Press Release
November 7, 2009

Jinggoy pushes establishment of RP Center for Autism

Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada today pushed for the establishment of a Philippine Center for Autism, noting reports that this neuro-behavioral disorder is on the rise in the country and in the rest of the world.

Estrada expressed alarm over the report by Dr. Alexis Reyes, president of the Philippine Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, that there may be about 500,000 Filipinos with autism today, but only about two percent of them are given appropriate care. Reyes is speaking at the launching of the first-ever International Autism Conference in Asia to be hosted by the Autism Hearts Philippines at the Philippine International Convention Center on February 3-5, 2010.

Estrada, chairman of the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development and the joint Congressional Oversight Committee on Labor and Employment, has called on fellow legislators to approve his Senate Bill 618 establishing the Center.

"Autism, appearing during the first three years of life, has been affecting so many of Filipino children and even adults, hindering the way they gather and process information thus causing problems in their communication, learning and social behaviors. The predicament does not recognize racial, ethnic, or social boundaries," he said.

The senator observed that the country lacks "special schools for people, especially children, with special needs" as well as services from trained and equipped teachers and medical and health workers for them. Such schools and services, he said, are very expensive, thus it is only the upper and middle class who can afford the needed medical and educational attention for autistic family members. He noted Reyes' report that initial diagnosis for autism costs about P7,000, with total cost of medical and educational needs amounting to more than P110,000 for the first year alone.

"For such a long time, this sector has been lacking in government support. We must come up with and implement a comprehensive and integrated plan for people, especially children, with autism to specifically focus on their needs and thus enable them to be more active, happy and productive members of society.

Based on Estrads's bill, the Center for Autism shall formulate and implement an integrated and comprehensive master plan on autism, create a diagnostic, therapeutic and rehabilitation clinic; provide vocational training programs for autistic adults; give free diagnosis and rehabilitation services to indigent autistics; train teachers, therapists, medical and health workers on the nature and management of autism; and, increase public awareness and concern on autism by spearheading advocacy programs.

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