By CESAR JOLITO III

A Bacolod City lawmaker has filed a House bill seeking to establish a National Autism Program that will provide financial and medical support to more than 1.2 million Filipinos, including about 350,000 children living with autism.

Under House Bill 3379, an Autism Support Allowance Program will be created under the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Bacolod Lone District Representative Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said.

The program will grant a monthly stipend of P4,000 to families with members diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

The bill also mandates free developmental assessments for all Filipino children until age five, free occupational, speech and behavioral therapy in Department of Health hospitals, and free medicine for patients with Level 3 autism.

Benitez said the measure addresses the country’s lack of accessible and affordable autism treatment, noting that families often face steep costs — P4,000 to P5,000 for an initial consultation and around P1,000 per therapy session, with recommended sessions reaching four to five times a week.

He also cited data from the United Nations Children’s Fund, which shows that poverty rates are 50 percent higher in households with children with disabilities, underscoring the urgency of government intervention.

“Every child, regardless of their abilities or differences, should be treated with dignity, respect and equal opportunities,” Benitez said.

“The government must provide necessary support to help persons on the spectrum reach their full potential and become self-reliant members of society,” he added.

If passed, House Bill 3379 would be the first national policy dedicated to a comprehensive and sustained autism support system in the country./CJ, WDJ