THE SECOND Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) has raised alarm over the shortage and uneven regional distribution of developmental pediatricians in the country, warning that the lack of specialists is limiting children’s access to formal disability assessment and appropriate support services.

Data from the Philippine Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics show that as of June 2026, only 109 certified developmental pediatricians were practicing nationwide, compared with an estimated five million learners with disabilities.

The disparity is also evident in the distribution of clinics. Of 156 regional clinic listings, 74, or nearly half, were in the National Capital Region. Calabarzon had 24, while Central Luzon had 18.

The Visayas accounted for only 7.7 percent of the listings, while Mindanao had just nine percent.

Bicol, Mimaropa, Eastern Visayas, and Soccsksargen each had only one listed specialist. No developmental pediatricians were listed in Caraga and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

The shortage is compounded by limited opportunities to train new specialists. EDCOM 2 found that only five hospitals nationwide offer fellowship training in Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, most of them in Metro Manila.

To address the gap, EDCOM 2 Co-Chairperson Senator Joel Villanueva is pushing for additional consultant and fellow positions at three public training hospitals: the Philippine General Hospital, Philippine Children’s Medical Center, and National Children’s Hospital.

The commission also flagged a significant gap between learners identified as showing possible disability manifestations and those who have received formal diagnoses.

Department of Education data for School Year 2025-2026 show that of the 492,902 public school learners with disabilities, only 180,519, or 36.6 percent, had formal diagnoses. The remaining 312,383, or 63.4 percent, were identified based on observed disability manifestations.

EDCOM 2 Executive Director Karol Mark Yee said the shortage of specialists is particularly alarming in regions where the number of learners needing support far exceeds the available developmental pediatricians.

In the Davao Region, for instance, 60,257 learners with disabilities were enrolled, the highest among all regions, yet only 29 percent had formal diagnoses.

The lack of specialists also poses challenges for families seeking assessment and rehabilitation services covered by PhilHealth, as certain benefits under its Z Benefit Package for children with developmental disabilities require assessment by qualified specialists.

EDCOM 2 is calling for closer coordination among the Departments of Health and Education, the Commission on Higher Education, PhilHealth, and local government units to expand specialist training, strengthen referral systems, and improve access to developmental assessment services.

EDCOM 2 Co-Chairperson Senator Bam Aquino stressed that children needing developmental assessment should not have to travel long distances or contend with inadequate local services just to receive the specialized care they need.

The commission underscored the need to expand the specialist workforce and training opportunities, particularly in underserved regions, to ensure that children can access proper assessment and support services regardless of where they live.