Congressman Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr. has filed House Bill No. 5125, seeking the establishment of National and Provincial Centers for Autism to provide comprehensive support and services for individuals with autism across the country.
Filed on October 6, 2025, the proposed measure aims to create a network of centers tasked to formulate and implement integrated programs for the diagnosis, therapy, rehabilitation, and empowerment of persons with autism.
Under the bill, the centers will offer free diagnosis, therapy, and rehabilitation, as well as vocational training and employment opportunities for adults with autism. They will also provide counseling, orientation, and referral services for families and caregivers.
Provincial centers will further conduct early detection and intervention programs for children under five years old, in coordination with barangays for screening, parent education, and early therapy. The measure also mandates sustained advocacy and awareness campaigns to promote understanding and acceptance of autism nationwide.
“Autism is a prevalent condition in the country, and yet, there remains a pressing need to promote public awareness and establish appropriate support systems for individuals with autism,” Lazatin said.
According to the Autism Society of the Philippines, about 1.2 million Filipinos were living with autism as of 2018. Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often face lifelong challenges in communication and social interaction and continue to experience stigma and isolation due to limited awareness and resources.
“Through the establishment of these centers, we hope to provide individuals with autism and their families a place to seek assistance, access education, and find a supportive community,” Lazatin added.
A long-time advocate for mental health, Lazatin also authored House Bill No. 2933 in August 2025, which seeks to include mental health emergency, psychiatric, and neurological services in PhilHealth’s Out-Patient Mental Health Benefit Package.
𝐹𝑖𝑙𝑒 𝑝ℎ𝑜𝑡𝑜𝑠 𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑤𝑠 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑔. 𝐿𝑎𝑧𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑛 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑚𝑒𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐴𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑠𝑚 𝑆𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑡𝑦 𝑃ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑝𝑝𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑠 – 𝐴𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝐶𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑡𝑒𝑟, 𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 𝑀𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑒 𝑈𝑚𝑎𝑙𝑖, 𝑑𝑢𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑛𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑠𝑢𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡 𝑡𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑜𝑟𝑔𝑎𝑛𝑖𝑧𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑛 𝑀𝑎𝑟𝑐ℎ 19, 2025.
As former Angeles City Mayor, Lazatin launched a rescue and treatment program for mentally challenged individuals found on the streets, providing care and rehabilitation through accredited private institutions funded by the city government.
