Duterte signs law regulating speech language pathologists in PHL

President Rodrigo Duterte has signed a law regulating the practice of speech language pathology in the Philippines.

Duterte signed Republic Act 11249 or the Speech Language Pathology Act, which aims to develop a corps of competent speech language pathologists in the Philippines with "world-class, internationally recognized, and globally competitive" standards.

A Professional Regulatory Board of Speech Language Pathology under the Professional Regulation Commission will be created within 90 days after the effectivity of the act, to "supervise and regulate the registration, licensure, and practice of speech language pathology" in the country.

The board is also tasked to study the conditions affecting the practice of speech language pathology in the Philippines and adopt measures for the enhancement of the professional, ethical and technical standards of the practice.

Thus, under the law, which was signed on March 22, all applicants for registration for the practice of speech language pathology shall undergo a licensure examination to be administered by the board.

Speech language pathologists are tasked to screen, identify, assess, diagnose, manage and prevent disorders of communication such as articulation, fluency, voice, hearing and language; prevent disorders of oral-pharyngeal functions such as dysphagia and related orders; and manage cognitive communication systems and provide training in their use.

Speech language pathologists shall also screen hearing acuity for the purpose of speech language evaluation and aural rehabilitation; plan, teach and carry out home programs and training for patients and their families; and plan, conduct and evaluate teaching-learning activities for students of speech language pathology and other related courses for other practitioners, patients, their families and the general public.

The act was passed by the House of Representatives as House Bill No. 8529 on November 21, 2018 and adopted by the Senate as amendment to Senate Bill No. 462 on January 21 this year. — Jamil Santos/MDM, GMA News