Bacolod 1st District Representative and Deputy Speaker Albee Benitez is pushing for the passage of House Bill No. 3379, a measure that seeks to establish a National Autism Center (NAC) to provide centralized, institutional support for Persons on the Spectrum (POS) and their families.
Dubbed “An Act Instituting a Comprehensive National Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Program,” the bill addresses the lack of government support for the estimated 1.2 million Filipinos affected by the neurodevelopmental disorder.
Benitez criticized the current systemic gaps, noting that many families are left to shoulder the heavy financial burden of private care or abandon treatment entirely.
”[ASD] affects 1.2 million Filipinos and their families. Yet, many still face barriers in terms of access to early diagnosis, early intervention, inclusive education, meaningful employment and community support. These gaps limit not only their potential, but also the opportunities for them to fully participate in society,” Benitez lamented during a statement before the House Committee on Health. “As a result, many parents are left with no choice but to seek costly services from private therapy centers or, worse, forgo therapy for their children.”
Under the proposed legislation, the NAC will be created as a specialized institution under the Department of Health (DOH). The center will be mandated to manage epidemiological surveillance, update domestic prevalence data, and spearhead research into advanced ASD interventions.
Additionally, the NAC will be responsible for creating standard intervention modules, training healthcare workers and educators, and identifying policy gaps to improve state-led services.
The bill also introduces heavily pro-consumer mandates, including free developmental assessments and therapy sessions in both public and private healthcare facilities.
Other key provisions feature monthly allowances for families of POS, extended leave benefits for parents, and strict mandates for inclusive education and equal employment opportunities.
”Inclusion begins when government chooses to see every Filipino. Like any other person, every individual on the spectrum deserves support, dignity, and opportunity,” Benitez added.