History - Local (Years)

1917

Concern for the disabled in the Philippines began. Revised Administration Code → compensation benefits during disability + medical assistance.

1923

Law provided care and custody of disabled children.

1926

Workmen's Compensation Act → compensation for employees injured, killed, or becoming ill in the performance of duty. Rehabilitation = minor concern.

Workmen's Compensation Act

compensation for employees injured, killed, or becoming ill in the performance of duty.

1937

National Psychopathic Hospital (now National Mental Hospital), Mandaluyong → started service/training through "Push Therapy."

1945

WWII → US Army established Amputation and Training Center at V. Luna Medical Center.

1945

Andre Roche → French therapist who introduced OT at PCAU I.

Andre Roche

French therapist who introduced OT at PCAU I.

1946

Conchita Abad, Fe Isaac Sano, Gliceria Andaya → founders of the Department of OT at PCAU I General Hospital.

Conchita Abad, Fe Isaac Sano, Gliceria Andaya

founders of the Department of OT at PCAU I General Hospital.

1946

Charlotte Aspuria → scholarship for BSOT at Milwaukee Downer College, Wisconsin.

Charlotte Aspuria

scholarship for BSOT at Milwaukee Downer College, Wisconsin.

1948

Conchita Abad → fellowship to study OT at Philadelphia School of OT, University of Pennsylvania.

Conchita Abad

fellowship to study OT at Philadelphia School of OT, University of Pennsylvania.

1948

PCAU I General Hospital → renamed National Orthopedic Hospital (NOH). Dr. Jose V. de los Santos → first chief.

National Orthopedic Hospital (NOH)

PCAU (Philippine Civic Affairs Unit) I General Hospital renamed

Dr. Jose V. de los Santos

First Chief of PCAU or NOH

1949

Charlotte Aspuria → graduated BSOT; first Filipino Certified OT in the United States.

Charlotte Aspuria

graduated BSOT; first Filipino Certified OT in the United States.

1949

Dr. Henry Kessler visited PH → increased awareness/acceptance of rehabilitation.

Dr. Henry Kessler

Visited PH to increase awareness/acceptance of rehabilitation.

1950

Abad & Aspuria → returned after obtaining a certificate in OT.

Abad & Aspuria

Both returned after obtaining a certificate in OT.

1950

Fe Sano → OT focusing on rehabilitation of paraplegics.

Fe Sano

OT focusing on rehabilitation of paraplegics

1950

PFRD organized.

Philippine Foundation for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled

PFRD

1950

PMHA established.

Philippine Mental Health Association

PMHA

1950

Elk's Cerebral Palsy Rehabilitation Center opened.

1956

Dr. Tamesis → revealed need for professional training for PTs and OTs.

Dr. Tamesis

who revealed need for professional training for PTs and OTs.

1956

Dr. Henry Kessler → recommended establishing PT and OT schools.

Dr. Henry Kessler

he recommended establishing PT and OT schools

1959-1961

OT curriculum → C.A. Floro & C.M. Abad.

Charlotte Aspuria-Floro & Conchita M. Abad

they developed the OT curriculum

1962

SAMP formally established at NOH, QC → first school in Asia to offer a degree in OT.

SAMP at NOH, QC

first school in Asia to offer a degree in OT.

School of Allied Medical Professions

SAMP

1962

Evanina Estrada-Curan & Corazon Tablan-Santos → first batch of OT students.

Evanina Estrada-Curan & Corazon Tablan-Santos

first batch of OT students.

1963

SAMP OT Curriculum → approved by WFOT after visitation of Spackman.

SAMP OT Curriculum

approved by WFOT after visitation of Spackman.

1965

OTAP founded. Charlotte Floro → president.

Occupational Therapy Association of the Philippines

OTAP

Charlotte Floro

First president of OTAP

1966

First batch of OT graduates.

1966

OTAP → associate member of WFOT.

1968

OTAP → full member organization of WFOT.

1969

RA 5680 → created Board of Examination for PT and OT.

RA 5680

created Board of Examination for PT and OT.

1970

Philippine Decade of Rehabilitation (1970-1980) declared.

1971

Evanina Estrada → first Philippine-trained OT to leave the country.

Evanina Estrada

first Philippine-trained OT to leave the country.

1973

First OT board examiners inducted. Fe Sano & Conchita Abad → first OT board examiners.

Fe Sano & Conchita Abad

first OT board examiners.

1973

First OT board exam given in June.

1973

Tahanang Walang Hagdan founded by Sis. Valeriana Baerts → vocational training & employment for disabled.

1978

NCCDP established through PD 1509 → disability prevention & rehabilitation plan.

National Commission Concerning Disabled Persons

1980

AOTCB examination became available to OTs residing in PH.

1981

WHO → International Year for Disabled Persons.

1981-1991

Decade of Disabled Persons.

1981

Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) pilot tested in Bacolod, Negros Occidental.

1982

BP 344 - Accessibility Law → mobility/accessibility of disabled persons in buildings, institutions, establishments & public utilities.

1984

OTAP → move to amend OT-PT Law (BP 5680) to establish OT as a separate profession.

1985

College of Perpetual Help Biñan → first year with 7 students.

1986

APPTOTS established. Dr. Ofelia Reyes → first president.

1986

APPTOTS → lobbied for 5-year BSOT curriculum.

1987

College of Perpetual Help Biñan → DECS accredited.

1989

UP CAMP CBR Program inaugurated in Montalban, Rizal.

1990

Move to amend BP 5680 for separation of OT/PT revived.

1990

Perpetual Biñan → accredited by OTAP & WFOT.

1991

Emilio Aguinaldo College Manila opened BSOT.

1991

Cebu Velez & Cebu Doctors started BSOT.

1992

RA 7277 - Magna Carta for Disabled Persons → rehabilitation, self-development, self-reliance, integration into mainstream society.

1993

OT School of Pines City Educational Center recognized by DECS.

1993-2002

Asian Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons.

1994

Fatima Medical Foundation, Perpetual Help College Las Piñas & Manila → given permits to operate OT schools.