persons with disabilities

THE NATIONAL Autism Care Plan Act, a bill sponsored by Senator Risa Hontiveros, represents a long-overdue step toward a Philippine policy that recognizes the rights and needs of individuals with autism. 

There have been laws created and enacted for persons with disabilities (PWD); however, they exposed significant gaps in how we approach those for children, particularly autism and other developmental impairments.  

The bill stated that it will promote rights and access to services and provide mechanisms for support across health, education, and community systems. For this to be effectively realized, the framework must be carefully organized to match identified needs with appropriate solutions and ensure that delivery systems are responsive.

Unlocking eligibility for autism care

For parents with a toddler, worries arise when their child is delayed in terms of speech. In current trends, 18-month-olds can be screened for autism. However, getting a diagnosis is expensive, especially for low-income families. Some families line up for financial assistance in government agencies just to get the assessment. The appointment time is definitely longer because there are very few providers.

Enhancing the framework for screening, detection, and diagnosis should not be the sole responsibility of the parents, but also for the schools, baranga,y and those in the health sector. In a nation where families often bear the immense financial and emotional burden of autism care alone, I expect that this bill affirms that no Filipino with autism should be neglected or left behind. And part of this is to recognize the essential need for diagnosticians.

Current numbers show discrepancies

The Philippines has approximately 100 board-certified developmental and behavioral pediatricians affiliated with the Philippine Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics (PSDBP), with a significant concentration in Metro Manila. It also shows a gap where many providers are visible in the capital as compared to the provinces.

Also, since these are expensive procedures done by specialists, only those who can afford it will get eligibility for autism care through a diagnosis. Remember that a diagnosis is a written medical report of tests and observations conducted only by a trained eye. With few specialists, I urged that the bill prioritize this critical gap.

In the 2025 report by EDCOM 2, it showed a DepEd data that revealed 62% of enrolled learners with disabilities are tagged without a formal diagnosis. Only 38% have received a diagnosis from developmental pediatricians. The DepEd tagging system only serves as a workaround for the severe shortage of medical diagnosis. It just allows schools to identify and provide initial accommodations based solely on teachers’ observations of a child’s special needs. The limited number of specialists is insufficient to meet the country’s autism diagnosis needs, as an estimated 1 in 100 Filipinos (around 1.2 million people) may be on the autism.

Bridging gap with involvement of key government agencies

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) implements and enforces regulatory laws for professions and maintains standards. I think it is about time that, through its Board of Psychology, they will incorporate standardized tools and coursework to make our Psychology graduates be involved in the Allied Health team and play a key role as Clinical Psychologists if they gain credentials. They should update psychology curricula in coordination with CHED to incorporate autism-related concepts such as Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). I believe that they are better equipped to handle it than those certified by international certifying organizations.

I do not agree with international organizations dictating the fields of intervention in our country. They are certifying professionals to practice ABA in our country. Filipinos certifies its own citizens to practice in their homeland. That is the whole point of regulation.

The Filipino autism community prefers those with certifications because they feel these professionals have undergone training and expertise. But we have a government agency that can do that, such as the PRC. But right now, this ABA is totally unregulated. And intervention centers are requiring their staff to be certified technicians as well. It is high time that the PRC or other government body will look into this matter because our graduates are venturing into this very expensive process, thus, when they practice, services will not be cheap.

The consequences are stark for families with autism: high costs. Thousands of pesos per month make intensive ABA, occupational therapy, and speech therapy unaffordable for most families, particularly those from low- and middle-income backgrounds who stand to benefit most from early intervention.

A call for local oversight and accessibility

Strengthening local autism programs must create a clear connection between what individuals or communities require and the interventions designed to assist them. Barangay health centers should have a referral-ready system when they screen children at risk of autism. Local leaders also should continuously evaluate and upgrade systems like financial assistance, activities, and group homes that evolve due to societal demands. Systems that no longer respond to current needs should be strengthened, modernized, or restructured to ensure sustainability and long-term impact.

Despite prior laws on disabilities, a glaring implementation gap persists, particularly in the availability of qualified service providers in their locality. There is a lack of plantilla positions for essential therapists that could serve communities with a high incidence of autism. Transporting kids with autism is difficult.

As we stand on the cusp of its potential passage, the true measure of our progress as a society will be in its implementation—ensuring that every child and adult with autism can thrive, contribute, and live with dignity. The time for action is now—our children, our families, and our future demand nothing less.

Dr. Cai Polancos is a dedicated special education practitioner, physical therapist and a graduate school professor. He loves traveling with his family. As an introvert, he finds joy in quiet, reflective pursuits like reading, gardening and creative writing. Connect with him on X @cdpolancos!