THE Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) is pushing to raise the entry-level salaries of occupational, physical, and speech therapists to Salary Grade (SG) 15 as government hospitals grapple with vacancy rates of up to 79%, threatening access to essential services for learners with disabilities.
Department of Health (DOH) data as of September 2026 showed that 262 of 395 authorized occupational therapist positions in government hospitals were vacant, representing 66% of the total. For speech therapists, 61 of 77 positions remained unfilled, or 79%.
Currently, entry-level occupational and physical therapists are classified under SG 11, while speech therapists are under SG 10, compared with SG 15 for Nurse I. EDCOM 2 said the disparity makes government positions less competitive and hampers recruitment and retention.
The proposed adjustment would increase starting salaries by 33% for occupational and physical therapists and 57% for speech therapists.
“Our hospitals feel this shortage every day. Unless we make these careers viable in public service and expand training beyond Metro Manila, learners with disabilities will continue to wait for the support they need,” said DOH Human Resource Development Bureau Director Lindsley Jeremiah Villarante.
Professional Regulation Commission data showed that 8,060 physical therapists and 2,014 occupational therapists passed their licensure examinations from 2021 to 2025. Only 845 speech-language pathologists passed from 2023 to 2025.
Access to therapy services is also limited nationwide. PhilHealth data as of September 30, 2026, showed that only four of the country’s 18 regions had contracted facilities offering occupational and speech therapy. The other 14 regions had none, affecting 389,497 learners with disabilities, or 74% of the national total identified in the mapping.
EDCOM 2 is coordinating with the Commission on Higher Education, the Professional Regulation Commission, and the DOH to encourage higher education institutions in the Visayas and Mindanao to establish relevant training programs.
The shortage could also hamper the implementation of Republic Act No. 11650, or the Inclusive Education Act, which mandates Inclusive Learning Resource Centers to facilitate assessments, referrals, individualized education plans, and related services for learners with disabilities.
EDCOM 2 Commissioner Sen. Joel Villanueva called for stronger support for special needs education, stressing that inclusion must translate into concrete assistance for children and their families.
“Inclusion must go beyond words. It must be felt by every child and every family who needs it,” Villanueva said.
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