Sen. Risa Hontiveros secured a major Senate victory for the autism community after the upper chamber unanimously approved Senate Bill 1822, or the National Autism Care, Support and Inclusion Act.
Hontiveros expressed elation over the approval on Sunday during the annual Angels Walk for Autism, an event organized by the Autism Society of the Philippines. She described the Senate vote as a legislative breakthrough after years of advocacy from families, health professionals and civil society groups pushing for stronger support for people with autism.
“This is a victory built on collective effort,” Hontiveros said.
The bill aims to expand the government’s response to autism by strengthening early detection and diagnosis services. This matters because families often need timely screening and intervention before children can access proper therapy, education support and long-term care. The measure also seeks to improve inclusive education systems, giving people with autism better access to learning environments that can respond to their needs.
The proposal also pushes broader social protections for the autism community. It includes support for caregivers, who often carry the daily cost, pressure and responsibility of care. It also seeks to widen PhilHealth coverage for therapy and health care services, a move that could ease the financial burden on families who struggle with recurring treatment and professional care expenses.
The measure further calls for stronger training for health workers who handle developmental conditions, aiming to improve the quality of diagnosis, therapy and support available to families.Hontiveros, who chairs the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, said the bill builds on previous reforms that mandated Philippine Health Insurance Corporation coverage for persons with disabilities.
