Gatchalian scolds DepEd over delays in implementation of law for students with disabilities

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Tuesday scolded the officials from the Department of Education (DepEd) over the delayed implementation of Republic Act 11650 or the Act Instituting a Policy of Inclusion and Services for Learners with Disabilities in Support of Inclusive Education.

During the Senate basic education oversight hearing on the implementation of RA 11650, DepEd Bureau of Learning Delivery Director Leila Areola disclosed that the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) was signed on July 18 this year and was supposed to be published on December 2.

Gatchalian pointed out that the law was signed two years ago, on March 11, 2022 and the publication of the IRR took six months.

"It’s quite disappointing that it took two years to craft the IRR and after crafting the IRR, six months thereafter, there’s no publication yet. So in other words, some of the provisions, not all, but some of the provisions of the law, cannot be implemented because the IRR will spell out the details," Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate basic education panel, said.

Deped Assistant Secretary Alma Torio assured the committee that they will closely coordinate with the office in charge of the issuance of the IRRs.

However, Gatchalian pointed out that it will still take 30 days for the IRR to take effect after its publication.

"My point of the matter there is, by the time that we fully implement this law is almost five years. It took us two years to draft the law, it took you two years to draft the IRR and another six months to publish it and fully operationalize it... That should not be the case," the senator said.

Gatchalian said that this law was enacted because it was deemed necessary, but it was delayed due to the bureaucratic process.

"I don't think it's going to be complicated to publish it," he quipped.

He then instructed Areola to take charge of the publication of the law as it is currently handled by the Deped's legal strand.

"I would suggest you take charge. Gawa na lang kayo ng Viber group (create a Viber group). Pati si Secretary Angara ilagay niyo na doon because it's quite disheartening that...it's already two and a half years and even the IRR hindi pa natin nakikita," he said.

Amid this, Areola said that they drafted some policies ahead of the issuance of the IRR so it could be implemented once it takes effect.

In response, Gatchalian said, "Publish the IRR, those items in the law that can be implemented, let’s implement it already.”

"Because we owe this to the parents of the learners with disabilities, we owe this to the groups who participated, of course we owe it to our learners with disabilities. That's the whole point of enacting this law, it's to provide special services, support services to our learners with disabilities so they can be provided quality education," he pointed out.

RA 11650 was signed on March 11, 2022 by former President Rodrigo Duterte. — BAP, GMA Integrated News