Tags: Child Health and Growth, Parenting
By Marjorie Gorospe
QUEZON CITY, METRO MANILA—A tax deduction bill has been filed in Congress seeking special tax deduction for parents of children with special needs.
Under House Bill 5100, qualified parents and legal guardians would be granted tax deduction worth P50,000 to help them deal with additional costs including therapy of their children.
Expenses that qualify for tax deduction cover tuition for private school, tutoring, therapy and diagnostic evaluations, special instructional materials and transportation expenses.
The bill was filed by Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her son Camarines Sur Representative Diosdado Arroyo.
According to Arroyo, the cost for taking care of a child with special needs is “at least double” compared to the cost of taking care of a typical family. These children with special needs have to undergo therapies which translate to extra expenses for parents.
The bill covers children with special needs who are legitimate, illegitimate or legally adopted children under the legal custody of the immediate family member or living with the taxpayer.
Arroyo also stressed that children with special needs include those with hearing impairments (including deafness), speech or language impairments, visual impairments, serious emotional disturbance, orthopedic impairments, autism, and traumatic brain injury.
A study conducted by Special Education Division of the Department of Education showed that there are children with special needs enrolled in public elementary schools in 2009.
Arroyo said that a total of 51,296 children were assessed with learning disabilities. The number of mentally retarded or intellectually disabled children stood at 13,119 and those hearing impaired stood at 12,039.
In 2007 to 2008, about 92,429 children with special needs were enrolled in both public and private elementary schools, translating to a 27.6-percent increase from the 79,118 recorded in 2004 to 2005.
Arroyo added that many of these children are not able to pursue secondary education. Children with special needs in the provinces are also not being given the proper attention, Arroyo said.
Related Stories:
Spreading the word of special education awareness
Special kids graduate with honors at this Pasay elementary school
Homeschooling and its benefits for both parents and kids
Spreading the word of special education awareness
When kids start asking their single parents
Beauty and Hygiene Child Health and Growth Clothing Consumer Electronics Consumer Goods and Concerns Family Family Health Concerns Fashion Footwear Furniture Games and Hobbies Health issues Home Appliances Household Care and Cleanliness Household Products Internet Mobile Lifestyle Parenting Personal Finance Pets Physical Wellness Religion Spa and Massage Special Occasions Spiritual Wellness Technology Industry Toys
WP Cumulus Flash tag cloud by Roy Tanck and Luke Morton requires Flash Player 9 or better.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
