MANILA, Philippines – Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Tuesday, December 3, urged the Department of Education (DepEd) to publish the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of a law that mandates all schools nationwide to ensure that students with disabilities are given access to education.
A visibly disappointed Gatchalian, chairman of the basic education committee, was puzzled over the delay in the publication of the IRR for Republic Act (RA) No. 11650, signed in March 2022, which is hindering its full implementation.
“It’s quite disappointing that it took 2 years to craft the IRR, then after crafting the IRR, 6 months thereafter, no publication yet. In other words, some of the provisions of the law cannot be implemented because the IRR will spell out the details,” Gatchalian said.
At the Senate hearing on the law, DepEd Director Leila Areola said that the IRR of RA 11650 was only signed on July 18, 2024 and was supposedly scheduled for publication on Monday, December 2. However, upon review, it was found that the IRR has still not been published.
Gatchalian then asked Areola who was responsible for the publication of the IRR, to which she replied that it was the legal office of the agency. The senator then advised the DepEd to coordinate more closely to ensure timely publication.
“You guys should talk. You are one department. Siguro mag text na lang kayo. Mag Viber groups na lang kayo (Maybe, you should exchange text messages. Create a Viber group to coordinate),” he said.
RA No. 11650, an act “Instituting a Policy of Inclusion and Services for Learners with Disabilities in Support of Inclusive Education Act” was signed during the administration of then-president Rodrigo Duterte. (READ: Duterte signs law on inclusive education for students with disabilities)
The new law said that inclusive education for students with disabilities must be set in motion in all public and private schools for their early and basic education curriculum. The law also mandates the creation of an Inclusive Learning Resource Center (ILCR) for students with disabilities.
ILRCs are tasked to implement the Child Find System – a methodology that will ensure all students with disabilities, who are not receiving early and basic education services, are identified, located, and evaluated. – Rappler.com