THE SENATE has ratified the bicameral conference committee report on the disagreeing provisions of a measure that seeks to provide accessible education for learners with disabilities.

Senate Bill 1907 and House Bill 8080 seek to institute services and programs for disabled learners in support of inclusive education.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian hailed the Senate’s ratification of the bicam report saying the bill will mandate all schools, whether private or public, to ensure equitable access to quality education for learners with disabilities.

“Ito ang pinakamagandang regalo natin sa mga mag-aaral na may kapansanan at kanilang mga pamilya. Sa pamamagitan ng panukalang batas na ito, matitiyak nating hindi na mapagkakaitan ng edukasyon at mahahalagang mga serbisyo ang ating mga kabataan at mag-aaral na may kapansanan,” said Gatchalian, co-author and sponsor of the measure.

The reconciled version of the measure mandates that no learner shall be denied admission in any public or private school on the basis of disability, ensuring access to quality education to every learner with disability.

“This landmark legislation would deliver quality, accessible and inclusive education for learners with disabilities in our country, especially for those who were left behind by our basic education system,” the chairman of the Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture said.

Under the measure, the Department of Education, in collaboration with local government units, will establish and maintain at least one Inclusive Learning Resource Center of Learners with Disabilities in every city and municipality.