When I opened my Inquirer copy last Oct. 12, I found a double-spread supplement on the “Diamond Jubilee” celebration of Quezon City’s founding.
Excited, I rapidly went through the supplement’s pages and articles about Mayor Herbert Bautista’s achievements and plans to make our city a global city, as well as a business and culture hub. While I read something about addressing the needs of its constituents especially the poor and the homeless and the plan to build more classrooms for the K to 12 program of the Department of Education, I was saddened to note that there was no mention at all about implementing City Ordinance No. 1915.
The ordinance was approved, in 2009 yet, by the city council when Bautista was the vice mayor and council chair. It was signed into law by Mayor Sonny Belmonte on April 2, 2010, which was World Autism Awareness Day.
This is a precedent-setting ordinance, the first of its kind to be approved by any local government unit in the Philippines. It mandates the establishment of a program for children with special needs (e.g., those afflicted with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism) from marginalized and disadvantaged families which have meager means, and the establishment of four District SPED (Special Education) Centers for this purpose.
To repeat, I was deeply disappointed to find no mention at all of his plans to implement this ordinance and to organize, put up and fund SPED centers in the four districts.
Why, Mr. Mayor? Did not the Lord say, “What you do for the least of my children you do for Me”? Autism is now pervasive and endemic, Sir. Please, let’s help these children and enable them to see our beautiful world!
—CONSUELO D. SISON,
elon.sison@gmail.com