Duterte signs law regulating speech pathology practice

MANILA, Philippines – The bill seeking to improve the practice of speech language pathology in the country has been signed into law.

Under Republic Act 11249 or the Speech Language Pathology Act, the government is tasked to provide regulatory measures, programs, and activities that will equip speech language pathologists with “standards of professional practices and services [that is] world-class, internationally recognized, and globally competitive.

“The State recognizes the important role of speech language pathologists in nation building and promotes the sustained development of a corps of speech language pathologists whose competence have been determined by honest and credible licensure examinations,” the law states.

The law also states that a Professional Regulatory Board of Speech Language Pathology, which will “supervise and regulate the registration, licensure, and practice of speech language pathology in the Philippines”, shall also be created 90 days after the law’s  effectivity.

Those who will be taking the licensure examination must also be able to meet the following requirements: a citizen of the Philippines or of a foreign state/country which observes reciprocity with the Philippines for the practice of speech language pathology; of good moral character; has not been convicted of any crime involving moral turpitude; and a graduate of bachelor’s degree in speech language pathology from a school, college, or university in the Philippines or abroad that is recognized by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

Speech language pathology refers to “the allied health profession devoted to the evaluation, diagnosis, management, and prevention of human communication and swallowing disorders.”

President Rodrigo Duterte signed the law on March 22 after being adopted by the Senate in January. /cbb