BACOLOD City – In line with the observance of Autism Consciousness Week, Bacolod Lone District Representative Alfredo Abelardo Benitez is urging Congress to pass a measure that seeks to provide financial assistance and expanded support services for persons with autism and their families.
Benitez, author of House Bill No. 3379, said the proposed National Autism Program aims to address the limited access to assessment and treatment for autism in the country, which remains financially out of reach for many Filipino families.
“Assessment and treatment for autism are, sadly, still inaccessible for many families in the Philippines. The National Autism Program is a necessary intervention to ensure that persons with autism are able to access timely assessment and appropriate treatment,” Benitez said.
Under the proposed measure, an Autism Support Allowance Program will be established under the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), providing a monthly stipend of P4,000 to families with persons with autism.
Benitez said the amount could significantly help offset the high cost of autism-related care, noting that initial consultations alone range from P4,000 to P5,000 per session. For children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, recommended therapy sessions conducted four to five times a week can cost about P1,000 per session.
“Not many families have the financial capacity to sustain these interventions,” he said.
The lawmaker said the proposed program is expected to benefit an estimated 1.2 million Filipinos living with autism, including nearly 350,000 children.
Aside from financial assistance, the bill also proposes additional support services, including free developmental assessment for all Filipino children up to five years old; free occupational, speech, and behavioral therapy in Department of Health (DOH) hospitals; and free medicines for persons with autism diagnosed with Level 3 Autism.
Benitez stressed that government support is crucial in helping persons with autism reach their full potential and participate meaningfully in society.
“Autism is not a disease that needs to be cured, but a difference in neurological development. A diagnosis should not be a life sentence. Unfortunately, due to the lack of support, many persons with autism who could otherwise be productive members of society are excluded from public life,” he said.
He also called on the government to address barriers to early intervention, including the shortage of developmental pediatricians, long waiting periods for proper assessment, and the high cost of consultations and therapy.
Autism Consciousness Week in the Philippines is observed every third week of January pursuant to Proclamation No. 711 issued in 1996, which aims to promote public awareness, understanding, and social acceptance of persons with autism./PN
