to go on first reading.
“It is about time that we enact a law that will allow more protection and inclusion not just in health and social services but also employment, community life, and rights protection,” Daza said.
If enacted, the law will establish an Inter-Agency Council on Autism, which will be attached to the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA).
The inter-agency body, composed of relevant government agencies and representatives from nongovernment organizations, autism self-advocates, and family organizations, will be tasked with policy-making, planning, and monitoring the implementation of a National Autism Care Plan (NACP).
In his proposal, Daza seeks the creation of a dedicated Autism Care Fund to help indigent families in seeking care for family members with ASD.
The proposed law also mandates agencies such as the Department of Labor and Employment to develop policies and programs that will ensure opportunities for gainful employment, apprenticeship, and entrepreneurship for persons with autism.
Through the National Autism Framework Act, Daza also wants the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board to develop guidelines “for the accurate, respectful, responsible, inclusive, and destigmatizing portrayal of persons with autism in film, television, news media, and online content.”
“We should put a stop to this practice of using ASD and similar conditions as materials for laughter in all forms of mass media,” Daza said.