Bangsamoro Parliament Tackles Gaps in Services for Children with Developmental Challenges

Diane Hora

Published July 3, 2025

MAKATI CITY — Developmental specialists, medical practitioners, and special education professionals gathered in a roundtable discussion organized by the Health Committee of the Bangsamoro Parliament to address the long-standing needs of families with children facing developmental challenges.

During the consultation, Deputy Speaker Baintan Ampatuan presented Parliament Bill No. 245, which seeks to provide targeted support for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). In parallel, Member of Parliament Suharto Esmael filed Parliament Bill No. 338, which proposes broader services for children with neurodevelopmental conditions and other special needs.

Experts revealed alarming gaps in the country’s healthcare infrastructure, noting that only 98 developmental pediatricians currently serve the entire Philippines. The lack of diagnostic centers, therapy services, and trained professionals has left many children without access to vital interventions.

Participants also emphasized the importance of crafting culturally and contextually appropriate policies for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, where social and healthcare needs may differ from other parts of the country.

Following the consultation, the Health Committee announced the creation of a technical working group to study and consolidate the two proposed bills thoroughly. The goal is to produce a comprehensive piece of legislation—an approach strongly recommended by experts in attendance.

Despite time constraints, lawmakers assured stakeholders they will prioritize the measure before the current legislative term ends in October.