OT in Philippines

Milestones in the history of Occupational Therapy and Rehabilitation in the Philippines

Early concern for rehabilitation 1917 Concern Concern for the disable disabled d in the Philippi Philippines nes began began as early as this this time when when the gove governm rnmen entt adop adopte ted d the the Revi Revise sed d Admi Admini nitr trta taio ion n Code Code whic which h provided for compensation benefits during the period of disability and the the paym paymen entt ofme ofmedi dica call assi assist stan ance ce,, nece necess ssar ary y tran transp spor orta tati tion on,, subs subsiisten stenc ce an hosp hospiital tal fess fess of a perso erson n in the the serv servic ice e of the the government who was injured in the performance of his duty. 1923 children.

A la law wa was pa passed wh which pro provided th the ca care an and cu custody of of di disabled

1926 The Workmen’s Workmen’s Compensatio Compensation n Act was passed prescrib prescribing ing compensat compensation ion for employ employees ees for person personal al injuri injuries, es, death death or illnes illness s contr contract acted ed in the performance of duty. However, rehabilitation rehabilitation was still a minor concern of the the gove govern rnme ment nt and and most most reha rehabi bili lita tati tion on serv servic ices es were were then then undertaken mostly by private agencies and volunteer group. 1937 1937 The The Nati Nation onal al Psyc Psycho hopa path thic ic Hosp Hospit ital al (now (now Nati Nation onal al Ment Mental al Hosp Hospit ital al), ), in Mandal Mandaluyo uyong, ng, Rizal Rizal starte started d its servic service e and traini training ng throug through h the so called Push Therapy  WWII and immediately immediately After: Emergence of OT as as a Profession 1945 1945 The United United States States Army establ establish ished ed the Amputa Amputatio tion n and Trainin Training g center center at the V. Luna Medical Center whose staff were trained on the techniques of physical rehabilitation of amputees. In February, the Philippine Civil Administration Unit I General Hospital (later renamed to Mandaluyong Emergency Hospital) was created to care for Filipino Filipino and American American military and civilian civilian casualties casualties of WWII. Andre Roche, Roche, a French French therap therapist ist,, introd introduce uces s Occupa Occupatio tional nal Therap Therapy y at the PCAU I. During this this time, the United States States Armed Armed Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) (USAFFE) took took the the staf staff, f, inter interns ns and and stud studen ents ts from from the Phil Philip ippi pine ne Gener General al Hospital (PGH) on the day it was liberated to PCAU I in Mandaluyong.  This was a turning point for the demand of doctors and nurses during WWII 1946 946 Conc Conchi hita ta M. Abad and Gilc Gilcer eria ia anday ndaya a foun founde ded d the the Depar eparttment ment of  Occupational Therapy at the PCAU I General Hospital after receiving training in Rehabilitation and Art & Crafts under US Army physicians and American Red Cross nurses.

1947 A long range program to upgrade hospital service was launched by sending PCAU I medical and allies medical staff abroad for advanced education and training. 1948 As a result, Conchita M. Abad was given a fellowship grant to study OT at the Philadelphia School of OT at the University of Pennsylvania upon recommendation of Andre Roche, UN consultant in OT in the Philippines  The Philippine Civil Administration Unit I General Hospital was again renamed to National Orthopedic Hospital with Dr. Jose V. de los Santos as the first chief. 1949 Charlotte Aspuria graduated with a degree of BSOT at the Milwaukee Downer College, University of Wisconsin after finishing a year of clinical training at the New York Goldwater Memorial Hospital. She immediately took and passed the licensure examination thus becoming the first certified Filipina OT in the United States. Dr.

Henry Kessler (US Armed Forced consultant in rehabilitation in Orthopedic surgery) visited thereby increasing awareness and acceptance of the concept of rehabilitation in the Philippines.

