MANILA, Nov. 23 (PNA) — Filipino children with special needs (CSN) will soon get a 20 percent discount on purchases of basic necessities and other services under a bill expressing concern over their plight.
Under House Bill 5158 authored by Rep. Franz E. Alvarez (1st District, Palawan), the CSN will get 20 discount for every purchase of consumer products and medicines. The discount also covers transportation fees, hotels, restaurants and recreation centers, cinemas, theaters, circuses and carnivals.
Alvarez said the CSN would also get free medical and dental services in all government hospitals or clinics subject to the guidelines to be issued by the Department of Health (DOH), the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and the Social Security System (SSS).
Compared to other countries where CSN get 100% state support, Alvarez said only two percent of the estimated 5.49 million Filipino children with special needs are getting the support of the government.
Alvarez said the CSN differ from the average children in mental characteristics, sensory abilities, neuro-muscular or physical characteristics, social attributes, to such an extent that requires the use of modified school practices or special education services to develop them to maximum capability.
Classified as CSN are gifted children and fast learners children and those with mental retardation intellectual disability, visual impairment, hearing impairment, behavioral problems, orthopedic or physical handicap, special health problems, learning disabilities, speech defects, autism, and multi-handicaps.
Under the bill, individuals or non-governmental institutions establishing homes, residential communities or villages for the CSNs shall be accorded realty tax holiday for the first five years starting from the first year of operations, and priority in the building and or maintenance of provincial or municipal roads leading to the home, residential community or retirement village.
The measure also requires the establishment of the Office for Children with Special Needs (OCSN) in every Office of the Mayor headed by a Councilor designated by the Sangguniang Bayan and assisted by the Community Development Officer in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Violators face a PhP1,000 fine and imprisonment of not more than one month or both upon the discretion of the court.(PNA)