07/02/2026
Beyond awareness, Benguet moves to support families raising children with autism
By Mia Magdalena Fokno
February 7, 2026
LA TRINIDAD, Benguet — For many Filipino families, raising a child on the autism spectrum means waiting months for an assessment, traveling hours for therapy, and stretching already thin household budgets. It means missed workdays, improvised home routines, and learning, often alone, how to meet a child where they are.
These everyday realities framed a provincial forum in Benguet last week, as health officials and local leaders pushed for autism advocacy beyond awareness and toward sustained, practical support for families.
During a January 28 forum, Dr. Meliarazon Dulay, provincial health officer, said the Provincial Health Office (PHO) is rolling out an autism consciousness program aimed at addressing both developmental needs and caregiver burden, according to the Philippine Information Agency (PIA).
“This forum is just a start,” Dulay said, noting that health services alone are not enough. She said the PHO plans to partner with the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office to sustain the program, which includes monthly free developmental check-ups and a caregiver training workshop scheduled this February.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition that affects communication, social interaction, and behavior. In the Philippines, advocacy groups estimate that about 1 in every 100 Filipinos—roughly 1.2 million people—are on the autism spectrum, a figure that underscores the scale of need nationwide.
Yet access to early screening, therapy, and inclusive education remains uneven, particularly outside major urban centers. Families often rely on private services, long waitlists, or limited community-based support—gaps that became more pronounced during the pandemic.
The forum was held in line with National Autism Consciousness Week, observed every third week of January under Proclamation No. 711, which seeks to promote understanding and acceptance of people with autism.
Governor Melchor Diclas, a surgeon by training, emphasized that autism is not an abstract policy issue but a lived family reality. He shared the story of a father who returned home from overseas work to personally care for his autistic child.
“Families need patience and support,” Diclas said, urging government agencies and legislators to institutionalize programs that combine health, social welfare, and long-term developmental care.
Vice Governor Marie Rose Fongwan-Kepes echoed the call, saying a proposed provincial ordinance on autism-related services is already up for first reading.
“Funding follows policy,” she said, stressing that autism should not be treated as a problem but as a condition requiring understanding, accommodation, and consistent support.
Board Member Charmaine Molintas-Likigan, chair of the provincial committee on health and sanitation, spoke both as a policymaker and a family member of a person with autism. She said acceptance at home and in the community is often the hardest part.
“The real struggle is at home,” she said, urging the public to move away from judgment and toward compassion. Molintas-Likigan shared how her nephew’s artistic talent gained international recognition with the support of family and the Autism Hearts Foundation, underscoring that children on the spectrum also bring strengths and creativity.
The forum also featured a discussion on “Raising Champions with Autism” by au-some dad Dean Cuanso, who shared insights on parenting, resilience, and advocacy.
A day before the forum, the PHO conducted free autism assessments and consultations for 15 children, marking Benguet’s observance of National Autism Consciousness Week.
For parents who attended, the initiative offered cautious hope, not just for services, but for a shift in how autism is understood in communities.
As provincial leaders push for policies, funding, and inter-agency collaboration, families raising children with autism continue their quiet, daily work of adapting, advocating, and holding on to the belief that support should not be a privilege, but a shared responsibility.
