𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐒𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐒 𝐖𝐀𝐋𝐊 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐈𝐒𝐌 𝐈𝐍𝐂𝐋𝐔𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐀𝐒 𝐀𝐃𝐕𝐎𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐒 𝐔𝐑𝐆𝐄 𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐒𝐀𝐆𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐊 𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐈𝐒𝐌 𝐁𝐈𝐋𝐋

Some 40,000 Filipinos will march in the annual Angels Walk for Autism nationwide today (April 26) to call for the urgent passage of the landmark National Autism Care, Support, and Inclusion Bill.

Led by the Autism Society Philippines (ASP) in partnership with SM Cares, the initiative highlights a growing national call to move beyond awareness toward concrete inclusion. Advocates are pushing for stronger policies that ensure access to services, coordinated support, and lifelong opportunities for Filipinos on the autism spectrum. In Cebu, the Angels’ Walk is being held at the SM Seaside, South Road Properties, Cebu City, simultaneous with other Angels’ Walks in Metro Manila (Mall of Asia Arena), and other major cities in the Philippines.

The walk features performances and talents highlighting the contributions of the autism community and its allies, as well as call for systemic inclusion through policy, partnerships, and support for Filipinos on the spectrum. ASP believes that systemic inclusion begins with policy. Hence it advocates for the National Autism Care, Support, and Inclusion Bill which institutionalizes access to services, coordinated support, and lifelong inclusion for Filipinos on the autism spectrum. On March 9, 2026, the Philippine Senate unanimously approved the National Autism Care, Support, and Inclusion Act (Senate Bill No. 1822) on third reading with a vote of 20 – 0. It has been transmitted to the House of Representatives for counterpart action.

According to ASP, “inclusion must translate into real opportunities - through inclusive education systems, skills development, and workplaces that adopt accessible and equitable hiring practices via strategic partnerships with the public and private sector. Furthermore, it submits that “strong families ensure strong futures – but they need to be sustained with support through accessible services, community networks, and policies that ease the realities of caregiving. Therefore, compassionate, accessible human support systems must be established to empower Filipinos on the autism spectrum to achieve independence and make meaningful contributions.”

Autism Society Philippines (ASP) is a national, non-profit organization that works towards an environment that empowers persons in the autism spectrum to become the best of their potential -- self-reliant, independent, productive and socially accepted members of Philippine society. From a core of 11 mothers in 1989, it has grown to 16,000 members spread across 106 chapters around the country today, aiming to establish institutional mechanisms to support neuro-diverse persons and their families.

The society is the prime mover of autism advocacy in the Philippines - a proponent of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which articulates basic principles of equality. It persuades leaders in the government and private sectors to include persons within the autism spectrum whenever they engineer laws, policies, and procedures.