COTABATO CITY (MindaNews / 5 January) — Amid the politics and various issues confronting the Bangsamoro Parliament, a few legislators have been quietly introducing bills that will help the region’s voiceless and vulnerable sector — persons with autism.
This development came following efforts led by the Mindanao Organization for Social and Economic Progress (MOSEP, Inc., a local NGO) to provide urgent medical and technical services to the welfare of children with special needs, particularly those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Mariam Ali, executive director of MOSEP, told MindaNews in a phone interview over the weekend that the interventions they are providing to children with ASD are a necessity, not a luxury.
Ricky Castillion, of the Persons with Disabilities Affairs Office (PDAO) in Cotabato City, echoed Ali’s observation. Families often wait up to a year for an appointment with a developmental pediatrician in distant cities like Davao because local experts are nonexistent, he said.
A look at the Bangsamoro Transition Authority’s portal showed four bills proposed in the past year or two addressing the issue of children with special needs: Bill No. 354 (Bangsamoro Center for ASD): Proposes a specialized center offering free evaluations, physical and occupational therapy, and vocational training; Bill No. 338 (Neurodevelopmental Disorder Support Program): A comprehensive framework for free screening, diagnosis, and subsidized speech and behavioral therapies; Bill No. 386 (Comprehensive SPED Centers Act): Aims to establish inclusive, culturally sensitive Special Education (SPED) centers across all BARMM provinces; and Bill No. 245 (Support for Children with ASD): Focuses on empowering children with autism to achieve independence.
Leading the campaign to pass the bills are four Members of Parliament: Suharto Esmael, Sha Elijah Dumama-Alba, Baintan Ampatuan, Nurredha Misuari, and Abrar Hataman.
Meanwhile, MP Dumama-Alba launched last month the Kaalalai sa Kaisipan at Kakayahan Program with a ₱2-million funding for free intervention therapy.
Diosa Lagura Avos, a parent of a child with autism, said during a recent MOSEP event that the efforts of the BTA and those of NGOs represent a lifeline. “With the help of NGOs and the government, parents won’t have to second-guess if their child can be accepted in school. We just need to know the delays so we can act,” she shared.
Imelda Mariano, of the Intervention Center for Autism and Related Exceptionalities (ICARES, a partner of MOSEP), emphasized that the window for the most effective intervention is narrow.
“Early intervention, specifically for children under five, is the most effective approach,” she explained. “Having a dedicated, accessible therapy center in Cotabato is the only way to accommodate the vast number of children whose families cannot afford private treatment.”
Ali said that through Project ENABLE (short for Empower, Nurture, Access, Break Barriers, Lift Opportunities for Equal Participation), which is supported by The Asia Foundation and Australian Aid, MOSEP has tapped ICARES to provide specialized technical expertise in neurodevelopmental disorders.
“Government services are often not readily available to everyone. This is a basic service that must be provided because cases of autism and special needs in BARMM are rising,” Ali stated.
She also called for an end to the social stigma that frequently drives parents to hide their children with autism from the community.
Ali urged the community to view these children through the lens of faith. “Children with special needs are an Amana — a sacred trust from Allah (SWT). They were entrusted to us to be loved and cared for. We cannot give up on them simply because the situation is difficult,” she added. (Ferdinandh Cabrera / MindaNews)