1950 C.M. Abad was granted a certificate in OT and returned to the Philippines to spearhead the reorganization of OT sections in various hospitals and institutions.  The Philippine Foundation for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled (PFRD) was organized becoming the umbrella organization of private agencies involved in rehabilitation programs.   The Philippine Mental Health Association (PMHA) was established. Resident typeof activities were employed as treatment modalities.   The Elk’s Cerebral Palsy Rehabilitation Center was opened by American Businessmen of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elk’s Lodge 761. 1953 Dr. Tamesis succeeded Dr. Jose V. de los Santos as NOH chief  1954 Charlotte Aspuri-Floro returned to the Philippines after working for several years in New York, Hawaii, Texas and San Francisco. 1956 After 3 years as chief, Dr. Tamesis revealed the need for professional training of OTs and PTs. Through the initiative of the National

Orthopedic Hospital (NOH) the Philippine Government requested for consultant to survey rehabiltaion work in hospital and other health institutions in the Philippines. Dr. Henry Kessler, who was then with the United nations, recommended among other the establishment of  OT and PT schools. Soon thereafter plans of starting a PT school was explored. C.A. Floro and C. Abad hearing about this plan negotiated with Dr. Tamesis to include OT arguing that rehabilitation should be holistic and therefore should include Occupational Therapy.  The Genesis of School of Allied Medical Profession 1959-61

C.A. Floro and C.M. Abad collaborated to produce an OT curriculum.   The draft curriculum was largely based on the curricula of their respective colleges in the United States but incorporated Liberal Arts subjects which were required at the University of the Philippines during those times. One source states that as early as 1955 plans were being made for an OT curriculum

May 1962

OT and PT curricula was drafted with Elizabeth Ahlberg and Robert  Jacques (WHO PT consultants)

Nov 1962

School of Allied Medical Profession was formally established occupying a wing of the NOH at Maria Clara St., Quezon City. SAMP became the first school in Asia to offer a baccalaureate degree in OT.

Evanina Estrada-Curan and Corazon Tablan-Santos were accepted as the first batch of OT students. They were both sponsored by Elk’s Cerebral Palsy Project. 1963 SAMP OT curriculum was approved by WFOT after the visitation of OT such as Spackman. 1965 Occupational Therapy Association of the Philippines was founded on September. With the following members: Charlotte Floro - President Conchita Abad – Vice President Corazon Tablan - Secretary Fe Isaac Sano – Treasurer Evanina Estrada – PRO  The temporary headquarters was located at the College of Medicine, Ma. Clara St., Q.C. 1966 First batch of OT graduates

March 11, the first OTAP symposium was held with the theme: Is it Time to Establise a Comprehensive Work-Oriented Rehabilitation Center in the Philippines. It was held at the WHO Conference Hall, United Nations Ave., Manila OTAP was granted associate member status of the WFOT during the 7th council meeting in London. 1968 OTAP was admitted as FULL member organization of the WFOT during the 8 th council meeting in Sweden, with 22 member nations. 1969 Republic Act 5680 otherwise known as the Act of creating the Board of  Examination for PT and OT sponsored by Rep. Jose M. Aldeguer was passed on June21. The project was chaired by Fe Isaac-Saňo who was then OTAP President.  The Philippine Council of Homes for the Disabled (now Philippine Council of  Cheshire Homes, Inc.) was established by Fe Isaac- Saňo and Sis. Valeriana Baerts to provide medical assitance and shelter for the disabled. 1970-1980 Expansion and Consolidation 1970 Philippine Decade of Rehabilitation was declared (1970-80) 1971 Evanina Estrada went to Pittsburgh to become the first Philippine trained OT to leave the country SAMP was transferre to two Marcos type buildings at the back of the PGH compound in Taft Avenue, Manila 1972 2nd OTAP Annual Convention: Bridging Communication among Health Sciences through Professional Writing  June 1973

The first Board of Examiners were inducted. The following were the first examiner: Dr. J. Mendoza, chairman; H. Pilog, F.I. Saňo, J. Rabino and C. Abad. Fe Isaac- Saňo and Conchita Abad were the first OT board examiners

First OT board exam was given   Tahanang Walang Hagdan was founded by UP OT graduate Sis. Valeriana Baerts, to provide vocational training and employment for the disabled. 1974 The UP Comprehensive Community Health Program was established in Bay, Laguna

1977 BOR approved SAMP as an independent unit with Dr. Guillermo Damian as First SAMP Dean  The OTAP 7th Annual Convention: Integrating Occupational Therapy in the Community, was held at the PMHA Auditorium  June 1978

The National Commission Concerning Disabled Persons (NCCDP) was established by virtue of Presidential Decree 1509. Among the mandated tasks of the NCCDP was to prepare and adopt an integrated and comprehensive plan for disability prevention and rehabilitation.

