Department of Health(DOH)

Dear Mary Isabelle Aldover Please be informed that your request has been endorsed to the DOH Disease Prevention and Control Bureau for action. Kindly await for their response, thank you

October 6, 2022 Dear Mary Isabelle Aldover, Greetings! Thank you for your request dated Sep 14, 2022 05:04:25 PM under Executive Order No. 2 (s. 2016) on Freedom of Information in the Executive Branch. Your Request You asked for Statistics of People with Autism in the Philippines. Response to Request Your FOI request is approved. 1. Number of People with Autism in the Philippines - We do not have the prevalence rate of autism in the Philippines (hospital data is not yet consolidated and we are yet to establish the mental health information that should also include developmental conditions including the autism spectrum). However, data from the US reports the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is about 1 in 150 individuals (based form The Medical City briefer on Autism). It is more common in boys than in girls. In another source (Senate Bill No. 618) It is estimated that 1 out of 500 Filipinos are autistic. Of those affected, only 10% have been diagnosed. I suppose this is also the reason why the approximations differ because only a small portion is diagnosed. 2. Top 10 Cities with highest cases in the Philippines - We do not have yet consolidated data of autism in the country. You may compare provinces in terms of population, or you may also refer to the rapid survey of UNICEF on the situation of children with disabilities (attached). 3. How many SPED centers does the Philippines have? - We think that the Department of Education provides a list of Special Education (SPED) Centers across the country. The National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA), provides a directory of public and private SPED centers. It is assumed that all of these centers should be able to cater to the needs of autistic children. You may access the directory at the NCDA website: https://www.ncda.gov.ph/list-of-sped-centers/. Kindly accomplish the FOI Request Feedback form at the link: https://bit.ly/DOHFOIFeedbackForm Thank you Your right to request a review If you are unhappy with this response to your FOI request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response by writing to DOH Central Appeals and Review Committee, at [email protected]. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made within 15 calendar days from the date when you received this letter. We will complete the review and tell you the result within 30 calendar days from the date when we receive your review request. If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Office of the President under Administrative Order No. 22 (s. 2011). Thank you. Respectfully, FOI Decision Maker FOI Receiving Officer