Two bills that support Filipino children with autism and their families are moving forward to its approval, an optimistic Benguet Rep. Eric Go Yap said.

Yap in a release said that House Bills 6001 and 6486 may reach approval by the plenary that are aimed to address the long standing struggles faced by individuals with autism and their family that care for them.

Yap that with the two bills, the establishment of a comprehensive national autism care system will be established.

HB 6001 is aimed to establish a comprehensive national autism care plan, that Yap says “would institutionalize measures for early detection, inclusive education, intervention programs, and full social integration for persons with autism.”

On the other hand, HB 6486 “proposes the establishment of a Center for Autism that would provide free or affordable diagnostic, therapeutic, and rehabilitation services.”

The House’s committee on health approval advocates say “as a breakthrough moment for countless families who have long endured emotional, financial, and social challenges while navigating the realities of autism care in the country.”

For families, having an autistic child means “sleepless nights, uncertainty over their child’s future, and the painful struggle for acceptance, understanding, and accessible support systems.”

Yap said  that the proposed bills are aimed “to ease those burdens by creating a more responsive and inclusive framework for autism care nationwide.”

He said that the bills’ supporters view autism not a barrier to success or human potential, adding that “with proper support and opportunities, persons with autism can thrive in schools, workplaces, and communities.”

They say that the committee approval is a legislative victory and “viewed as a powerful statement that inclusion should no longer be treated as a privilege reserved for a few, but as a fundamental right guaranteed to every Filipino child.”

As the bills near plenary deliberations, Yap added that “families and autism advocates are hoping Congress will sustain the momentum and finally turn years of calls for stronger autism support into law.” PML