Emphasized in the general thrusts and guiding principles of the commission of life, people and community-based development, self-reliance and integrated development approach.  Towards EDSA: New Challenges, New Directions 1980 American Occupational Therapy Certification Board (AOTCB) examination became available for OTs residing in the Philippines. As the economic and political situation during the second term of then President Marcos was very uncertain. This was significant in facilitating the processing of work permits in the US and triggered a renewed exodus of the Philippine trained OTs to the US. The lack of trained manpower was starting to take a toll in the local OT market, hospitals which formerly offered OT services were starting to convert OT units to PT units or were abolishing OT items altogether. 1981 The year 1981 was declared by WHO as the International Year for Disabled Persons (IYDP). At the same time, 1981-1991 was declared as the Decade of Disabled Persons. This marked a growing international and regional concern for rehabilitation in the community level.  The Community Based Rehabilitation approach was pilot tested in Bacolod, Negros Occidental thru the joint efforts of NCCPD and WHO with Prof. Susan Villegas as part of the training team and Prof. Floro as one of  the administrative planner. Dec 27’ 82

BP344 known as Accessibility Law was passed providing for the enhancement of the mobility of disabled persons in buildings, institutions, establishments and public utilities. Members of the OT faculty of CAMP acted as consultants in the drafting of the law.

1983 The five year plan for disability prevention and rehabilitation (1983-87) was released

1984 A move to amend the OT-PT law (BP5680) was started by OTAP under the current president Mrs. Querouz. This move was expected to enhance the reputation of OT as a separate profession and counteract the notion that OT is poor cousin of PT. 1985 The College of Perpetual Help,Biňan started its first year of operation with 7 students. Of the seven , 2 were able to graduate five years after. Prof. Querouz (SAMO’67) was instrumental in pushing for this development. 1986 The Association of Philippine Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Schools(APPTOTS) was established with Dr. Ofelia Reyes as its first president. A national conference on the minimum standards for OT-PT curriculum in the Philippines at the Lung center. The APPTOTS lobbied for a five year curriculum for BSOT and BSOT arguing that a 4 year curriculum was inadequate for training OTs and PTs in the schools. The CAMP committee tasked with the review of the case asserted that the OT and PT curriculum being used in CAMP was adequate.  The result of the above conference led to the December release of “Proposed Policies and Standards for OT/PT Education upon recommendation of  the task Force Committee on Curriculum for OT and PT and the Bureau of Higher Education. 1987 Perpetual Biňan was accredited by DECS 1988 Perpetual Biňan shifted to a five year curriculum 1989 UP CAMP Community Based Rehabilitation Program was inaugurated in Montalban, Rizal. While the UP CAMP Rehabilitation and Research Development Center was conceptualized. This signaled the emergence of an interdisciplinary, and, later a transdisciplinary approach to rehabilitation. 1990 The move the amend BP 5680 for separation of OT and PT was revived. Perpetual Biňan was accredited by OTAP and WFOT OT Onwards to the 21st Century 1991 The Emilio Aguinaldo College Manila opens its BSOT section. In Cebu two schools, Cebu Velez and Cebu Doctors started accepting BSOT students  Jan 1992

The Magna Carta for Disabled Persons(RA7277) was passed by Senate and Congress providing for the rehabilitation, self development and

self reliance of disabled persons and their integration into the mainstream of the society. 1993 OT School of Pines City Educational Center in Benguet was recognized by DECS.   The Western Philippine Colleges and Laguna Northwestern College both located in Laguna, Cebu Doctors College and Medina College of Region X were given permits to open OT schools by DECS. 1993-2002 was declared as the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons. One of its aims is to provide equal educational opportunities to disabled children. 1994 The Fatima Medical Foundation in Bulacan, Perpetual Help College of Las Piňas and Manila were given permits to operate OT schools by the DECS. 2001 First Thomasian graduate 2010 UST: OTAP & WFOT accreditation