The Social Development Committee (SDC) XI endorsed the proposed inclusion of plantilla items for developmental pediatricians and allied health professionals (i.e., occupational and speech therapists) in the Department of Education (DepEd)’s budget proposal to cater the needs of learners with disabilities in Davao Region, during its 3^rd Quarter Meeting on September 4, 2024, at the NEDA-Regional Development Council (RDC) XI Conference Hall in Davao City.

In support to the proposal, Ms. Marilyn B. Madrazo, Chief Education Specialist of DepEd XI, presented the Region’s population of children with special needs, covering learners from public elementary schools and junior high schools. Ms. Madrazo reported that there were 5,049 learners who had diagnoses from licensed medical specialists, while 26,454 learners exhibited signs of disability but had not been formally diagnosed.

The top three diagnoses were learning disability with 1,357 cases, followed by autism spectrum disorder at 1,015, and intellectual disability at 916. Further, manifestations observed from those who had not been diagnosed include difficulty in seeing, hearing, mobility, remembering, understanding, communicating, and applying knowledge and adaptive skills among others.

It was suggested that children with special needs from the private schools be included in the report to capture the whole population of beneficiary learners in the Region.

Aside from allocating plantilla positions, it was also recommended that other nature of engagement be explored, such as forging partnerships with developmental pediatricians to render service to target learners.

This proposal is aimed at making the services of developmental pediatricians and allied health professionals accessible to children with special needs in Davao Region. Subject to the recommendations of the SDC XI members, this will be presented to the Regional Development Council (RDC) XI for further deliberation and onward endorsement to the Central Offices of DepEd and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).