Strengthening the Autism Care Plan by Addressing Gaps

The proposed National Autism Care Plan Act, sponsored by Sen. 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 enacted for persons with disabilities; however, they reveal gaps in how we address the needs of children with autism and other developmental impairments.

The bill states 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 resources and ensure that delivery systems are responsive.

Unlocking eligibility for autism care. For parents with toddlers, concerns arise when their child experiences delays in speech. Current trends allow 18-month-olds to be screened for autism. However, obtaining a diagnosis is expensive. Some families line up for financial assistance from government agencies just to get the assessment. Enhancing the framework for screening, detection, and diagnosis should not be the sole responsibility of the parents, but should also involve schools, barangays, and the health sector. 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, with a significant concentration in Metro Manila. It also shows a gap where many providers are concentrated in the capital compared to the provinces. Remember that a diagnosis is a written medical report of tests and observations conducted only by a trained eye. With few specialists, the bill should prioritize this critical gap.

The 2025 report by the Second Congressional Commission on Education showed that 62 percent of enrolled learners with disabilities are tagged without a formal diagnosis, while only 38 percent have received diagnoses from developmental pediatricians. The number of specialists is insufficient to meet the country’s autism diagnosis needs, as an estimated one in 100 Filipinos (around 1.2 million people) may be on the autism spectrum.

Bridging gap with the involvement of key government agency. The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), through its Board of Psychology, should incorporate standardized tools and coursework to involve psychology graduates in allied health teams and allow them to play a key role as clinical psychologists if they gain credentials. I believe they are better equipped to handle diagnostics and interventions than those certified by international organizations. I am not in favor of international organizations dictating our fields of intervention.

While they certify Filipino professionals to practice Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), the PRC certifies professionals in their respective fields. Currently, ABA is unregulated, yet intervention centers require staff to be certified technicians. It is high time the PRC addresses this, as our graduates face an expensive certification process, making future services costly. The consequences for families with autism are stark: thousands of pesos per month make intensive ABA, occupational therapy, and speech therapy unaffordable for most.

DR. CAI POLANCOS,
drcdpolancos@gmail.com

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